Hello! Welcome to another informative piece on the Certified Public Accountant Examination costs and related fees.

The article will reveal to you in detail the various costs associated with the CPA exam, costs of preparatory courses, CPA license fees, and more.

In this article, we shall look at:

CPA Prep costs – Overview and Comparison
CPA Exam Costs – Application, Exam fees, registration, and ethics exam
CPA Licensing & re-licensing Costs
Financial Aid for CPA
CPA Costs vs. Earnings

So, let’s continue!

CPA Prep Costs – Overview

You should buy a CPA exam review course even before paying any actual CPA exam fees. 

Of course, it is possible to study for the exam without one, but it will be far more complicated, and you will be much more likely to fail numerous times. 

So why would you want to put off taking the CPA exam any longer than necessary? 

Instead, enroll in a CPA review course tailored to your needs.

The majority of CPA preparation courses cost between $1,000 and $3,000.

CPA Prep Cost Comparison

Becker CPA Review is one of the more pricey preparation courses available now, costing USD 2,399 for the advantage package.

When it comes to training their personnel, most accountancy firms will discount or entirely cover the price of this course. 

If your firm isn’t willing to fund your education, another alternative is to use one of Becker’s financing solutions. 

You’ll spend even more than the base price for a truly exceptional educational opportunity if you choose the Premium plan (one level beyond Advantage) at $2,999 or the Pro plan at $3,499.

You may choose to pay that price, but it’s an excellent investment in your future career if you do.

Willey’s CPA review courses offer 3 distinct packages. 

First, the Ultimate CPA review course is a study mentorship and tutoring package. 

It is priced at $3,100. Second, the Platinum package costs $2,499. 

Finally, the Pro CPA review course is priced at $2,199. 

Adaptive Review, Access Until You Pass, a mobile app, and 24/7 customer care are all included.

UWorld Roger CPA Review is a time-limited CPA preparatory course. 

The course will last for 18 months.

The complete course is priced at $1,899, while a single section costs $649.

Surgent CPA Review: The Surgent CPA Review program is available in individual sections (for $599 each) and a whole four-part course. 

The Essentials Pass, which costs $1599, the Premier Pass, which costs $2399, and the Ultimate Pass, which costs $2999, are the three comprehensive 4-part course packages we provide.

The Surgent CPA review programs offer a range of payment plans, making the courses affordable.

There are three, six, or twelve-month payment plans. 

There are discounts up to $1,200 for applicants who have failed the CPA Exam employing courses from other CPA Review providers. 

Surgent offers discounts for individual portions, the Essentials Pass, Premier Pass, and the entire Ultimate Pass course with proof of payment of a comparable product.

Gleim exam prep offers premium and standard review packages. 

The premium package is an innovative, adaptive, and intelligently-guided CPA exam review. 

It comes as a sectional or bundled package. 

The section plan for the Auditing & Attestation Section (AUD), Business Environment & Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting Section (FAR), or Regulation  (REG) costs $599 per section. 

The bundled package costs $1,999. 

The standard packages cost $1,599 for the bundled plan and $459 per section.

CPA Exam Costs – Application, Exam fees, registration, and ethics exam

Application Fees: The application fee is the first cost of the CPA exam. 

The fee varies from state to state. 

It ranges in price from $50 to $200.

It costs $100 in California.

You must pay a non-refundable fee to your state board to apply to take the exam.

It’s simply a one-time price, but if your application is refused the first time or your authorization to test notice (ATT) expires, you may have to pay it again.

You wouldn’t want one of these events to occur because paying the application cost again is pointless.

Examination Fees: The exam fees are the next set of payments you’ll have to pay. 

These are the costs of actually sitting for the exam. 

You’ll be able to choose the sections you want to undertake and pay the fees after obtaining your ATT. 

The NASBA has set a pricing structure for each part of the CPA Exam at around $225. 

Although each of the 55 state boards can charge a different sum, most of them do. 

The NASBA CPA Examination fees are $900 if you complete all four parts on your first attempt. 

Because these payments are non-refundable, only schedule your tests when you’re sure you’ll be able to take them. 

Because NASBA manages the application process for many states, specific state boards charge the CPA Examination fee in addition to the application cost when you apply to take the CPA Exam through their boards. 

In contrast, NASBA states require you to pay the examination price directly to NASBA. 

NASBA will give you a payment coupon after your state board has stated which parts you can sit for.

Registration Fees: Depending on the jurisdiction, you may even have to pay a registration fee when you sign up for a CPA exam section.. 

These fees are usually structured in a tiered system, letting you save cash by enrolling in many parts simultaneously.

Massachusetts has a tiered pricing system that looks like this:

  • $117 for one section
  • $137 for two sections
  • $157 for 3 parts
  • $177 for four sections

The table below shows a sample CPA exam fees breakdown.

StateInitial Application FeeRegistration FeeExamination Fee per SectionFee to Retake
California$100Not specified$226.15$50
Florida$170$75$226.15Repay registration fee ($75)
Illinois$120$226.15Repay registration fee ($40 – $120)
New York$170$85$224.99Repay registration fee ($85)
Texas$20 – $100$15 per section$224.99Not specified

CPA Ethics Exam Fee: After passing the CPA exam, many states require you to take and pass an ethics exam before obtaining your CPA license. 

The exam is relatively easy, but it isn’t free. 

Many state boards fulfill this requirement by taking the AICPA’s Professional Ethics course. 

AICPA members pay $179 for the ethics exam, while non-members pay $225.

Continuing professional education (CPE) courses: When it concerns continuing education, the first reaction appears to be a sense of aversion that oscillates between two undesirable costs: time and money. 

On the other hand, continuing education is a must for members of organizations like the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) – at least as long as the licensee wants to remain practicing their profession. 

CPAs are mandated to complete 120 hours of continuing education every three years to keep their prized certification, which is expensive.

For example, Surgent CPE courses range from a 16-credit webinar at $399 to the Unlimited Plus plan at $849. 

Becker CPE includes bundles priced at $179 for 10.5 credits from the financial fraud detection CPE course, $229 for 13.5 credits through corporate income tax return preparation, and more.

Wiley Efficient Learning offers diverse CPE courses such as the Personal Financial planning retirement certificate and exam bundle, a 20 CPE credits course) for $699. 

The Advanced Single Audit Certificate exam (9.5 CPE Credits) is priced at $299.

Gleim exam prep offers an array of courses for earning CPE credits. 

The bundles include the 100-hours package at $600, the 40-hours online package priced at $280, even a low-budget 1-hour package for $12.

Surgent offers three different CPE programs, both live sessions, and self-study.  

The 16-credit package is the first option, and it costs $399 for webinars and $225 for self-study. 

The next option is the unfettered access subscription, which costs $599 live and $499 self-study and offers you access to 5,500 credit hours. 

Last but not least, there’s the unlimited plus course bundle. For $799, you have access to all 7,500+ CPE credits in both live and self-study formats.

CPA Licensing & re-licensing Costs

You must pay your CPA licensing fees to your state board after passing all four sections of the CPA Exam (AUD, BEC, FAR, REG) and the AICPA ethics exam. 

The price varies depending on the state. 

You may, for example, pay as little as $50 a year in some states, while others who want to make a quick buck charge upwards of $500. 

To keep your license and practice public accounting, you will have to pay this fee in perpetuity.

You’ll apply for a CPA certificate through the state’s board of accountancy once you’ve passed the exam and completed the other certification requirements.

The application fee varies by state.  

In California, the initial CPA licensing costs $250 for Non-California residents. 

Biennial License Renewal costs $250. 

The CPA license fee in Maryland is $22, while renewal costs $56.

Financial Aid for CPA

CPA Exam Scholarship: The CPA scholarship assists qualified CPA candidates with the cost of taking and passing the license exam. 

The American Institute of CPAs, AICPA, has designed a unique scholarship program to assist CPA Exam applicants with the expense of exam fees and preparatory courses. 

At least 50 exceptional applicants will receive a lump sum payment of up to $1,500 to cover exam fees and CPA exam preparation courses.

CPA exam reimbursement For Veterans:  The Department of Veterans Affairs has recognized the Uniform CPA Examination as a certification test that veterans from any state can take and have their expenses reimbursed for up to $2,000. 

 Military partners of uniformed service personnel are eligible for up to $4,000 in monetary help under the Department of Defense’s Military Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program for education and testing.

Free CPA preparation courses and materials: The costs of preparing and taking the Certified Public Accountant exam can be overwhelming for many aspiring future CPAs. 

The exam costs such as registration fees, examination fees, ethics exam fees can be intimidating. 

Using free preparatory materials and courses will significantly reduce costs. 

Several online CPA review companies exist to provide students with helpful study tips, information about past exams, answering questions, etc. 

These tools are essential to help students achieve their goals of passing their CPA exam on their first try. 

Students should utilize all available tools, including but not limited to online study aids. 

These options make financial planning successful by lowering costs while staying focused on the exam.

CPA Costs vs. Earnings

Although becoming a CPA is challenging, you will be rewarded with good pay and professional distinction. 

Aside from your undergraduate education, review courses, examinations, and certification might cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000, depending on your options. 

The cost of getting a CPA is well worth the advantages of more job opportunities and responsibilities. 

The average compensation for a CPA is $119,000 per annum. 

CPAs who have worked in the accounting and financial sectors for a long time can earn significantly more. 

For example, a CPA with 20 years of work experience may earn an average of $152,000 per year.

Conclusion

Becoming a CPA can be a long, time-consuming, cash-crunching process. 

However, it may serve you well in your career and overall professional development. 

If you invest significant time and money into your education, being a CPA could help open doors for you professionally in ways that aren’t available to non-CPAs. 

If you want to become a CPA, stay on top of your educational choices to avoid running out of time or money before obtaining your certification. 

Remember that there are various fees associated with earning your CPA license. 

These fees are not a complete list of what it will cost you to obtain your license; other expenses such as travel, exam fees, dues, and classes must be factored in. 

Before choosing an educational path, please find out how much and how an institution charges for its courses to understand your total costs. 

Knowing up front about any potential costs can help you plan accordingly and avoid surprises along the way. 

It is essential to make sure you select a school—and study method—that works best for you. 

Good luck!

FAQs

References

CPA Exam Costs

CPA Scholarships

CPA Costs in California

CPA Ethics Exam Costs

Surgent CPA Review Cost

Surgent CPE Costs

Becker CPE Bundles Costs

Wiley CPE costs

Gleim CPE Plans

California CPA License Fee

Maryland CPA License Fees

CPA Exam For Veterans

CPA Exam Scholarship

CPA Exam Free Study Materials

CPA Salary GuideFees For CPA Exam Score Appeals


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