Certified Public Accountant Examination Services (CPAES) told me they no longer use enrollment verification forms and students can no longer apply to sit for the CPA Exam before they graduate. I now have to wait until I get my degree confirmed in order to apply, and I want to sit for at least one part in July. What do I do?
Yes, CPAES has changed the process and no longer allows students to apply early to sit for the CPA Exam. The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy has confirmed this but has also updated us on the major improvements made to this process. The turnaround for the NTS is now approximately ten to 15 business days, much improved from the previous eight weeks. This will still allow you to sit for the CPA exam in July. My recommendation is to impress on your school the importance of having your degree posted as early as possible on your transcript. One final thought – please make sure that your application package is complete as this will definitely hold up the approval of your application. As always, if you have any questions, please email Janice Amatucci at jamatucci@njscpa.org.
I am filling out the CPA Exam Application and there is a question that asks if you have ever been arrested? I was when I was in college but my record was expunged. How should I respond?
This is becoming one of our more popular questions. Our advice is and always has been to tell the truth. Say yes on the application and include a letter of explanation with your application. We know many candidates that have taken our advice and are CPAs today. If you hide the truth and the NJ State Board of Accountancy finds out, chances of your being licensed in NJ are not good. Take the high road.
I am in my sophomore year in an accounting program and am growing concerned about the job market. When I graduate, will I still be able to get a job if I do well in my studies?
Nearly 90 percent of all firms forecasted the same or more hiring of new accounting graduates during 2011 in comparison to 2010 according to the 2011 edition of the AICPA survey, Trends in Supply of Accounting Graduates and the Demand for Public Accounting Recruits. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graduates with accounting degrees will see employment growth of 22% for the decade ending in 2018. In addition, the hiring of Bas and MAs increased from 25,488 to 33,32l, the second highest point since the survey began in 1971. No career has 100% job security, but in good times or bad, CPAs are always in need. Keep studying, work hard, and find a way to set yourself apart from the rest of the students.
Graduates with accounting degrees, for example, enter a field projected to see employment growth of 22 percent for the decade ending in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Now that my studying is almost done, I am beginning to get concerned about what to expect on the actual exam day. Any tips?
One of our bloggers recentlywrote about this on our Exam Cram blog. Check out “I just got to my Prometric Testing Center…now what should I expect?” by Jerry Pecoraro.
Does New Jersey require that you take the ethics exam in order to become a CPA?
No. However you are required to take the approved 4-hour New Jersey Law & Ethics CPE course within the first 6 months of licensure. The CPE certificate must be mailed to the NJ State Board of Accountancy within 30 days of taking the course.
I passed all four parts of the CPA exam last fall and have now just finished my education requirement. What is the next step?
First, congratulations on passing the exam. The hardest part is done and you need to take some time to celebrate. When a New Jersey candidate who did not meet the licensure education requirement at the time of applying for the exam passes the exam, the application file is transferred to the NASBA licensure department. You will need to have an "Academic Credential Evaluation" completed before you continue your licensure application. The forms for that evaluation are available on the NASBA website at nasba.org/files/2011/03/Acad_Cred_Eval_App_New_Jersey.pdf.
I just heard that I can now sit for the CPA exam while I finish up my senior year. Is this accurate?
Absolutely no. You must have completed your bachelor's degree before you sit. You may, however, apply for the exam during your final semester. Just be aware that the application review process will take 8-10 weeks and that testing is only available in the first two months of each quarter. Once your application has been approved, you will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) that gives you six months to schedule and complete all sections for which you applied.
I have heard that some schools are giving credit for taking the CPA Exam. Can this credit can be applied toward the 150-hour requirement?
Unfortunately, no. If a school gives credit that can be used toward your degree, that’s great. However, this credit cannot be applied toward the 150-hour requirement.
When does the six-month window begin in which you have to take the parts you signed up for with the CPA Examination Services? I'm attempting to take all four parts in this window, but was just wondering if this six-month time period begins when the NTS is received?
The six-month period begins when the NTS is issued, not when it is received. We suggest that you sign up for email notification so you won’t lose time if the mail gets held up.
I have dyslexia and have been classified by the state. Does the CPA exam provide any type of special accommodations for individuals with handicaps?
Absolutely. The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. You will have to fill out the
ADA Modification Request form. You will also have to submit medical documentation to support your request. The instructions are included on the request form. I would also suggest that you contact the NJ ADA Coordinator at
aherjeczki@nasba.org.
When applying to sit for the CPA Exam, can I send in my official transcript along with my application as long as it is sealed by the college?
Excellent question. This policy was recently changed so please take note. All official transcripts must be submitted to CPA Examination Services from each institution at which original credit was earned. It must come directly from the academic institution. Transcripts “issued to Student” are not acceptable.
How long do I have to meet my educational requirements (the 30 extra credits) after passing the CPA exam?
We have answered this before but it is one of our more popular questions, so we thought it should be addressed again. Once you pass the CPA Exam, these credits do not expire. You can take as long as you want to obtain the additional educational credits and experience requirements. However, those three little letters, CPA, will certainly boost your resume, so don’t wait too long.
I'm planning on sitting for the CPA Exam at the end of February, but NASBA just notified me that I was not eligible to sit because they never received my final transcript with my major. Unfortunately I was just told by my school that they will not post the majors until February 1, and I've heard that it takes 8 to 10 weeks to receive your notice to schedule at which point I will not be eligible to sit for any part of the exam until April. Is there anything that I can do?
NASBA has already reviewed your transcripts and is just waiting for your final transcript. The turnaround is much less at this point – it should now only take 7-10 business days for you to receive your NTS. If your school sends your transcript to NASBA on February 1, you should receive your NTS the week of February 14. Happy Valentine's Day!
I just received an email stating that my application was incomplete due to official transcripts not coming directly from the school. However, I have followed the instructions that were sent with the exam application, and it clearly states at the bottom of the page that an official transcript may be submitted by the applicant. The transcripts were still sealed. Is there anything that I can do to resolve this issue?
There has been a recent change, and the Certified Public Examination Services (CPAES) now asks that all official transcripts be submitted directly from the academic institution. Transcripts issued to the student are no longer acceptable.
The NJ State Coordinator is currently on maternity leave but the person who is handling the NJ applications in her absence will allow candidates to sit without the transcript directly from the school. You will receive your NTS but will have to submit an official transcript directly from the school before you will receive your score. This gives you additional time to submit the official transcript without affecting your examination schedule. Please contact Janice Amatucci at jamatucci@njscpa.org and she will provide you with additional information on how to proceed. The corrected CPA Exam Application can be found here.
I hold a B.A. in Art History and am at the end of a M.A. program in nonprofit management. I have taken 3 credits in graduate-level financial accounting as well as other management courses. Do I have to complete an entire graduate program in accounting, or is there an alternative for those individuals who have already completed several levels of higher education?
The good news is that you don’t have to have a degree in accounting. However, you must have 15 credits at the graduate level or 24/30 credits (this depends on the school’s accreditation) at the undergraduate level. In addition, you must have completed accounting courses in financial, managerial, tax and auditing.
I have signed up to take my first part of the CPA Exam in two weeks and I am quite nervous. Do you have any insight into what will happen once I arrive?
Here is the procedure once you arrive at the testing center. This information is also listed in the
Uniform CPA Examination Candidate Bulletin.
- You must arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. If you arrive after your scheduled appointment time, you may forfeit your appointment and examination fees. Arrive early and be sure to have your NTS and required identification. You will not be admitted to the examination without the NTS and required identification.
- Your examination should begin within 30 minutes of the scheduled start time. If circumstances arise, other than candidate error which delays your session more than 30 minutes, you will be given the choice of continuing to wait or rescheduling your appointment.
- You must place personal belongings, such as a purse or cell phone, in the storage lockers provided by the test center. You will be given the key to your locker which must be returned to the test center staff when you leave. The lockers are very small and are not intended to hold large items. Do not bring anything to the test center unless it is absolutely necessary. Test center personnel will not be responsible for lost or stolen items.
- You may bring soft, foam earplugs with no strings attached for your use. TCAs will inspect the earplugs.
- Your ID will be scanned/swiped in the combined magnetic strip and 2d barcode reader. The ID will then be placed on a flatbed scanner which captures an electronic image of the photo ID and uses optical character recognition (OCR) to compare printed and encoded data.
- You will have a digital photograph taken of your face. (If the digital camera equipment is not working, a Polaroid picture will be taken.) PLEASE NOTE: A biometric fingerprint-capturing system will be used. You will also be asked to provide a fingerprint before and after breaks. If for physical/medical reasons your fingerprint will not be available, you must contact your State Board of Accountancy or their designee PRIOR to your appointment.
- Scratch paper and pencils will be provided to you. You will be directed to write your examination password (from your NTS) on your scratch paper. You are required to return the scratch paper to the test center staff when your examination is complete. If you need additional scratch paper, you may request it from the test center staff, but you must first turn in the original sheets of paper you received in order to get a new supply. You must not bring any other paper or pencils to the workstation in the testing room.
- You will be escorted to a workstation by test center staff. You must remain in your seat during the examination, except when authorized to get up and leave the testing room.
- Once you enter your password, you must proceed through the subsequent introductory examination screens without delay. There is a 10-minute time limit to read and proceed through the introductory screens and, if the 10-minute time limit is exceeded, the test session will automatically terminate.
- When you finish the examination, leave the testing room quietly, turn in your scratch paper and sign the test center log book. The test center staff will dismiss you after completing all necessary procedures.
I am interested in taking the CPA exam in New Jersey. I am from Romania and hold a bachelors degree in political science and a MBA from two universities in Romania. Do I meet the requirements to sit for the CPA exam?
All international students must first send their transcripts to: Educational Credential Evaluations, Inc., PO Box 514070, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203. Their phone number is 414-289-3412. Ask them to supply you with a subject analysis. Once you have received their response, you should follow the rules and regulations for sitting for the CPA Exam in New Jersey. You will need 120 credit hours to sit and 150 credit hours to be certified. Don’t forget that you must take accounting courses in managerial, financial, audit and tax.
I am considering sitting for the CPA exam and changing careers. I have an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering and an MBA with a finance concentration. Does my existing coursework satisfy the education requirement to sit for the exam and to receive the CPA license?
Accounting careers have been listed as one of the safest degrees to be acquired this year. With pessimism about the overall job economy, many people are changing careers, and yours is a question that we receive almost daily. If you graduated before July 1, 2000, and you satisfy the course load below, you will be grandfathered in and do not need to complete the 150 credit hour requirement. However, if you need to take even one additional course in order to meet these requirements, you are no longer considered under this 150 Hour Modification and will need to obtain the 150 credit hours.
Course Work for Candidates who graduated prior to July 1, 2000:
You must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, or its equivalent, based upon a curriculum that includes a minimum of 60 semester hours selected from courses in English, history, foreign languages, mathematics, general psychology, science, geography, fine arts and music; and a minimum of 60 semester hours in professional courses including at least 24 semester hours in accounting; at least 6 semester hours in business law; at least 6 semester hours in finance; at least 6 semester hours in economics; and at least 18 semester hours in related business subjects.
I sent in my application to sit for the "Financial" section of the CPA Exam in the 3rd quarter of 2010. I am presently taking a review course and will be finishing up with my Audit review. I would now like to apply to sit for Audit in the third quarter as well. Is it possible to apply for another NTS even though it's in the same quarter window as the first?
You can absolutely sit for more than one part in the same testing window. However, it takes 8 weeks in which to receive your NTS so you better mail out your application today and overnight it. Remember, September is a blacked out month.
I have passed all four parts of the exam and have just finished getting my 150 credits. Where do I send my transcripts?
Any New Jersey candidate who did not meet the 150 rule when they sat for the examination, should download the New Jersey Academic Evaluation application from Nasbatools.com. Transcripts should be sent to NASBA's Office in Tennessee along with the application. Once that evaluation is complete, the candidate can submit their licensure application to the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy. If the candidate met the 150 rule before they sat for the examination, they can go straight to the licensure application process (no need for an academic evaluation by NASBA). In this case, transcripts would be sent dirctly to the New Jersey Board of Accountancy.
How long does it take to schedule an appointment at one of the Prometrics centers in New Jersey?
There are only three testing centers in New Jersey: Clark, Fairlawn and West Orange. Remember, the summer months (July and August) are the busiest testing times of the year, and Friday, Saturday and Monday are the busiest days. To increase the likelihood that you will receive your first choice for site location and time, you should schedule your examination 45 days in advance.
I am going to attempt to pass the sections on the CPA Exam before the change in January where they will be adding IFRS. Do you know which parts will include IFRS?
IFRS is eligible to be tested on all parts except for REG. But it is worth noting that the AICPA is monitoring to see if IFRS would also fit within the REG section.
I understand that the NTS is only good for six months, but when does the clock actually start ticking: When I receive the NTS, the date of my first exam or does NASBA date it when they issue it?
The time begins when the NTS is issued. If you choose email as your contact preference, you would receive the NTS the day of or the day after the NTS is issued. Make sure you watch your application status on the NASBA website. When you submit the request for the NTS, the status message on the website will indicate that you should receive the NTS in 3-5 days. If you do not receive your NTS within that time, you should contact NASBA to avoid losing any more time on your six months.
I am graduating in May and plan to sit for the CPA Exam this summer. I know I need to have a plan. How much time should I allocate for studying?
First, if you are planning on sitting for the CPA Exam this summer, apply now. You will need to fill out the "Certificate of Enrollment" form to send in with the rest of your documents. Now to answer your question. Everyone learns at a different rate, so there is no right answer. But what we do know is that you never want to take this exam again! For every hour that you spend in class or online with your review course, you will need to spend an additional one to two hours. For example, if you spend 8 hours a week in class, you will need to allow an additional 8 to 16 hours to study. Unfortunately, you will have to sacrifice some of your personal activities, but if you plan sufficiently, you will have your license by next year.
With the stress of studying, work and the holiday season, I have lost my NTS. I have turned my apartment upside down looking for it, and it just isn't there. What can I do? Is there a way to get another copy?
Don't worry. If you were eligible to sit for the exam and have paid all the required fees, you can request a reprint within 48 business hours. You will need to submit your name, jurisdiction, ID number, email or fax, phone number and the examination section. Send the email to cpaes-nj@nasba.org and put in the subject line "Reprint NTS."
A common myth that circulates among CPA exam candidates is that the CPA exam scores are curved according to the performance of other candidates taking the same section. Is a candidate’s score entirely independent of the performance of other candidates? Does the AICPA employ any curving mechanism to keep pass rates at their historical levels of 45 to 50 percent on average per section?
The CPA exam is not curved. And yes, every candidate's score is entirely independent of other candidates' examination results. The CPA exam is a criterion-reference examination, which means that it rests upon predetermined standards. Every candidate's performance is measured against established standards to determine whether the candidate has demonstrated the level of knowledge and skills that are represented by the passing score. Every candidate is judged against the same standards, and every score is an independent result.
I understand that the CPA Exam is being updated and I really want to take all four parts before this happens. Do you know the date of the implementation?
On January 1, 2011, the CPA Examination will be transformed with new content and skill specifications, new question formats will be introduced and the examination section structure, section time allocations and the percentage value of examination components will change. For more information on these new updates, please visit www.cpa-exam.org.
What part of the CPA Exam should I take first?
We are asked this question at least once a week. Unfortunately, there is no correct answer – it is different for each person. However, our suggestion would be to take the part of the exam that you anticipate will be the hardest for you. Remember, you have 18 months from the time you pass your first part, and you want that clock to start ticking after you have passed YOUR hardest part. The New Jersey score results suggest that FAR and REG are the hardest to pass.
What are the passing rates for each of the four parts of the exam?
The passing rates for the first two quarters in 2009 are as follows:
| First Quarter | Second Quarter | Cummulative |
| AUD | 47.61% | 51.79% | 49.81% |
| BEC | 46.23% | 48.56% | 47.48% |
| FAR | 45.54% | 50.58% | 48.12% |
| REG | 47.96% | 52.25% | 50.21% |
I’m getting married next month but would like to submit my application to sit for the CPA exam. Should I put my current last name or my future last name on the application? Depending on what last name I use, will I need to bring certain documents to show my name change, such as a marriage license?
When you go to sit for the examination, the name on the NTS must match your photo ID exactly. You can change your name at any time during the application/examination process (even after your NTS is issued). Once you have an examination appointment, you would have to change your name with NASBA at least 10 days prior to your appointment.
Which name you use on your application will depend on several factors: the application date, the marriage date, when you plan to get her new photo identification, etc.
Do AP credits apply toward the 150 Hour Requirement?
According to the manuals in New Jersey, there is no policy toward AP Credits. In most other states, AP credits are accepted toward the 150 hours but not toward accounting or business requirements.
I am a New Jersey resident and have just received my Masters in Accountancy. I have 15 credit hours in Accounting but I do not have any tax courses. Will I need this to become certified in New Jersey?
If your master's degree is from a school that is accredited by AACSB in accounting, you will not need a tax course. You will be eligible for CPA licensing.
The CPA Exam rules state that “a candidate shall take and pass all four parts of the CPA Exam within a rolling 18 month period.” When does this 18-month period begin - when I receive my passing results of the first exam
The 18-month period begins on the day you sit for the examination. The actual date of expiration is then "rounded off" to the end of the month. For example, if you sit for (and pass) one part on April 12, 2009, 18 months is up on October 12, 2010 but your credit will expire on October 31, 2010.
I am going to be graduating in August, but I want to start preparing and taking the CPA Exam before then. But I am unsure if I meet the requirements since I will not have a diploma until August.
While you can apply to sit for the exam without your final transcript, you will not receive your NTS (notice to schedule) until the Certified Public Accountant Examination Services (CPAES) receives your final transcript with your degree posted on the transcript. Unfortunately, this does put you in a bad position because September is a blackout period for the CPA Exam. Our suggestion would be to apply for your NTS in May/June and as soon as your grades are posted, run - don't walk - to get your final transcript. Submit this immediately (send it out overnight) and hopefully you will receive your NTS to schedule in time to take a section of the exam at the very end of August. Don't forget - if you do send in your CPA Exam Application before you graduate, you are also required to fill out the Certificate of Enrollment.
I noticed that the CPA Exam Application must be signed by a notary public. What is this and where can I find one?
Answer: A Notary Public serves as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and attests to the signature on the document. You can use this link to find a notary in your area: www.notaryrotary.com/agent/find_a_notary.asp
Does the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy accept Pass/Fail classes toward the 150 hour credit requirement?
Answer: Pass/fail courses are acceptable in New Jersey provided credit is received on an official transcript form at a regionally accredited school. These courses usually do not count toward the GPA credits but as long as the candidate passed and received credit for the courses, New Jersey will accept them.
I am a junior majoring in Finance and, because of the current market conditions, I am considering switching my major to Accounting. What would I need to do to qualify to sit for the CPA Exam?
Answer: To sit for the CPA Exam, you only need a bachelor's degree in any subject. To become certified, you will need 150 credit hours, and 24 or 30 (depending on how your school is accredited) must be in accounting and 24 in business. As a finance major, you already have two required accounting courses and are probably knocking out your required business courses. This should be an easy switch.
I just received my CPA license in September. When do I have to begin taking Continuing Professional Education (CPE) classes?
Answer: A licensee is exempt from the requirements of CPE for the triennial period during which they are certified. Unfortunately this is the end of the triennial year, so you will have to begin taking CPE courses in January 2009. Each applicant for a triennial license renewal is required to complete 120 hours of continuing professional education.
I just heard that if I am taking one part of the CPA exam and the person next to me is taking that same part, my questions may be more difficult than his/hers. How can our responses be scored comparably?
Answer: The scoring takes into account differences in the difficulty of test questions in addition to other statistical properties. So don’t worry; scores are comparable.
I will be graduating in May and would like to sit for the CPA Exam next summer before I begin work. Is there a way to apply for the Notice to Schedule (NTS) before graduation?
Answer: You will be permitted to apply for the CPA examination in your last semester of school while you are still completing your education requirements. A Certificate of Enrollment will need to be filled out to document courses in progress at the time you apply for the examination. The Certified Public Accountant Examination Services (CPAES) will evaluate your eligibility. If you are found eligible based on the courses in progress, your NTS will be held until those courses in progress at the time you applied are completed. Your NTS will be released when you submit a final official transcript which includes a degree conferral. You should receive your NTS less than two weeks after your final transcript has been received, giving you the full summer to sit for the CPA Exam. The Certification of Enrollment form is available here.
If I become licensed in N.Y. State, what does it entail to become licensed in New Jersey?
Answer: Unfortunately, the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy will not automatically accept applicants from New York. Applicants from this state will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ascertain if the applicant has met the 150 credit hours and the experience requirements for New Jersey.
Answer: In order to get your CPA certification, you need a baccalaureate degree (any type) from any accredited institution, but you will also need 24 credit hours in business courses and 24 or 30 credit hours in accounting courses. The difference in the credit hours is determined by the accreditation of the school from which you will be obtaining the accounting credits. More information on the accreditation levels is available here.
How do candidates begin the application process?
Answer: Candidates must first decide on the jurisdiction to which they want to apply. If chosing New Jersey, candidates should obtain application materials and submit completed applications as directed. The application and instructions are located on the NASBA website at www.nasba.org/862571B900737CED/ENL/NJIA&InfoSheet/$file/NJFTIA0806.pdf.
Answer: You may reschedule your appointment at no charge as long as you do so at least 30 days in advance. If you reschedule between five and 30 days before your appointment, you must pay a nominal fee directly to Prometric. If you reschedule within five days of your appointment, you will have to pay the full Prometric fee for the section you are rescheduling. If your appointment is within 24 hours, you will have to contact the agency to which you applied originally to register again.
Answer: A score review is a verification of a candidate’s CPA Exam score. It involves making certain that the approved answer key was used and that it was applied correctly. It is not an opportunity to find additional points or to have new responses considered. All reported scores are subject to routine quality controls and are scored twice before they are reported to the state boards. The likelihood of a score change following a score review is exceedingly low or less than 1 percent of all requested score reviews. Should you decide to request a score review, just be careful because the option to apply is available only for a short period of time after your score has been reported to you, and there are fees involved.
Answer: Yes. You may schedule your examination at any Prometric site. For a listing of all prometric centers, visit http://securereg3.prometric.com/ProfessionalHome.aspx. And be sure you confirm your appointment 24 hours before your scheduled exam at www.prometric.com/cpa.
Answer: You may reschedule your appointment at no extra cost as long as you do so 30 days before your scheduled appointment. If you try to reschedule between five and 30 days of your scheduled appointment, you will have to pay a small fee directly to Prometrics. If you reschedule within five days of your appointment, you will have to pay the full Prometric fee for that section.
Answer: There is no time limit. You will not lose your CPA Exam credits. However, you will not receive your CPA license until you meet the 150-credit hour requirement and have completed your one year of experience working under a CPA.
Answer: All candidates are required to pay both an application fee of $225 and an examination fee upon submission of the first-time application. The Examination Fees are as follows:
Candidates are able to apply for one or more section(s) of the examination at a time. However, candidates are advised to only apply for a section of the examination unless they are ready to take it within the next six months. All fees must be paid at the time of application and must be in U.S. dollars. Personal checks, certified checks or money orders must be drawn on a U.S. bank and made payable to CPA Examination Services.
Answer: At the undergraduate level, you will need to take 24 semester hours in accounting from a business school or college of business which is accredited by AACSB, ACBSP or other accrediting agency recognized by the State Board or 30 semester hours of accounting from an educational institution which is accredited by the Middle States Association, Commission on Higher Education or other accrediting agency recognized by the Board. These credit hours must include courses covering the subjects of financial accounting, auditing, taxation and management accounting.
Answer: Candidates may sit for the CPA exam at any Prometric testing center (www.prometric.com) regardless of the jurisdiction in which the candidate has applied for licensing. In fact, some candidates who registered for the exam late have had to travel to other states to find a seat at a Prometric testing center.
Answer: The time to start the process is late September/early October. Begin by downloading and filling out the application. You must complete an application each time you want to take one or more sections of the examination. Important: The name on your application must appear exactly the same as it appears on the identification you plan to take to the testing center.
Complete the forms and submit them, along with any required documentation and fees, to Certified Public Examination Services (CPAES). The State of New Jersey has contracted CPAES, a subsidiary of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, to review and evaluate qualifications for the Uniform CPA Examination. Note: While CPAES will begin reviewing your application upon receipt, the process will not be completed until your final transcript listing your degree has been received.
Once your application has been processed, you have been determined to be eligible to take one or more sections of the Uniform CPA Examination and you have paid all fees, you will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS). Effective August 1, 2007, examination fees for taking the exam have increased as follows:
- Audit from $187.00 to $209.33
- BEC from $14078 to $161.63
- FAR from $175.44 to $197.40
- REG from $152.33 to $173.55
An NTS will be sent to you listing the section(s) of the examination that you are approved to take so you may now contact Prometric and begin the scheduling process. Prometric Centers all over the country administer the actual computerized Exam. You will take your exam at one of these sites, and must become familiar with their rules before you sit.
When you receive the NTS, verify that all information is correct. Be certain that the name appearing on the NTS matches EXACTLY the name on the identification documents that you will use during check-in at the testing center. YOU MUST BRING YOUR NOTICE TO SCHEDULE (NTS) WITH YOU TO THE EXAMINATION.
You should schedule your examination appointments as soon as possible after you receive your NTS. You must schedule your examination appointment at least five days in advance of the test date. To increase the likelihood that you will receive first choice of date, time and location, you should schedule at least 45 days before the desired test date(s). You must take each examination section within the time period for which an NTS is valid (before it expires). The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy, NASBA and Prometrics are not responsible if you cannot schedule an appointment before a deadline expires in your jurisdiction.
You will be allowed to take the examination at any one of the authorized Prometric test centers in the United States, whether or not the test center is located within the borders of the jurisdiction where you are seeking your initial license2. The most current list of test centers may be found on the Prometric website at www.prometric.com/cpa.
No appointments may be made for any section of the examination fewer than five days in advance of the desired test date. For example, if you call or use the Internet on Monday to schedule an appointment, the first available date will be Saturday of the same week. Walk-in appointments are not permitted. Please note that candidates with special testing accommodations must schedule at least 10 days in advance of the desired test date.
So... get an early start, you will be more focused when you actually begin your study and preparation. The more you know about the Exam process, the better you are likely to perform!
Answer: There is no one order all students should follow when determining which parts of the CPA Exam to take first. A reasonable approach would be to rank the parts in the order of difficulty for the student. The majority of students who follow this approach start with the easiest part so as to become familiar with the testing format and to build confidence. However, some students choose to start with the most difficult part, believing the exam will become easier for them once they have passed this part. Another option is to choose your preferred location and follow the schedule offered at that site. Whichever approach is taken, it is at the student’s discretion.
Candidates often wonder whether they should guess on a multiple-choice question if they really do not know the answer. Well, please feel free to guess when you don’t know the answer; there is no penalty for guessing. The grade is computed based on the questions that you get correct. Therefore, you should never leave any answer blank.
If you do guess, carefully analyze the answer choices. You may be able to rule out a couple of “distractors” (wrong answers) and then your chance of getting the right one is 50 percent.
When answering multiple-choice questions, you may have to select the BEST answer, and not necessarily the ONLY correct answer. If you feel that two answers are correct, look for the better one.
Be sure to read the QUESTION part of the question before reading the fact pattern. This way, you will be able to critically analyze the information as you read it, because you know what to look for. There are often irrelevant facts in the questions; if you do not realize this, you may be tempted to use that irrelevant information in your answer determination and end up selecting the wrong choice.
On the Exam, there are three “testlets” of multiple-choice questions. There is a “mark for review” button, useful to mark the questions so you can go back for a second look BEFORE exiting that testlet. Once you exit from a testlet, though, you cannot go back to that one. Be sure you have done your best on each testlet before you exit from it.
Not all of the multiple-choice questions actually enter into your Exam score calculation. A small number of questions are “experimental” questions that the AICPA is still “testing” to determine if they are valid for the Exam. However, you cannot tell which ones are graded. For example, it is possible to spend a long time attempting to answer a question that is not even graded.
Not all of those multiple-choice questions have the same value. Each question is individually weighted through a complicated mathematical process. In simple terms, answering a complex question correctly is worth more than answering an easy question correctly.
Understanding the strategy and technique of multiple-choice questions on the CPA Exam will help you maximize your score!
An often-quoted phrase sums up the answer to this question: “The CPA Exam is a river, a mile wide and an inch deep.” The challenge is not the difficulty of any individual question, but the breadth of the topics tested. You need to know a little bit about a lot.
You have to move your thinking from one topic to another very quickly. If you are taking the Regulation Exam, the first question might be on itemized deductions; the second one might cover bankruptcy law, while the third may ask about the taxation of partnerships. Few questions are necessarily difficult by themselves, but that constant movement of topics from one to another poses a challenge.
Be sure to work on this in your Exam preparation. How? Take advantage of sample tests in your review materials; most CPA Review Course providers have something called a “testlet” or a “sample exam” or a “practice test.” It is worthwhile to practice with these so that you become proficient with moving quickly from topic to topic.
Are you using flashcards for your study? You may have purchased some, or made up your own. Another helpful practice exercise is to shuffle the deck and go through them, and you will be jumping from topic to topic as you review each card.
Practice in answering questions in a random order will serve you well on Exam day!