How many people pass all four CPA exams first try?

Asked by: Mrs. Violet Hoeger III  |  Last update: May 4, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (5 votes)

The overall pass rate of the CPA Exam hovers around 50%, but how many people manage to pass all four sections—including three core and one discipline—on the first try? About 20%. Around 1 in 2 people will pass a specific section of the exam, and about 1 in 5 people will pass each section on their first try.

What percentage of CPA candidates pass on the first try?

What are the pass rates for each section of the CPA Exam? Now let's discuss what's top of mind for all CPA Exam candidates–passing it. About half of the individuals who take the CPA Exam don't pass on their first attempt. According to the AICPA, the national average pass rate is 45-55%.

At what age do most people pass CPA?

While the average CPA Exam candidate is just 29 years old,3 there are no age limitations on who can become a CPA. In fact, if you're mature in your career, there are many benefits of earning your CPA license later in your career.

Is the CPA the hardest test to pass?

Is the CPA exam the hardest professional exam? The CPA Exam is considered one of the hardest professional exams because of the amount of information it covers and how long it is (16 hours divided between 4 exam sections).

How long does it take to pass all 4 CPA exams?

How long do I have to complete all four CPA Exam sections? You have a minimum of 18 months, starting from the date you pass your first section, to pass three Core sections and one Discipline.

How I Passed FAR in SIX Weeks | CPA Exam |

17 related questions found

Is the CPA harder than the bar?

Yes, the CPA Exam is harder than the Bar Exam.

Both the CPA Exam and the Bar exam are notoriously difficult exams that require months of rigorous study and cover very different material. However, if you look at just the exam pass rate for first-time takers, then the CPA exam is harder, with only a 14 - 20% pass rate.

How many people fail CPA Exam first time?

The overall pass rate of the CPA Exam hovers around 50%, but how many people manage to pass all four sections—including three core and one discipline—on the first try? About 20%. Around 1 in 2 people will pass a specific section of the exam, and about 1 in 5 people will pass each section on their first try.

What is the most failed CPA Exam?

Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)

Candidates we've surveyed say that FAR is the most difficult section of the CPA Exam. It consistently has the lowest passing rate likely due to the large volume of information in the section and the need to fully understand concepts rather than simply memorize them.

Is the CPA harder than the MCAT?

The CPA exam is widely regarded as the most challenging professional examination for a few reasons. Its length, number of topics, and technical details covered typically rank it harder than the BAR and MCAT.

Has anyone gotten a 100 on the CPA Exam?

Any score of 75 or above on the scaled score of 0 to 99 is considered passing. Has anyone gotten a 100 on the CPA exam? It is highly unlikely for anyone to score a 100 on the CPA exam.

What percentage of CPAs have a master's degree?

Nearly 90 percent of all new hires at CPA firms hold a master's in accounting degree. Almost 23 percent of new hires in CPA firms are assigned to the tax department.

Is there a shortage of CPAs?

Not only are fewer students pursuing accountancy, but among those who do, fewer want to stick around. Just over 67,000 candidates sat for the CPA exam in 2022. That's down from roughly 72,000 the year prior and below its forecast of 74,000, according to the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) annual trends report.

How hard is CPA for an average student?

Very. The overall CPA Exam pass rates hover slightly below 50%. This makes passing the CPA Exam a difficult, but achievable, goal. You'll need to study wisely, set a strategy for managing your time, and call on your support network, but with the right plan and good study materials, you will conquer it.

What is the hardest CPA section?

Among the three core sections, FAR has a reputation for being the hardest, and it typically has the lowest pass rate. AUD and REG tend to be middle of the road.

What school has the highest CPA pass rate?

Schools with Highest CPA Pass Rates
  • University of Pennsylvania: 90.9%
  • Rice University: 90.8%
  • University of Texas – Austin: 89.5%
  • Brigham Young University: 89.4%
  • Wake Forest University: 88.8%

What is the hardest professional exam to pass?

Let us explore these toughest exams in the world(rank-wise) in detail:
  • UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) ...
  • All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam. ...
  • USMLE. ...
  • Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. ...
  • ICAI CA/ ICMAI CMA Exams. ...
  • CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) ...
  • Mensa International. ...
  • CFA.

Is CPA harder than MBA?

An MBA is a longer and more intensive education credential than a CPA. However, CPA examinations are notoriously difficult and can take several years to complete if not worked on full-time. A CPA will likely be more difficult than an MBA for those who are less strong in areas like mathematics and statistics.

How prestigious is a CPA?

A CPA license is considered very prestigious: The CPA license is the most widely recognized professional credential in the accounting industry.

What is harder, the bar or the CPA?

Keep in mind, the Bar exam has much more difficult requirements to even sit for the exam—you need to go to law school, which is quite a commitment, both financially and in terms of time. While the CPA requires accounting experience and coursework, there's a lower bar for entry for this test.

Which is the hardest subject in CPA?

In order of most to least difficult, the parts rank as follows:
  • Financial Accounting & Reporting.
  • Regulation.
  • Auditing & Attestation.
  • Business Environment & Concepts.

How many times can you fail CPA?

There is no limit as to the number of times you may repeat a failed section. You may take any unpassed section of the CPA Exam year-round. Your only restriction is waiting to receive your score from a previous attempt of the same section.

Is a 75% on the CPA Exam passing?

CPA Exam Scoring Process: The CPA exam is scored using a weighted combination of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and task-based simulations (TBSs). Minimum Passing Score: You need a scaled score of 75 to pass, which doesn't necessarily mean answering 75% of questions correctly.

What percentage pass CPA on first try?

You've probably heard quite a bit of intimidating details about how hard it is — it's long, it requires hundreds of hours of study time, it's so difficult that the average CPA Exam passing rate for first-time candidates is only 50%.

What is the average age to pass the CPA Exam?

From what I can remember, the average age is 29 according to the report. If anyone has the opportunity to knock out this exam before they start work after college, you should absolutely do it. I started at the big 4 a mere 14 days after graduation, lol. I was a December graduate, so no time for a summer of CPA study….

Is PMP harder than CPA?

The CPA exam is considered more difficult due to its broader scope, multiple exam sections, and higher failure rates. The PMP exam, while challenging, is more focused on project management principles and typically requires less study time compared to the CPA exam.