Is the CPA the hardest test to pass?

Asked by: Prof. Orion Heller Sr.  |  Last update: January 17, 2026
Score: 5/5 (53 votes)

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).

Is the CPA the hardest exam in the world?

The CPA Exam is Challenging: The CPA exam is widely recognized as one of the most challenging professional exams, with a pass rate of around 50%.

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.

What is the hardest exam to pass?

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Is the CPA Exam harder than the bar?

The CPA Exam. You've heard the horror stories: It's derailed the careers of promising professionals. It's definitely harder than the BAR exam and maybe even some medical board exams. And it's nearly impossible to pass once you're a working professional.

Is the CPA Exam Hard?

25 related questions found

Is it harder to become a lawyer or 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.

How many people pass all four CPA exams first try?

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.

Which is the no. 1 toughest exam?

1. UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) The most toughest exam in India is UPSC CSE, held annually by the Union Public Service Commission for recruiting candidates into civil services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and associated roles. The eligibility to appear for UPSC is a recognized university graduation.

Why is the CPA exam so hard?

Each section has an incredible amount of material to cover when studying. That's one of the main reasons why the CPA Exam is so difficult—and there's no way to cut that down. It makes efficiency crucial when studying so you can get through all the material and truly understand it and be able to apply it later.

What state has the hardest bar exam?

California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.

Is MBA or CPA harder?

CPA is harder. It requires passing an exam that covers a range of topics in accounting and finance.

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.

Is the CPA harder than the LSAT?

Some candidates claim that it's easier to study for the LSAT than the CPA Exam and that the LSAT requires fewer study hours to get a good score. The CPA Exam requires a lot of memorization, and most candidates need to take several practice exams before they can pass.

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's the hardest license to get?

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) takes the top spot as the most challenging exam in the US, with an average preparation time ranging from 200 to 400 hours for each of its three steps.

Can you be an accountant without a CPA?

While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs. In fact, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and CPA licensure data, only about 50% of accountants in the United States are actively licensed CPAs.

How many times can I fail the CPA?

Unlimited Retakes: You can retake the CPA exam sections as many times as needed. However, you must pass all sections within 18 to 30 months after passing the first section.

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.

Which is the toughest exam in CPA?

How hard is the FAR CPA exam? The FAR section of the CPA Exam is hard because it's the most comprehensive of the 4 exam sections, and it has a lot of math questions that are mentally taxing to get through. It has the lowest pass rate of all 4 exam sections and is considered the hardest CPA Exam section.

Which is the 3 toughest exam in world?

Some of the world's toughest exams include Gaokao (China), IIT JEE Advanced (India), and UPSC Civil Services Exam (India): all three are highly competitive, have very vast syllabi, and intense pressure.

Which is the toughest degree in the world?

10 Hardest Degrees in the World [2025]
  1. Medicine: According to studies, the medical field is considered one of the toughest degrees to pursue. ...
  2. Aerospace Engineering: ...
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What is the hardest accounting exam in the world?

CFA, also known as Chartered Financial Analyst, is also known to be one of the hardest exams in the world. It is a way of testing the financial knowledge of the aspiring finance professionals. It was reported that in 2023, 16,959 students sat for the level 1 exam.

Is CPA or CFA harder?

CFA vs CPA Exam difficulty

Both are challenging and require gaining skills and knowledge in complex topics. However, the CPA Exam generally requires less studying - around 80 to 120 hours per section compared to 300 hours per section of the CFA Exam, and the CPA Exam also has a higher pass rate.

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 accounting or law harder?

Accounting and law are both potentially lucrative career paths, although they require years of dedicated study. While lawyers tend to earn more money, it is easier to become an accountant. Accountants also require strong mathematical skills, while lawyers require more skills in reading and memorization.