What is the average age to pass the CPA exam?
Asked by: Dr. Lauryn Ruecker | Last update: October 26, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (38 votes)
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.
How old is the average CPA?
The average age of a CPA in the US is 52-53 years old. Given that many accounting firms mandate a retirement age of 65 or 66, this suggests most CPAs are set to retire within the next decade or two. This gap is exacerbated by a growing demand for accounting and finance professionals.
Who was the youngest person to pass the CPA Exam?
James 'Jimmy' Chilimigras is 15 years old, a Loyola Law student, and the youngest person to pass the Certified Public Accounting exam in the world. After scoring 31 on the ACT at the age of 12, he said he had too big of a passion not to continue his studies.
How long does it take the average person to pass the CPA Exam?
How long does it take to pass the CPA Exam? The average CPA candidate may need 6-12 months to pass the entire CPA Exam. This could vary depending on: How familiar you are with the material.
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).
CPA with JUST 120 credit hours NEW rule in 2025!
Is the CPA 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.
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.
What age do most people pass CPA Exam?
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.
Do I need a CPA to be an accountant?
Based on EMSI's aggregated job posting data for 2021, there were 46,626 job postings for accounting professionals that required a CPA. On the other hand, there were 170,607 jobs posted for accountants that only required a bachelor's degree, not a CPA. A CPA license won't disqualify you from any accounting position.
Is CPA harder than 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 school has the highest CPA pass rate?
- 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%
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 percent of people never pass the CPA?
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.
At what age do most CPAs retire?
When a generation of talented professionals with specific expertise retires, it can represent a risk to public safety if there are not sufficient knowledgeable trained professionals to replace them. Mandatory retirement ages are common at U.S. CPA firms; the average is between 64 and 65.
Why is there a CPA shortage in 2024?
The 2024 accountant shortage is driven by increased demand, baby boomer retirements, tech skill gaps, stringent certification requirements, work-life balance issues, and a lack of interest from younger people, leading to a projected 140,000 accountant shortfall by 2027.
Is it prestigious to be a CPA?
A CPA license is considered very prestigious: The CPA license is the most widely recognized professional credential in the accounting industry.
Do CPAs make more than regular accountants?
Without bonuses, a CPA's annual salary averages $119,000. CPAs with less than one year of experience earn $70,000 annually, while those with more than 20 years of experience earn $150,000. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPAs earn 10% to 25% more than non-certified accountants.
How difficult is the CPA Exam?
The CPA exam is considered one of the most challenging professional exams, with a comprehensive assessment of accounting knowledge and skills, requiring a deep understanding and strategic approach to excel.
Do you need a CPA to be a CFO?
The short answer is no; a CFO does not necessarily need to hold a CPA or CFA certification. However, having one or both of these certifications can be beneficial for a CFO's career.
How many people 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 hardest professional exam?
1. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) 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.
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.
Do I have to pay again if I fail CPA Exam?
All re-examination candidates are required to pay the CPA Exam retake fees, which include both the re-application and examination fee.
How long do you have to pass the CPA Exam in 2024?
Candidates who have passed at least one section of the CPA Exam before January 1, 2024, will have those credits extended to June 30, 2025 (see if your jurisdiction has adopted this here) Candidates in most states now have 30 or 36 months to pass the exam.