What is the hardest professional license to get?
Asked by: Catherine Berge | Last update: February 3, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (32 votes)
There isn't one single hardest license, but top contenders for difficulty include the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) for finance due to extremely low pass rates (under 20% for levels), the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) for doctors requiring extensive prep across multiple steps, and the California Bar Exam, known for its low pass rates (around 40-50%) and vast material. Other notoriously tough exams are the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) in IT, Actuary exams, and the Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam.
What is the hardest professional certification to get?
Top 10 Toughest Exams in the United States
- USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) ...
- Uniform Bar Examination/ California Bar. ...
- CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Exam. ...
- CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Exam. ...
- NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) ...
- GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
Is series 7 harder than CPA?
The CPA exam is generally considered harder than the Series 7 due to its significantly broader scope (four exams covering accounting, auditing, tax, and regulation vs. one exam focused on investments), lower individual section pass rates (around 50% vs. 65-70% for the Series 7), and higher educational prerequisites, though the Series 7 demands significant focus on securities products and mental stamina for its nearly four-hour length. The CPA tests accounting mastery, while the Series 7 tests practical securities knowledge, making the CPA harder overall because of its sheer breadth and depth.
What is the most difficult professional qualification?
The Top Toughest Courses in the World
- Aeronautical Engineering. Aeronautical Engineering is often seen by educational communities as one of the toughest courses for a college student. ...
- Architecture. ...
- Chemical Engineering. ...
- Pharmacy. ...
- Astrophysics. ...
- Medicine. ...
- Electrical Engineering. ...
- Chartered Accountancy.
Is the MCAT or CPA harder?
You'll find the CPA Exam generally harder than the MCAT due to its rigorous structure, complex task-based simulations, and lower pass rates. Candidates typically invest more hours in study, increasing the overall difficulty.
Choosing the Best Tech Career for You: How to Choose a Career in Tech, What to Consider, Pay, Skills
Can a CPA make 300k a year?
Yes, a CPA can definitely make $300k, especially in senior leadership roles like Partner, CFO, or VP in Big Four firms or large corporations, or by owning a successful firm, though it typically requires significant experience (often 10+ years) and strategic career moves into high-demand areas like tax, consulting, or corporate finance. While not the norm for entry-level or mid-level roles, hitting $300k is achievable by focusing on specialized skills, experience, and high-impact positions.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar exam?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?
The top 3 toughest exams globally consistently include China's Gaokao (college entrance), India's IIT-JEE Advanced (engineering), and India's UPSC Civil Services Exam (government jobs), due to their extreme competition, vast syllabi, and life-altering consequences, though other candidates like the All Souls Prize or Master Sommelier Diploma are also noted for extreme difficulty. These exams demand immense knowledge, analytical skills, and endurance, with failure often meaning significant setbacks, making them notoriously difficult.
Which certification is the highest paid?
The highest paying certifications are often in IT/Cloud (AWS, Google Cloud, CISSP), Project Management (PMP, CSM), and specialized areas like Cybersecurity (CISM, CEH), with roles in Cloud Architecture, Security, and Data Science leading salaries, though skilled trades (HVAC, Electrician) and Healthcare (Radiology Tech, Paramedic) also offer strong returns on investment with certifications like PMP, AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, or CISM.
What is harder, CPA or bar exam?
While both are notoriously difficult, many people who've taken both find the CPA exam harder due to its marathon nature (four parts over 18 months) and broad technical scope, compared to the Bar's sprint (one multi-day test) focusing on legal application, though difficulty is subjective and depends on individual strengths in accounting vs. law. The CPA often has lower overall pass rates and requires passing four distinct sections, whereas the Bar tests a single, comprehensive body of legal knowledge, making the CPA feel more like a prolonged, demanding endurance test.
Is it harder to become a CPA or a lawyer?
Key Takeaways
Average pass rates are around 50% for the CPA Exam and 70% for the Bar Exam, reflecting differing levels of difficulty. CPA candidates need a degree in accounting and relevant work experience, while Bar candidates must graduate from an accredited law school.
Can I pass the CPA in 3 months?
You may wonder, can you really pass all four sections of the CPA exam in 3 months? The answer is yes, you can! While the preparation will be tedious, it's definitely doable.
Is a 75% on the CPA Exam passing?
Yes, a score of 75 on the CPA Exam is the passing mark, but it's crucial to understand it's a scaled score (0-99), not a percentage of questions answered correctly; you don't need exactly 75% of answers right, as difficulty and question types (MCQs, Task-Based Simulations) are weighted, meaning a lower percentage of correct answers can still result in a passing score of 75.
Which is the toughest certification?
Gaokao Exam in China, IIT JEE Advanced, Civil Services Exam (CSE)/UPSC, GATE, GRE, Master Sommelier Diploma Exam, ICAI CA Exams, CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert), Mensa International and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) are rated among the top 10 toughest exams in the world in 2025.
Which is harder, LSAT or CPA?
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.
What is the hardest professional degree to get?
What are the hardest degree subjects? The hardest degree subjects are Aerospace Engineering, Law, Chartered Accountancy, Architecture, Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Statistics, Nursing, Physics, Astrophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Astronomy, and Dentistry.
What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?
Yes, jobs paying over $400,000 without a college degree exist, with Walmart Store Managers being a prominent example due to increased bonuses and stock, while other high earners include roles in enterprise tech sales, commercial real estate, high-level trades (like nuclear operators, air traffic controllers), and self-made entrepreneurs/influencers, all relying on high skill, performance, and market demand, not just degrees, according to sources from Tallo and The Wall Street Journal.
How to make $100,000 a year with no degree?
You can earn $100k without a degree through high-demand skilled trades (electrician, plumber, elevator technician), tech roles (software developer, IT), sales (tech, insurance, management), specialized fields (air traffic controller, commercial pilot, nuclear technician, construction manager), or entrepreneurship, focusing on certifications, apprenticeships, experience, and high-value skills over formal education. Success relies on practical expertise and building a portfolio, often bypassing college debt for faster, lucrative entry.
What is the hardest licensing exam?
The USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) stands as America's most challenging standardized test. This three-step examination process requires medical students to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge across all aspects of medicine.
What's the easiest exam in the world?
List of Easiest Exams in the World
- Duolingo English Test (DET)
- TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
- SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
- National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Exams.
- Cambridge English: Key (KET)
- SSC Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) Exam.
- IELTS General Training Test.
- Gaokao Mock Test.
In which country is education toughest?
Here's a list of contries with the toughest education system. 1-China 2-Russia 3-Korea 4-India 5-Singapore 6-Hongkong 8-Italy 9-Poland 10-Czech Do you think this list is incomplete?
Did Joe Biden pass a bar exam?
Yes, Joe Biden passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969 after earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, despite graduating in the lower portion of his class. He practiced law before entering politics, serving as a lawyer and later becoming the 27th President of the United States, and the first President with a law degree from a non-"T-14" law school in a century, notes Law.com.
Did Hillary Clinton pass the bar?
Hillary Clinton took both the Washington DC and Arkansas bar exams. While she passed the Arkansas Bar Exam, she did not pass the bar exam in Washington DC. That did not stop her, though! She went on to practice in the intellectual property field in Arkansas and has since become a leading political figure.
What was Obama's LSAT score?
Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.