Update on Next Version of CPA Examination

March 22, 2016

The continuous improvement of the Uniform CPA Examination (Exam) is necessary to ensure that the Exam continues to align with professional practice, reflects the needs of today’s profession and the work of newly licensed CPAs, and supports the regulatory responsibility of the Boards of Accountancy to license CPAs.

As part of this endeavor, numerous activities, processes and communications must occur prior to the projected April 2017 launch of the next version of the Exam. Read on new information regarding window extensions and transitional credit rules.

10-Day Testing Window Extension

In order to accommodate the anticipated demand for test center seats, the testing window will be extended through the 10th of the third month of each testing window, beginning with the second quarter of 2016 (June 2016, September 2016, December 2016 and March 2017). During the anticipated launch window of the next version of the Exam (April-June 2017), the 10-day extension will be suspended.

Suspending the extension for the launch window will be necessary to allow time for the AICPA to properly calibrate the Exam for scoring. The 10-day extension will be reinstated for Q3 and Q4 of 2017. To schedule your Exam, please visit prometric.com.

Transitional Credit Rules

Due to the commonality of content and sections between the current and next version of the Exam, NASBA and the AICPA have determined that any combination of passing current Exam sections and future Exam sections will count toward completing the examination requirement for licensure.

For example, if a candidate has conditional credit in BEC, they will retain credit for that section until its expiration date (18 months). This holds true for all sections of the Exam.

Upon launch, only the newly-released "Next Version of the Exam" sections will be available for testing. Candidates already in the process will complete any final sections necessary using the next version of the Exam.

We will share additional updates on the next version of the Uniform CPA Examination on this website, as well as our social media networks, as soon as they are available.