US CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

A Certified Public Accountant is a professional who has earned the CPA license from any of the 55 state accountancy boards of USA all of which are part of NASBA (National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy). Each state board has the authority to grant CPA license. One must meet all the requirements of the state board including Education, Experience and Examinations.

Due to the wide spread awareness and acceptance of CPA credential, it’s understood that a CPA possesses the required knowledge of all accounting areas as analysing financial statements, financial planning, tax preparation, internal auditing, income tax and other specializations of accounting. In a nutshell, a CPA is someone who has mastered all the elements of the accounting profession. This is also one of the many reasons, professional organizations seek CPAs for complex accounting and finance jobs.

CPA Exams Eligibility

CPA Exam Eligibility

The CPA Exams are administered by AICPA, the world’s largest accounting body. AICPA offers membership to all the aspirants successfully clearing all 4 CPA exams. CPA license, however is issued by the 55 state boards of accountancy of US that are part of NASBA. Each state board has different eligibility criteria, that needs to be met by the aspirant to take the US CPA exams.

General Rules of Thumb :

  • Master’s Degree in any of the streams of Commerce, Accounting or Finance
  • An aspirant needs 120 credits to take the US CPA exams and 150 credits to get his CPA license
  • It’s considered that one year of University education in India is equal to 30 credits of US education
  • In some cases, first division graduates of a three-year degree from NAAC-A accredited universities of India are qualified to take the US CPA exams too.

Simandhar Education provides free eligibility check that you could use to check if you’re eligible to take the prestigious US CPA certification.

Know your eligibility

US CPA Exam Pattern and Passing Score

How exactly is the CPA exam scored and graded?

A candidate needs a 75 or more score to pass the CPA exam and become a Certified Public Accountant. According to AICPA, the CPA exam is scored on a scale of 0-99. Candidates usually get confused if those 75 scores are supposed to be 75 percent or points. It is necessary to understand that the candidate needs to achieve 75 points to clear the exam successfully.

Multiple-Choice Question Scoring:

The MCQ testlets use what’s called a multi-stage testing approach. This means that as the candidate keeps performing through each section, the level of difficulty of the next changes accordingly. If you perform really well in the first set of questions, the next set will be difficult ones. Difficult MCQs are weighted more than easy MCQs. Thus, one correctly answered difficult MCQ would improve your score more than several correctly answered easy MCQs.

Task-Based Simulation scoring:

These consist of problems that you need to solve based on situations and concepts. They are matching or fill in the blank kind of questions

Written Communication Scoring:

This tests your ability to perform communication tasks like demonstration and creative writing. Mostly the BEC section of the CPA exam has written communication and in this you have to type out the answer in a blank word document.

Simandhar + Becker

Simandhar LMS

Simandhar Education has its own CPA exam review, taught by India’s best CPA instructors like Sripal Jain (CA, CGMA, US CPA), Surinder Kaur (CPA), Srikanth Tadikonda (CMA, CPA), Dhanashree Kshirsagar (CA, CPA), Heena Vithlani (CA,CPA,IFRS with ACCA), Karan Nathvani (CA,MBA-IIM Indore, CISA, CCSK) Amit Kumar Gupta (ACA,ACS,CMA) Sudha Murthy (CA) and Suraj Lakhotia (CA, CIMA). Simandhar has helped hundreds of CPA aspirants clear their CPA exams in India.

Why Simandhar LMS + Becker?

Simandhar CPA LMS coupled with Becker CPA review makes sure that you get all the nourishment required to tackle your CPA exams. The combination ensures that you leave no stone unturned. Along with the regular classes, Simandhar extends support to aspirants through revision classes that have been a hit for a long time among the Indian CPA fraternity.

License

The NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) and the state board of accountancy governs the eligibility rules of CPA. The CPA exam requirements vary by state jurisdiction. Every state board of accountancy has a different set of requirements, but most states have a core set of qualifications for a candidate to be eligible for the CPA exam.

Let’s go through the CPA license requirements.
  • In general, many states ask for 150 credit hours in some specific courses from a university or an accredited institute under NASBA.
  • The candidate should pass the Ethics exam
  • Must have 2,000 hours of work experience in taxation, auditing, accounting and management consultancy (need not be under a CPA supervisor, Mr. Sripal Jain (CA,CPA) can verify for you).
  • Age limit: 18+ years
Besides the above requirements, the candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in Commerce/Accounting/Business with any of the below qualifications:
  • Member of the Institute of Costs & Works Accountants in India
  • Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
  • Member of the Company Secretaries in India
  • MBA
  • Master of Commerce
  • 1

    Consulting Services

  • 2

    Assurance Services

  • 3

    Financial Planning

  • 4

    International Accounting

  • 5

    Information Technology Services

  • 6

    Forensic Accounting

  • 7

    Litigation Services

  • 8

    Non-Profit Organizations

  • 9

    Taxation Services

  • 10

    Business Valuation And Many more

With diverse industry relations and corporate tie-ups, Simandhar Education provides placement assistance to all its CPA learners.

US CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

A Certified Public Accountant is a professional who has earned the CPA license from any of the 55 state accountancy boards of USA all of which are part of NASBA (National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy). Each state board has the authority to grant CPA license. One must meet all the requirements of the state board including Education, Experience and Examinations.

Due to the wide spread awareness and acceptance of CPA credential, it’s understood that a CPA possesses the required knowledge of all accounting areas as analysing financial statements, financial planning, tax preparation, internal auditing, income tax and other specializations of accounting. In a nutshell, a CPA is someone who has mastered all the elements of the accounting profession. This is also one of the many reasons, professional organizations seek CPAs for complex accounting and finance jobs.

CPA Exams Eligibility

  • The CPA Exams are administered by AICPA, the world’s largest accounting body. AICPA offers membership to all the aspirants successfully clearing all 4 CPA exams. CPA license, however is issued by the 55 state boards of accountancy of US that are part of NASBA. Each state board has different eligibility criteria, that needs to be met by the aspirant to take the US CPA exams.

    General Rules of Thumb :

    • Master’s Degree in any of the streams of Commerce, Accounting or Finance
    • An aspirant needs 120 credits to take the US CPA exams and 150 credits to get his CPA license
    • It’s considered that one year of University education in India is equal to 30 credits of US education
    • In some cases, first division graduates of a three-year degree from NAAC-A accredited universities of India are qualified to take the US CPA exams too.

    Simandhar Education provides free eligibility check that you could use to check if you’re eligible to take the prestigious US CPA certification.

    Know your eligibility

US CPA Exam Pattern and Passing Score

How exactly is the CPA exam scored and graded?

A candidate needs a 75 or more score to pass the CPA exam and become a Certified Public Accountant. According to AICPA, the CPA exam is scored on a scale of 0-99. Candidates usually get confused if those 75 scores are supposed to be 75 percent or points. It is necessary to understand that the candidate needs to achieve 75 points to clear the exam successfully.

Multiple-Choice Question Scoring:

The MCQ testlets use what’s called a multi-stage testing approach. This means that as the candidate keeps performing through each section, the level of difficulty of the next changes accordingly. If you perform really well in the first set of questions, the next set will be difficult ones. Difficult MCQs are weighted more than easy MCQs. Thus, one correctly answered difficult MCQ would improve your score more than several correctly answered easy MCQs.

Task-Based Simulation scoring:

These consist of problems that you need to solve based on situations and concepts. They are matching or fill in the blank kind of questions

Written Communication Scoring:

This tests your ability to perform communication tasks like demonstration and creative writing. Mostly the BEC section of the CPA exam has written communication and in this you have to type out the answer in a blank word document.

License

The NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) and the state board of accountancy governs the eligibility rules of CPA. The CPA exam requirements vary by state jurisdiction. Every state board of accountancy has a different set of requirements, but most states have a core set of qualifications for a candidate to be eligible for the CPA exam.


Let’s go through the CPA license requirements.
  • In general, many states ask for 150 credit hours in some specific courses from a university or an accredited institute under NASBA.
  • The candidate should pass the Ethics exam.
  • Must have 2,000 hours of work experience in taxation, auditing, accounting and management consultancy (need not be under a CPA supervisor, Mr.Sripal Jain (CA,CPA) can verify for you).
  • Age limit: 18+ years.
Besides the above requirements, the candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in Commerce/Accounting/Business with any of the below qualifications:
  • Member of the “Institute of Costs & Works Accountants in India.”
  • Member of the “Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.”
  • Member of the “Company Secretaries in India.”
  • MBA.
  • Master of Commerce.

Simandhar + Becker

Simandhar LMS

Simandhar Education has its own CPA exam review, taught by India’s best CPA instructors like Sripal Jain (CA, CGMA, US CPA), Surinder Kaur (CPA), Srikanth Tadikonda (CMA, CPA), Dhanashree Kshirsagar (CA, CPA), Heena Vithlani (CA,CPA,IFRS with ACCA), Karan Nathvani (CA,MBA-IIM Indore, CISA, CCSK) Amit Kumar Gupta (ACA,ACS,CMA) Sudha Murthy (CA) and Suraj Lakhotia (CA, CIMA). Simandhar has helped hundreds of CPA aspirants clear their CPA exams in India.

Why Simandhar LMS + Becker?

Simandhar CPA LMS coupled with Becker CPA review makes sure that you get all the nourishment required to tackle your CPA exams. The combination ensures that you leave no stone unturned. Along with the regular classes, Simandhar extends support to aspirants through revision classes that have been a hit for a long time among the Indian CPA fraternity.

Career opportutities

  • 1

    Consulting Services

  • 2

    Assurance Services

  • 3

    Financial Planning

  • 4

    International Accounting

  • 5

    Information Technology Services

  • 6

    Forensic Accounting

  • 7

    Litigation Services

  • 8

    Non-Profit Organizations

  • 9

    Taxation Services

  • 10

    Business Valuation And Many more

With diverse industry relations and corporate tie-ups, Simandhar Education provides placement assistance to all its CPA learners.


Steps to become CPA

Step 1
Academic evaluation
  • Meeting the educational requirements
Step 2

Apply to take the CPA Exam

  • Submit your application
Step 3

Study for the exam

Step 4

Schedule the exam


  • Receive Notice-to-Schedule (NTS)
  • Schedule exam with Prometric
Step 5

Succeed


  • Take the exam, including the ethics exam
  • Obtain work experience
  • Apply for licensure


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Contact Us 7780273388

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is a designation given by AICPA to the individuals who have passed the Uniform CPA exam, met the required and relevant experience. The CPA designation enforces high professional standards in the field of accounting.

The CPA Exams are administered by AICPA, the world's largest accounting body. AICPA offers membership to all the aspirants successfully clearing all 4 CPA exams. CPA license, however, is issued by the 55 state boards of accountancy of the US that are part of NASBA. Each state board has different eligibility criteria that the aspirant needs to meet to take the US CPA exams.

  • Master's Degree in any of the streams of Commerce, Accounting or Finance
  • An aspirant needs 120 credits to take the US CPA exams and 150 credits to get his CPA license
  • It's considered that one year of University education in India is equal to 30 credits of US education
  • In some cases, first division graduates of a three-year degree from NAAC-A accredited universities of India are qualified to take the US CPA exams too.

There are indeed many job opportunities in India for US CPA qualified professionals. Obviously, there are the big 4s like Deloitte, EY, etc where CPAs have an opportunity. Apart from the big 4s there are many more international companies like PwC India hiring CPAs even right now. According to Naukri.com there are around 26,426 job openings for a CPA in India as of now and this number keeps increasing, changing every day.

There are four sections in the CPA exam:

  • Regulation (REG)
  • Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
  • Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
  • Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)

You need a score of 75 or higher to pass the CPA exam. Specifically, you must earn a 75 or higher on each of the four tests that make up the CPA exam.

There is no negative marking in the US CPA exam.

There are four sections in the CPA exam. The total duration of the exam is 16 hours (4 hours for each section).

Simandhar Education has corporate tie-ups with Invesco, EY, Citrin Cooperman, etc.

CPA has 4 papers compared to the CA exam which has 3 levels and 18 papers on a whole. Moreover, CPA takes less than a year to complete. The CA, on the other hand, takes close to 5 years to complete.

No, ACCA doesn't give credit for CPA. NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) and the state board of accountancy govern CPA's eligibility rules.

Mr. Sripal Jain (CA, CPA) is the Co-Founder and Lead Instructor at Simandhar Education.

CA and US CPA are both professional qualifications. However, the qualities, structures, and durations differ completely; also please note there are no exemptions in any of the subjects as ICAI currently don't have MOU with AICPA, so you will need to write four sections in order to pass the CPA exam.

CPA exam fee is $1000 and International testing fee is $1500. Additionally, $225 for evaluation making the overall CPA exam cost INR 2, 00,000 without training fee.

There are many US firms all over the globe, and a lot of accountancy related assignments are being outsourced to India. There are many US companies now in India, so the job scope is good. Companies like Deloitte, EY, Amazon, Synchrony, Invesco and so many more frequently hire in India.

ACCA is a UK program, it is a good course, but the scope for jobs in UK companies is limited worldwide.

We select the state for you based on your educational background and make sure you get maximum credits as required. US CPA is a uniform exam and the paper will be the same no matter which state you apply from.

CPA US is a 4- paper exam- Online 50% MCQ, 50% SIMS (Case Law based questions)

  • FAR - Financial accounting and reporting-
  • AUD - Audit
  • BEC - Business environment
  • REG - Regulation or US taxation

Exam format: MCQs, simulations, and written communications.
The student will have access to Authoritative literature when he is answering Simulations part in all the 4 papers. Authoritative literature comprises of GAAP, IRS, GAAS where a student can use it to answer, but it requires a lot of practice to locate the exact answer as it is too vast to search.

Yes, a graduation degree from IGNOU is considered valid for the CPA exam. IGNOU Graduation can give you 60 or 90 credits depending on the MOU, if the MOU is for 1 year- then 60 credits, if you're writing B. Com for 3 years – 90 credits.

A qualifications are both related to finance, there are significant differences between the two. A CFA's expertise is focused on the investment industry. Consequently, CFAs work as portfolio managers, investment advisors, and research analysts.
A CPA, on the other hand, is a specialist in accounting and taxes. You can find CPAs working in public accounting and also in the finance departments of small and large businesses.

B.Com gives you a total of 90 credits and to qualify for the CPA exam you need 120 credits but there are certain states which allow you to sit for CPA exam even with 90 credits provided you sign an undertaking that you will meet the balance credits within 18 months of appearing for the first paper. Yes, you can do CPA but you need to sign an undertaking and we will help you with a bridge course to meet the balance credits. Additionally, B. Com with NAAC A- First division is also an eligibility criterion.

A CPA's knowledge is more broad-based. An individual who holds the CPA license would have proper expertise in a wide-variety of finance-related areas. A CFA is a more specialized course and is targeted at those who want to work in the investment management profession. Compare and know the details of both CPA vs CFA designations.

To be eligible to appear for the US CPA exam one must have 120 credits, each graduation is converted into 30 years of credits thereby adding 90 credits for 3 years, if your NAAC A, the first division you will get 30 additional credits. To apply for the license, one must have 150 credits. Although certain other requirements vary by jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has specific requirements about education, experience, and residency. Refer to your jurisdiction's application materials for additional information.


The continuous testing window is applied now; they will need to apply for NTS again and write the exam.

The exam has 324 multiple-choice questions, 20 simulation questions, and 3 written communication (essay) questions.

Both US residents and foreign nationals who meet the requirements of a particular state board can take the CPA exam.

The aspirant who is willing to take the CPA exam must have to pass all four sections (AUD, FAR, BEC & REG) within 18 months. The sections can be taken in any order as per the candidate’s wish and the credit for any of the sections shall be valid for 18 months from the actual exam date. Also, the credit of the examination expires by section. Once the candidate passed outside the period of 18 months then he/she has to retake those sections.

A Certified Public Accountant (US CPA) is someone who has earned a professional designation with a combination of experience, education and licensing. Besides, The US CPA designation enforces high professional standards in the fields of finance and accounting.

In this broad field, CPAs can hold various positions ranging from financial analysts and staff accountants to CFOs. They are responsible for recording, analyzing, and reporting financial information for organizations. Additionally, they perform budgeting and internal auditing functions.

US CPA is a designation given to the individuals who have passed the uniform CPA exam and met required educational qualifications. Chartered Accountant (CA) is the professional who has passed the CA exam.

When it comes to which course is difficult between CPA and CA, we can’t come to a conclusion of stating a particular course. But, we have to know the exam pattern of both CPA and CA.

The CPA exam has 4 parts:

  1. Audit
  2. Regulation
  3. FAR
  4. BEC

The CA exam has 3 levels:

  1. Foundation level
  2. Intermediate level
  3. Final level

In general, the US CPAs work with strict reporting deadlines at heavily regulated industries. It often leads to overtime work regularly. Maybe general accounting work leads to boring work for most people. Apart from the work of CPA, the designation itself has a huge demand across many countries.

CPA can bring many and better opportunities for you. After US CPA, you can explore opportunities in organizations that require knowledge of US GAAP, US Tax and US Audit. CPA US has global recognition, and the scope is not just limited to India or the US, but you can find opportunities across the globe.

US CPA and CFA both are well-respected credentials. The US CPA exam consists of 4 exam parts: AUD, BEC, FAR & REG. Whereas CFA is a three-level exam covering some topics like Economics, Accounting, Ethics, Security Analysis and Money Management. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) has a lower entry-barrier when compared to the US CPA.

One must have to pass the CPA exam within 18 months and meet the required relevant experience of 2 to 3 years in accounting or finance to become a licenced CPA.

Definitely not. The CPA exam just consists of 4 papers, and it's very easy to pass. The exam consists of Multiple Choice Questions, Task-based simulations and Written communication tasks.

According to Payscale, the US CPA's average salary is INR 7,00,000 per year and the average salary of a CFA INR 5,50,000 per year.

A minimum of 12 to 18 months time is enough to clear the CPA exam.

The Certified Public Accountants are in demand across many industries. They can command high salaries because of their expertise in financing. Also, many companies retain the CPA's accounting talent by paying good salaries along with hikes and bonuses.
The average salary for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in India is ₹701,387.

The CPA certification paves countless opportunities to work for some of the most renowned companies around the world.

Mentioned below are some of the best jobs in India for a CPA:

  • Senior Financial Analyst
  • Risk and Compliance Professional
  • Corporate Controller
  • Accounting Software Developer
  • Information technology Accountant
  • Personal Financial Advisor
  • Finance Director
There are indeed many job opportunities in India for US CPA qualified professionals. Obviously, there are Big 4s like Deloitte, EY, etc, where CPAs have an opportunity. Apart from the big 4s, many more international companies like PwC India hire CPAs even right now. According to Naukri.com, there are around 26,426 job openings for a CPA in India as of now, and this number keeps increasing, changing every day.

With more than five years of experience, a US CPA can earn between $68,000 to $130,000.

Yes, you can become an accountant without a CPA designation. The regular Accountant does the reporting and recording of financial transactions. Anyone who does accounting without any professional degree can call themselves an accountant. Without any certification degree, the accountants can perform some tasks like general accounting and bookkeeping.

The educational requirement is to have 120 or 150 credits depending on the state you want to apply for from a NAAC recognized college. A candidate must also have certain designated hours in accounting and each university academic year in India provides 30 credits.
Completing your three-year graduation would provide you with 30*3=90 credits unless you have passed it with first-class you will get 120 credits. In any other case to get the rest credits you must either go for a master's degree or a diploma course at any professional course such as CA/CWA etc. You must also keep in mind that you complete the required hours in accounting or else you will have to take extra classes to complete the rest credits.

The 4 CPA exams are:
  1. Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
  2. Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
  3. Regulation (REG)
  4. Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

Certified Public Accountant

The average salary CPAs earn (in India) is found to be INR 7,68,552 per year. Most people move on to other jobs if they have more than 10 years' experience as CPA. A Chartered Accountant (in India) earns INR 6,08,976 per year on an average.

Both CA and CPA are highly qualified professional certifications, but the CA course (which is limited to only India) has a strong focus on the technical aspects of accounting and complex tax matters. The CPA course (globally recognized) has a broader focus on accounting and business management.

Nowadays, no state board allows associate degree or 3-year degree holders to get the CPA license. Colorado and Michigan used to recognize CA certificates as a prerequisite to sit for the exam, and many Indian candidates applied through them.

CA and CPA both great professions together are definitely an amazing combination. If you are a Chartered Accountant who wishes to explore the world and global opportunities, also get proper experience in MNCs then going for CPA (Certified Public Accountant) certification is your chance to unlock the arena of career options.

CPA is a globally recognized accounting professional, even a B.Com graduate who is unable to do Chartered Accountancy because of the time span of 5 years can do CPA and get a good salary. Being a CPA one can go abroad and set up their own practice or get employment.

Candidates who passed CA (Inter) or CWA (Inter) or CS (Inter) exams are eligible for CPA. And, candidates who have passed MBA (finance) with 70% marks and above (with minimum 4 elective subjects in finance) are eligible for accelerated CPA course.

Yes. The most valuable addition of a CMA certification for an existing CPA is to see how he/she is equipped with working in management accounting, especially the costing area. If the CPA qualification and the external audit job doesn't cover much on management accounting, a CMA certification can help fill the gap.

Yes. In fact, some CMAs go on to get the CPA to further widen their career opportunities. But again, candidates still must meet all of the requirements for the CPA license;they won't get any exam exemptions if a candidate is a CMA holder.

Holding an international designation like CPA Australia is always a value-addition to existing qualifications, provides good career opportunities and helps you stand out from other professionals.

Most people find that the CPA is a bit harder. However, CMA can be more useful for accounting professionals. People who take the CMA will find a greater focus on management accounting. If this is the field they work in already, this is going to be an easier exam.

Having a CPA license also opens the doors to more benefits, whether that comes in the form of better benefits for a higher ranking job or through negotiating power. Since CPAs are in higher demand than their non-CPA counterparts, CPAs can negotiate better benefits.

Doubling down on accounting credentials, especially obtaining both your CPA license and CMA certification can broaden your knowledge base of accounting concepts and skills, enhance your marketability and provide numerous other benefits.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification is a certification that public accountants can obtain in order to provide accounting and financial services to businesses and individuals. A CPA provides assurance for investors, creditors, and other stakeholders who need to evaluate an organization's financial performance.

Yes. Passing the CPA Exam can not only help elevate your personal credentials, but may also help distinguish you from other candidates when applying to new job positions. To get the most out of your accounting career, getting your CPA license is the key to doing so.

A CPA can be a great career for someone who has the right experience and skill sets. They work in some of the most prestigious industries such as banking, finance, and healthcare. With some experience, they can also land jobs with other companies in different industries.

The AICPA does not limit the number of times you may take the CPA Exam. With a pass rate of approximately 50%, steep examination requirements, and regularly updating materials, many candidates will take one or more sections multiple times on their path to the CPA certification.

There are many different jobs that you can get with a CPA, so you'll want to explore your options. Some job opportunities include business taxes, management consulting firms, credit counseling agencies, and private equity firms.

In general, it's recommended that CPA candidates study for 300-400 hours for the CPA exam in total to ensure you pass. Essentially, this equates to about 80-100 hours of CPA study hours for each exam section.

If you failed a CPA exam section, you can sit for it in the next month or two and score 75 or above. You only need 2-6 weeks to study for this retake, assuming you can put in around 15-20 hours per week of CPA exam study time.

The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA Exam) is the examination administered to people who wish to become U.S. Certified Public Accountants.

The CPA exams are conducted four times a year. The months when the Exams are conducted are termed as testing windows. The Testing windows are open for the following four time periods every year.

  • January 1 - March 10
  • April 1 - June 10
  • July 1 - September 10
  • October 1 - December 10

After a successful pilot testing of the CPA exam in India during 2020, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) have decided to switch to continuous CPA Exam testing from January 1, 2021.

The choice totally depends on you. CPA is a better course than an MBA if accounting is your interest. It also opens the avenues of the international job market and you get perfectly equipped for the various job roles across the world.

The Certified Public Accountant or CPA course is equivalent to the CA course in India. CPA course is a license issued by any State out of the 55 States of the USA. After the completion of course, the CPA professionals can find high-profile jobs in the sectors of banking, construction, financial services and manufacturing etc.

If you are interested in management opportunities or general business consulting, then an MBA would be better. On the other hand, you should become a CPA, especially if you want to work for a big four accounting firm.

A certified public accountant, or CPA, is a finance professional who has passed the CPA exam and helps individuals, organizations and businesses interpret and communicate their financial data. CPAs assist with managing expenses, investments, taxes, audits and planning and reaching financial goals.

The main difference between CAs and CPAs is that the CPA is used in the United States, while CA is used in India. If these CA professionals pass a test, their qualifications can transfer to the United States, working as CPAs.

What you should study after CPA depends on what you want to do. If you want to go into the finance industry, then it is best to take a course in accounting. If you want to work in marketing, then it is best to take a course in marketing or management.

Yes. It is possible to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), especially if the candidate has met the 150 semester hours of college coursework required to be licensed.

Yes. The CPA and CFA combination is best suited if you plan to work in the research department within investment banks, hedge funds, and mutual funds or plan to hold another job in the investment or finance community.

Testing for CPA Exam candidates at test centres in India will begin on January 1, 2021. Also, the candidates may begin to use the scheduler on November 2, 2020.

Indian candidates may schedule to take the "US CPA Exam" in the Prometric locations given below:

  • Hyderabad
  • Ahmedabad
  • Mumbai
  • Delhi
  • Bangalore
  • Chennai
  • Kolkata
  • Trivandrum

The Certified Public Accountants are in demand across many industries. They can command high salaries because of their expertise in financing. Also, many companies retain the CPA's accounting talent by paying good salaries along with hikes and bonuses.

The average salary for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in India is ₹701,387.

The CPA exam requirements vary by state jurisdiction. Every state board of accountancy has a different set of requirements, but most states have a core set of qualifications for a candidate to be eligible for the CPA exam.

Below are the requirements to obtain CPA license.

  • In general, many states ask for 150 credit hours in some specific courses from a university or an accredited institute under NASBA.
  • The candidate should pass the Ethics exam.
  • Must have 2,000 hours of work experience in taxation, auditing, accounting and management consultancy.
  • Age limit: 18+ years.

Yes, Candidates who passed CA (Inter) exam are also eligible to do CPA.

Simandhar Education follows Becker (a global education provider headquartered in the US) study material for CPA.

Simandhar Education provides you with access to Live Interactive classes from anywhere in the world and provides the facility to access recorded videos for students who seek to revisit the material taught.

The reasons behind "How Simandhar Education different from other Institutes" are:

  • The Becker product and live classes are very effective.
  • CPA course at Simandhar is inexpensive.
  • It has good placement assistance.
  • It is associated with all Big 4s & multinationals, and alumni of Simandhar have placed in MNCs.
  • Simandhar has a wide network of world-class trainers, teachers and industry-experts across domains, especially CPA, CMA, EA, CIA, IFRS & HRCI.

2020 CPA Exam Pass Rates

Section First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter
AUD 47.97% 65.29% 56.89%
BEC 61.76% 76.92% 69.89%
FAR 46.37% 62.86% 55.67%
REG 55.42% 74.97% 66.12%
  • Simandhar Education provides you with access to Live Interactive classes from anywhere in the world.
  • Provides the facility to access recorded videos for students who seek to revisit the material taught.
  • Supports its students by placing them in Top F & A companies, Big 4 etc.
  • All the teachers at Simandhar are CPA qualified and rank holder Chartered Accountants (CAs) from India.
  • Personal grooming sessions for interviews.
  • Attention on individual candidates.
  • It provides placement opportunities.

275+ hours of video lessons per section by Top CPA.

No, US CMA doesn't give credit for CPA.

Yes, Simandhar Education provides evaluation and licensing assistance for CPA. The CPA aspirant must have 2,000 hours of work experience in taxation, auditing, accounting and management consultancy (need not be under a CPA supervisor, Mr.Sripal Jain (CA,CPA) can verify for you).

US CPA license is used mainly when one wants to be self-employed and practice as a Certified Public Accountant living in the US.

A CPA's knowledge is more broad-based. An individual who holds the CPA license would have expertise in a wide variety of finance-related areas. A CFA is a more specialized course and is targeted at those who want to work in the investment management profession. Compare the details of CPA vs CFA designations.

Certified Public Accountants work in a wide range of professions. You can find them in banking, financial services, government jobs, and education. However, most CPAs are employed in public accounting or corporate accounting.

No, the exam is NOT in an open book format. You are not allowed any resources in the testing center while taking the exam.

The Notice to Schedule (NTS) is your notification that you may begin scheduling your examination with Prometric. It is a Hall ticket. NTS is issued in 2-4 weeks of exam application at the CPA Central.

Certified Public Accountants provide a range of services across different types of organizations.

  • Public accounting firms: CPAs are involved in the preparation, review, and auditing of their clients' financial statements. Their expert knowledge in the fields of accounting, taxes, and related areas helps them to fulfil this role.
  • Large corporations: Big companies need the services of CPAs. In these organizations, CPAs work in accounting, internal auditing, and tax accounting. They play a crucial role in preparing the corporation's financial statements and ensuring that these adhere to the required regulatory norms.
  • Small businesses: CPAs can play an important role in small companies as well. They provide financial advice and can help with the firm's accounting records. Many small businesses use CPAs to assist them with their taxes and to represent them before the IRS.
  • You can also find CPAs working in government organizations and the educational sector. If you choose to work in public accounting, you could join one of the "Big 4" accounting firms – Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, or KPMG. These firms, as well as their smaller counterparts, provide accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services. Many CPAs also opt to work in corporations and government entities. Their job could involve managerial or tax accounting, internal auditing, or financial analysis.

To be eligible to appear for the US CPA exam one must have 120 credits, each graduation is converted into 30 years of credits thereby adding 90 credits for 3 years, if your NAAC A, the first division you will get 30 additional credits. To apply for the license, one must have 150 credits. Although certain other requirements vary by jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has specific requirements about education, experience, and residency. Refer to your jurisdiction's application materials for any additional information.

Your NTS will be valid for a specific amount of time. This time varies by jurisdiction. For most of the states, it is valid for 6 months whereas for a few it has 9 months validity. You must sit for the examination before your NTS expires. If you do not sit for the examination within the established time frame, your NTS will be expired and you will need to submit a new application to receive a new NTS. The expiration date will be mentioned on the NTS.

You need a score of 75 or higher to pass the CPA exam. Specifically, you must earn a 75 or higher on each of the four tests that make up the CPA exam.

If you are appearing for exams in any country other than the US you will have to take the license within 3 years of passing the CPA exam or your credits will lapse. If you appear for the exam in the US you have to apply for a license within 10 years.

Yes, you can hold a multiple state license provided you meet the CPE (Continuous Professional Education) as per the state rule.


To decide when to take the CPA exam, follow these steps:

  • Submit your application and all required fees to your state board of accountancy. When the state board approves your application, it contacts the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
  • NASBA reviews the state board information, including the tests you are allowed to take. NASBA sends you a Notice to Schedule (NTS).
  • Use your NTS to contact Prometric and set up a date and time to take your test. The CPA exam provides testing windows, which are basically periods of when the candidates can take tests.

The US exam is administered by AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), which is the largest accounting body in the world.

The daily responsibilities of the CPA include:

  • Updating and organizing accounting records as needed.
  • Performing detailed audits in financial documents.
  • Analyzing and preparing reports on transactions.

The US CPA exam fee will be around $3,000. In India, the cost of the US CPA exam is approximately 2.25L approx.

  • CPA Auditing and Attestation (AUD) Exam Fee - $250
  • CPA Regulation (REG) Exam Fee - $250
  • CPA Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) - $250
  • CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting - $250
For the US CPA exam papers, $1500 is paid as the International testing fees for the students who plan to take the exams out of the US.
250 USD is paid for the CPA application.
225 USD is paid to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

After passing the CPA exam, there's a need to wait for congratulatory messages from the state board. Sometimes, it could be many months. Also, don't freak if you get it within a week.
You have to do something valuable before getting the congratulatory letter.
Take a print out of the CPA licensing form and verify it with the suitable person and ask for the favour. It’s a time taking process, but you have to do it.
If you want to upgrade your career, it’s the right time to spend on drafting your resume.
Take Ethics exam of CPA:
The next is to take the CPA ethics exam, don’t bother about the exam if it is not mentioned in the congratulatory letter, as many states don’t have this need. Some states like California, run their CPA exam. But, whereas many other states ask the candidates for the competition of the test.
Fulfil the work experience:
Many states need Certified Public Accountants to accumulate relevant experience in accounting. Sufficient experience in public accounting is enough in taxation and general accounting. The majority of the states in the U.S require you to supervise your experience and should be verified with a CPA license.

Absolutely Not. Only when you have good knowledge in US auditing standards, US GAAP, and US tax laws can you study CPA by yourself if you are new to CPA syllabus/material and then go for training from some of the best institutes like Simandhar Education.

You are allowed to retake the US CPA Exam as many times as you would like.

After passing the CPA exam, there’s a need to wait for congratulatory messages from the state board. Sometimes, it could be many months. Also, don’t freak if you get within a week.
You have to do something valuable before getting the congratulatory letter.
Take a print out of the CPA licensing form and verify it with the suitable person and ask for the favour. It’s a time taking process, but you have to do it.
If you want to upgrade your career, it’s the right time to spend on drafting your resume.
Take Ethics exam of CPA:
The next is to take the CPA ethics exam, don’t bother about the exam if it is not mentioned in the congratulatory letter, as many states don’t have this need. Some states like California, run their CPA exam. But, whereas many other states ask the candidates for the competition of the test.
Fulfil the work experience:
Many states need Certified Public Accountants to accumulate relevant experience in accounting. Sufficient experience in public accounting is enough in taxation and general accounting. Majority of the states in the U.S require you to supervise your experience and should be verified with a CPA license.

There are indeed many job opportunities in India for US CPA qualified professionals. Obviously, there are big 4s like Deloitte, EY, etc., where CPAs have an opportunity. Apart from the big 4s, many more international companies like PwC India hire CPAs even right now. According to Naukri.com, there are around 26,426 job openings for a CPA in India as of now, and this number keeps increasing, changing every day.

The skills that are needed to be a CPA are:

  • Business acumen
  • Up-to-date tax knowledge
  • Technical abilities
  • Presentation prowess
  • Additional auditing training
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Management and leadership strength

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is a designation given by AICPA to the individuals who have passed the Uniform CPA exam, met the required and relevant experience. The CPA designation enforces high professional standards in the field of accounting.

CPA exam consists of 4 sections.

  1. Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
  2. Regulation (REG)
  3. Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
  4. Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
There are 3 types of questions in the CPA exam:

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) vary from one sentence to paragraph length questions with 4 options. Task-Based Simulations (TBS) require candidates to type in answers and may include research questions, journal entries, reconciling accounts, filling out a form with MCQs, or filling out sections of reports. Written communication tasks test the candidate's ability through writing; they must be in the BEC section.

CPA Exam Content Areas by Sections:

Auditing and Attestation (AUD):
  • Developing a Planned Response & Assessing Risk (20 to 30%)
  • Professional Responsibilities, Ethics & General Principles (15 to 25%)
  • Obtaining Evidence & Performing Further Procedures (30 to 40%)
  • Reporting and Forming Conclusions (15 to 25%)
Regulation (REG):
  • Federal Tax Procedures, Professional Responsibilities and Ethics (10 to 20%)
  • Business Law (10 to 20%)
  • Federal Taxation of Property Transactions (12 to 22%)
  • Federal Taxation of Individuals (15 to 25%)
  • Federal Taxation of Entities (28 to 38%)
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR):
  • Standard-Setting, Conceptual Framework, and Financial Reporting (25 to 35%)
  • Select Financial Statement Accounts (30 to 40%)
  • Select Transactions (20 to 30%)
  • State and Local Governments (5 to 15%)
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC):
  • Corporate Governance (17 to 27%)
  • Economic Concepts and Analysis (17 to 27%)
  • Financial Management (11 to 21%)
  • Information Technology (15 to 25%)
  • Operations Management (15 to 25%)

You have to do a bachelor's degree. The educational requirement is to have 120 or 150 credits depending on the state you want to apply for from a NAAC recognized college. A candidate must also have certain designated hours in accounting and each university academic year in India provides 30 credits.
Completing your three-year graduation would provide you with 30*3=90 credits unless you have passed it with first-class you will get 120 credits. In any other case to get the rest credits you must either go for a master's degree or a diploma course at any professional course such as CA/CWA etc. You must also keep in mind that you complete the required hours in accounting or else you will have to take extra classes to complete the rest credits.

Testing for CPA Exam candidates at test centers in India has begun on January 1, 2021. The CPA aspirants can take the exam sections without restrictions, other than waiting to receive scores from prior attempts of the same section or a major change to the exam. Continuous Testing will replace the existing limited CPA Exam Testing Window model, which only permits candidates to test in India during designated time frames.
The 55 U.S. Accountancy Boards support the move to continuous testing in India. This shift to a continuous testing model in India signifies the power of alignment among state boards, NASBA, AICPA and Prometric as these organizations continue to support Exam candidates on their journey to CPA. Candidates are asked to visit the NASBA's website to confirm that their Accountancy Board has transitioned to the Continuous Testing model.
Exam Locations: In India, the CPA exam will happen in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Trivandrum.

There are 4 subjects in the CPA exam:

  • Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
  • Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
  • Regulation (REG)
  • Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional accountant who has met state qualifications and has acquired an additional level of credibility and expertise. A US CPA is equivalent to an Indian CA. To be licensed as a CPA, an accountant must pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and meet other educational and work criteria necessary to become a CPA. As opposed to accountants, only CPAs can perform mandatory audits for publicly traded U.S. companies.
An accountant is a practitioner who engages in accounting through preparation and audit of financial statements, bookkeeping, and financial analysis. Accountants are a level up from bookkeepers. They can (but usually don\'t) perform bookkeeping functions. Still, they usually prepare detailed financial statements, perform audits of the books of public companies, and prepare reports for tax purposes.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is an individual who is specifically trained and certified to provide various accounting services, namely preparing financial statements for large organizations, preparing taxes, etc., to their customers. CPA is a highly qualified certification where you gain proper expertise in audit, tax, and accounting.
CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) covers most parts of finance and investment. Chartered Financial Analyst analyses various financial options and provides the best investment options for financial planners. CFA also provides options to the higher management of different investment companies.
CPA is a more widely recognized credential and is a great path for those who are interested in a career in finance or accounting. The CFA has a lower entry barrier, but it takes much more time to complete. Becoming a qualified CPA is a more flexible process and can be accomplished within a shorter period. Both the certifications are valuable and worth the time and money invested. Both the credentials have what you might be looking for if you plan to pursue a career in finance and accounting.

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is great if you want to rise up the finance department at a corporate business and ultimately become the CFO. Within, or if you want to rise up the ranks at a public accounting firm. Both offer good opportunities for people looking to break into corporate finance.

Based on the historical passing rates, it can be said that the CFA exams are much more complex than the CPA exams. The overall passing rate of all the four parts of the CPA exams was more than 50%. Therefore, even though the material is more accessible for the CPA exam, the CFA exam is probably four to five times more difficult.

A CFA generally analyzes financial reports and financial statements, while a CPA is the one that audits those reports. CFAs are best known for investment analysis and wealth planning, and CPAs tend to be associated with taxes, audits, and accounting.

CPA professionals usually pursue the career of an accountant or financial advisor. ... Over the course of the career, the average salary of a CPA hovers around $120,000, while that of a CMA is around $100,000.

Yes, generally, most Indian B.Com graduates are eligible to take the CPA exam. Every year of university education in India is equivalent to 30 semester US Education credits, totaling 90 credits at the end of 3 years.

To pursue a CPA certification programme, the candidate must have a graduation degree or equivalent. To earn the CPA license, the candidate must complete 150 hours of the CPA course semester.

The CPA Examination comprises four sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Regulation (REG). All four sections contain multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and task-based simulations (TBS).

Certified Public Accountant or CPA is similar to the CA program in India. CPA course is a license issued by any state out of the 55 States of the USA. This license authorizes the professionals to practice as a public accountants in a particular region or State.

The job of CPA involves maintaining and auditing the financial records of the public or organizations. They also act as consultants in the areas of accounts, finances, budget, etc.

The minimum CPA Exam passing score is 75 points, but that doesn't mean you need to answer 75% of questions correctly in order to pass.

Of the total 66 multiple choice questions (MCQs) on the FAR CPA Exam.

CPA Task-Based Simulations are scenario-based questions on the CPA Exam. Each one will introduce a situation, provide data in the form of charts, memos, and emails, and require you to answer a series of questions.

None of the questions in the CPA exam carry a penalty for an incorrect answer, so you shouldn't leave any questions blank.

Your employer, including your current boss and future employers, cannot request to see your scores. So, even if they write to NASBA, the AICPA, or your state board, they cannot see the results of your CPA exam.

Insert a section called “Certifications” at the top of your resume and detail how many parts of the CPA Exam you have completed so far. This section is even more essential if and when you have other certifications to add to it.

You cannot bring any notes, published materials or calculators into the exam. But, the provided AICPA calculator for CPA Exams will meet all of your calculating needs.

Ye, you will have access to an exam version of Microsoft Excel. Some of the functions are limited, but you can still use Excel to do basic math.

The Regulation (REG) section of the CPA Exam tests a CPA candidate's knowledge and skill level on federal taxation, business law, business ethics, and professional and legal responsibilities.

The REG section of the CPA exam is challenging because this section covers business law, federal taxation, and rules of professional conduct for CPAs.

The AICPA recommends that CPA Candidates spend a minimum of 300 to 400 hours to study for the CPA Exam. That's about 16.7 days of consecutive study time—needless to say, it's a lot.

The actual BEC CPA Exam is four hours long with one 15-minute break built in between the first and second task-based simulation testlets.

Students often report that Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) is the most difficult part of the CPA Exam to pass, because it is the most comprehensive section.

While every state/jurisdiction has its own unique requirements for obtaining a CPA license, they all require that a candidate pass the CPA Exam, and you have 18 months to finish all 4 parts of the CPA Exam.

No. NASBA only keeps Exam files for one year after the date of passing. If you passed the Exam over a year ago, you will need to submit your transcripts once more.

BEC is the easiest of the exams because it has three task-based simulations (TBSs). Exam-takers also tend to find BEC's three written communication tasks easier than the written communication questions in the other sections of the exam.

Candidates can get a score that ranges from 0 to 99 in each of the four sections of the CPA exam. The scores are calculated using a weighted combination of scaled scores from each of the portions in the different sections of the exam.

The AICPA scores the Uniform CPA Examination on a weighted scale of 0 to 99, where a 75 or greater is a passing score. Candidates' target score release dates depend on their “testing window”, or the period they sat for the CPA Exam.

The main difference between the CMA vs CPA credential is the CPA is more suited for public accounting and the CMA is more suited toward industry.

If you are interested in auditing, taxation, reporting, and regulation, then you should opt for CPA, while if you are interested in management, strategic analysis, and decision making, then CMA is a better choice for you.

According to industry data, a CPA earns 15% more in average salary than a non-CPA accountant. However, CMA certification translates to a 63% premium in compensation over professionals without a CMA.


According to the AICPA, 2021 CPA Exam scores will be released on the following CPA Exam score release dates:

If you take your exam on/before: Your target score release date is:
23rd January, 2021 9th February, 2021
15th February, 2021 23rd February, 2021
23rd February, 2021 18th March, 2021
31st March, 2021 09th April, 2021
23rd April, 2021 11th May, 2021
16th May, 2021 25th May, 2021
08th June, 2021 16th June, 2021
30th June, 2021 13th July, 2021
23rd July, 2021 10th August, 2021
15th August, 2021 24th August, 2021
07th September, 2021 15th September, 2021
30th September, 2021 12th October, 2021
23rd October, 2021 09th November, 2021
15th November, 2021 23rd November, 2021
8th December, 2021 16th December, 2021
31st December, 2021 11th January, 2022

Once you have found the estimated date your scores will be released, you will need to login to the NASBA website to access your scores. NASBA releases your scores to your state board of accountancy, but be aware that not all boards use the online score retrieval service, so check with your state board for support on where to find your CPA scores.

For most candidates, Prometric sends Exam data files to the AICPA within 24 hours after you complete testing.

Your target release dates are based on two factors:

  • When you sat for your CPA section
  • When the AICPA receives your test data from the Prometric Center

Most of the changes have been delayed due to the pandemic. Here there are minor changes made to the exam for January 2021, there isn’t a major change.

Regulation (REG)

Removal of the CARES Act changes which were made in October 2020

Exam Topic: Individual and Corporate Taxation.

Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
  • ASU 2018-14—Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.
  • ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.

Auditing and Business Environment & Concepts Increased emphasis on the following:

  • Understanding automated business processes and the risks involved
  • The importance of having a digital and data-driven mindset as well as the use of data analytics.
  • System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports on controls over financial reporting at a service organization.
  • Other specific changes would be outlined in the January 2021 CPA Exam Blueprints
  • Topics Expected to be Expanded on the CPA Exam
  • Here are the topics which are highly expected to be expanded more in the CPA Exam in India.
  • Digital and Data-Driven Mindset and Other Technological Impacts

Business processes and internal controls

Use of SOC 1 reports
  • IT system infrastructure
  • Data flows
  • Effect of general and application controls on the completeness and reliability of data
  • Use of automated tools and data analytics in the audit
  • Skepticism and judgment in analyzing data BEC (Business Environment and Concepts)
  • Business processes and internal controls
Understanding the importance of SOC 1 reports for outsourced IT functions
  • Use of data and business intelligence
  • Data governance
  • Data management
  • Data relationships
  • Working with data (extraction, transformation, and loading)

Topics Expected to be Removed from the Exam:

There are certain topics that are also expected to be removed from the uniform US CPA Exam which are:

  • IFRS (FAR)
  • Estate Tax (REG)

Changes in Content and Skill Weighting:

AUD
  • Content Area II, Risk Assessment and Planning, increasing by 5%
  • Content Area IV, Reporting, decreasing by 5%
  • Skills Weighting shifting to higher level by 5% (i.e, from Remembering & Understanding to Analysis)

In order to get your CPA score by the targeted release date, the AICPA needs to receive your result file before the end of the cut-off date from the Prometric testing center. Many factors are causing the delay in receiving the result. NASBA, AICPA, or the Prometric cannot guarantee that the candidate result file that candidate’s result file will be sent to AICPA on the same day or not.

At present, NASBA has no plans to open a center in the Cayman Islands.

NASBA does not anticipate boards doing any further blanket extensions for Notices to Schedule (NTS).

The candidate’s jurisdictions will provide all the required information on the next steps in order to obtain the CPA license. One needs to complete the education, meet relevant experience and take the ethics exam.

Scoring is fully automated for all Exam components except the written communication tasks. Most written communication responses are scored by a computer grading program, which is calibrated using human scorers. In some cases, responses are scored by a network of human graders (all CPAs). If your score is close to the passing score, your written communication tasks will be automatically re-graded by human graders. When there is more than one grader for a response, the average of the scores is used as the final grade. The AICPA uses Item Response Theory (IRT) for the objective portion of the Exam. IRT is a well-established psychometric approach to scoring used by licensing and certification examinations that administer many different test forms. All scoring routines, whether automated or not, are verified at various stages of the scoring process.

I have been grounded due to the flight restrictions, and I was not able to go to the UK or Germany to take the final test (BEC). You may request an NTS extension from your board if there are circumstances beyond your control which prohibit you from testing. The board will require evidence of any hardship.

The requirement to pass the Examination within 18 months is a board rule, regulation or statute. You may request an extension from your board if there are circumstances beyond your control, which prohibit you from testing. The board will require evidence of any hardship.

They will need to pass all remaining parts before their credit expires or lose the credit.

You may request an extension from your board if there are circumstances beyond your control which prohibit you from testing. The board will require evidence of any hardship.

Yes, you may apply for as many parts as you would like when you apply. We encourage you to only apply for the parts you plan to take within the length of time on your NTS.

  • Content Area I, Corporate Governance, increasing by 3%
  • Content Area II, Economics, decreasing by 2%
  • Content Area III, Financial Management, decreasing by 1%
  • No change in Skills Weighting

There are no particular weighting changes for FAR and REG

AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) publishes the blueprints and summary of the revisions. For complete information about CPA material, click: AICPA.

NASBA has opened testing in Canada and will continue to test there until June 30, 2021.

There are no plans to offer the Examination online for international candidates.

No, the NTS is valid for one Examination session.

No, our systems do not allow us to change sections.

No, candidates may schedule their Exam during that time.

The same criteria is used for any test centers outside the United States. The international locations and extended countries have been evaluated based on a set of criteria, including:

  • Volume demand as demonstrated by candidates from those countries taking the Exam in the United States
  • Ability to deliver the Exam without legal obstacles
  • The security threat to the Exam (both physical security at test center and intellectual property security of Exam content) assessed at levels equivalent to those presented domestically
  • Existence of established Prometric test centers

At this time, countries that have not met those criteria to the combined satisfaction of NASBA, the AICPA and Prometric are not under consideration as testing locations or extended countries. While we appreciate the desire for the Exam to be available in many locations to all candidates, we can best serve the Boards of Accountancy and the accounting profession by ensuring a safe, reliable, and valid Exam.

There are no time restrictions to testing in India.

Yes, you may show an electronic version of your NTS.

You may request an extension from your board if there are circumstances beyond your control which prohibit you from testing. The board will require evidence of any hardship.

The 18-month period is set inboard rules, regulations and statute. There are no plans to change this period. You may request an extension from your board if there are circumstances beyond your control which prohibit you from testing. The board will require evidence of any hardship.

While each candidate will have their own journey toward becoming a CPA, one thing remains the same – the journey as a whole is a hard one, but one that is worth it.


AICPA & NASBA administered the CPA exam in India at eight Prometric test centers.

  • Hyderabad
  • Ahmedabad
  • Mumbai
  • Delhi
  • Bangalore
  • Chennai
  • Kolkata
  • Trivandrum

Testing for CPA Exam candidates at test centers in India will begin January 1, 2021. Also, the candidates may begin to use the scheduler on November 2, 2020.

To take the CPA exam in India, you must be a long-term resident or citizen of the following countries:

  • India
  • Bhutan
  • Bangladesh
  • Myanmar
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Sri Lanka
  • United States

AICPA had given an official statement regarding this stating that CPA exams will be held in India in December 2020. However, due to continuous havoc by COVID-19 even this decision was very unclear.

In times like these CPA exams being held in India is something that the candidates are really concerned about. Now the AICPA and NASBA have come to a proper conclusion finally and gave great news for all CPA aspirants that the CPA exam will be held in India continuously every month from January, 2021.

If you have already paid for the international administration process for another test region and wish to move to India, please send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

  • Name
  • Jurisdiction
  • Jurisdiction ID
  • Examination section
  • Exam Section ID
  • Current international test country
  • New international test country

US CPA Exam in India Every Month from 2021

NASBA AICPA and Prometric announced good news for all the CPA aspirants: Testing for CPA Exam candidates at test centers in India will begin January 1, 2021. Also, the candidates may begin to use the scheduler on November 2, 2020.

US CPA aspirants can take the CPA course and exam sections after fulfilling all the required CPA eligibility criteria without restrictions, other than waiting to receive scores from prior attempts of the same section or when there is a major change to the exam. Continuous Testing will replace the existing limited CPA Exam Testing Window model, which only permits candidates to test in India during designated time frames.

CPA cost / CPA Exam fees in India

Previously students/CPA aspirants had to bear additional expenses for traveling and accommodation since they had to appear for the CPA exams in the US only. But, now that is not the case, everything about US CPA and CPA exam in India - Hear directly from AICPA & NASBA Watch Here – CPA exam is now going to be held in India itself, which is indeed an amazing news for all the CPA candidates as they can save on a lot of expenses this way.

CPA Cost Breakdown

Particulars Cost in INR
Exam fees (per section $250) ₹ 73,000
International testing fees ** ₹ 1,09,500
Evaluation fees ₹ 16,425
Application fees ₹ 14,600
CPA exam fees ₹ 2,13,525

** Please note International testing fees is not applicable If you are writing CPA exam in USA.

CPA license is awarded by all of the 55 state board of accountancy (typically, the entire evaluation process, eligibility of CPA, and state board selection will be outsourced to Simandhar, and you need to STUDY). International candidates need to earn the CPA license within 3 years of clearing the CPA exams (else, CPA exam credits lapse!). Need to fulfill the 4E criteria:

  • Exams - Pass the 4 CPA exams in a 10-12 months time frame.
  • Education - 150 credits [ Simandhar has a bridge course to help you in getting desired credit.
  • Experience - 1 year [need not be under a CPA supervisor; Our Lead Instructor Sripal Jain, CPA, and Licensed US CPA holder, can verify for you.
  • Ethics - Online on-demand exam and open book.

Get in touch with us for Free CPA Eligibility Check

Simandhar vs Other Institutes

Particulars Simandhar CPA Training Others
CPA Training Live online training by Sripal Jain and other subject matter experts of Simandhar apart from Becker faculties No Live training, only Recorded and outdated videos
Content Only Institute in India to provide Becker product and Live classes, Almost 90% students prepare through Becker product Local content and outdated
Number of hours More number of Hours on Live classes and very suitable training for Non accounting students too as its more concept oriented Very less hours of Teaching and no conceptual clarity
Clarity on Evaluation and state board selection 100% Support on evaluation, licensing , board selection No Idea on CPA eligibility or licensing
Mentoring One to One mentoring and success plan by India's number one CPA Instructor- Sripal Jain No direct access to faculties
Placement Placement support through kikifin ( Simandhar Placement arm ) and sometimes even to Non students too No Support
Corporate tie-ups Strong Corporate tie ups with big 4s, also enjoy exclusive training partner in Few Big 4s No Corporate session nor tie ups
Toastmasters Club To groom the students and make them much more confident. To also build their skills. No clubs
Personality development group Developments groups to help and guide all the students regularly be it personal or professional No such groups for guidance
Stock Market Group We have students be a part of the stock market group to create financial literacy amongst them. No such knowledge improving groups


CPA Corporate Tie-Ups of Simandhar

Simandhar Education has Corporate Tie-ups with Invesco, EY, Citrin Cooperman, Invesco, Eisner Amper, Initor Global, American Insurance group (AIG) Deloitte, BDO etc.

Sripal Jain CA, CPA, CGMA (Equivalent to UK CMA)
Co-Founder & Lead Instructor, Simandhar Education
Guest Faculty, IIM
Winner of Best Edupreneur Award, Telangana Region

From the Founder's Desk

We don’t claim to make your life easier, but we promise to stay by your side throughout your journey of becoming an Accounting professional. We believe that every mistake that you make, every failure that you face – you become stronger. And that is exactly why we encourage you to keep learning.

We invite you to become a US CPA or US CMA professional by clearing just two exams. From live sessions to recorded ones, from providing training with some of the top experts of the industry to providing placement assistance – we provide end-to-end service and solutions to help you excel in the field of Accounting & Finance.

So why wait? Start your journey of US CPA or US CMA today and get placed in the Big 4s – Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC.

Make your global accounting career with US CPA
(Certified Public Accountant) in India

CPA acronym stands for ‘Certified Public Accountant.’ CPA is one of the highest accounting credentials in the world administered by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Professional Accountants). CPA is considered the gold standard in the fields of accounting and finance. Consisting of just four exams, CPA’s curriculum uses some of the most advanced testing techniques to test aspirants all over the world if they’re worthy of the designation CPA. Lakhs of aspirants take US CPA exams every year to grow professionally into Public Accountants, Financial Analysts, Controllers, and many other roles.

CPA designation offers great value, it gives you

    • Significant Career Opportunities
    • International Recognition
    • Global Qualification
    • Extensive Knowledge about Accounting, Auditing, Finance, Tax, Business Economics and International Accounting Standards (US GAAP + IFRS)
    • Elite Network of CPAs
    • Authority to practice Public Accountancy all over the world (in India as well)

Kickstart your CPA Career

CPA For Diverse Accounting Career Options

A licensed Certified Public Accountant is fit to hold any financial and accounting position in the organization. CPAs maintain high standards of accounting and financial knowledge and ethics; they’re usually absorbed into roles such as auditors, consultants, advisors, tax accountants, etc. A CPA has many options to move into any role in the profession of accounting.

US CPA for CA’s (Chartered Accountants) in India

A few state boards of US have an MoU with the ICAI which allows the chartered accountants to take the US CPA exam without pursuing any additional degree in accounting, commerce or other streams, which are usually required for non-CA’s. India CA and US CPA are similar in a few ways, as they both deal with professional accountancy. However, there are a few distinct differences between the two.

Some differences between CA and CPA:

Point of Difference Indian CA US CPA
Eligibility of Candidate ICAI decides 55 State Boards (Rules vary)
Exams Administered by ICAI AICPA
Licensed by ICAI 55 State Boards (Rules vary)
Duration 4-5 Years 18 Months Maximum
Levels of Toughness 3 Single level
Total No. of Exams 20 4
Exam Pattern Descriptive Objective
Overall Passing percentage 10-15% 50-60%
Recognition Well Recognized Well Recognized

US CPA for CS’s (Company Secretaries) in India

Like the CA’s, a few state boards of US have an MoU with the ICSI which allows the company secretaries (CS) to take the US CPA exam. However, it varies with the state board of accountancy.

  • The Demand of their Profession -

    • Company Secretaries are required to earn CPA to chair a few high-profile roles for the organizations they work in.

  • Similarity In CS and CPA Curriculum -

    • Part of CPA's curriculum is similar to CS's curriculum, which makes it easier for CS's to pursue additional professional qualification.

  • Additional Professional Credential -

    • Besides CS, they pursue CPA, a global credential to make their mark in the international arena as it opens new career avenues.

Being a member of ICSI earns a few perks while pursuing CPA. Depending on the state board of accountancy, CS's earn 60 semester credits to pursue CPA in India.

US CPA for CMA’s in India

CMA is a popular professional credential in India. Thousands of CMA's pursue CPA for various reasons.

Career shift from Cost Accounting to Other accounting:

While CPA focuses on all parts of accounting, CMA focuses on Cost Accounting. CMAs in India pursue CPA to broaden their spectrum of knowledge and explore new career opportunities in India as well as worldwide.

Additional Professional Credential:

Besides CS, they pursue CPA, a global credential to make their mark in the international arena, opening new career avenues.

Being a member of ICSI earns a few perks while pursuing CPA. Depending on the state board of accountancy, CS's earn 60-semester credits to pursue CPA in India.

CPA Curriculum

Curriculum of US CPA is widely recognized for its breadth and depth of concepts. The test also ensures that a candidate is thorough with the concepts required for an accounting professional to work in real life complex scenarios. The curriculum of CPA is spread across 4 subjects. These subjects also classify CPA into four exams that was discussed earlier on this page. They are:

  • BEC- Business Environment Concepts
  • AUD- Auditing and Attestation
  • FAR- Financial Accounting and Reporting
  • REG- Regulations
    Syllabus
  • Conceptual Framework, Standard Setting and presentation of Financial Statements (17-23%)
  • Financial Statement Accounts: Recognition, Measurement, Valuation, Calculation, Presentation and Disclosures (27-33%)
  • Specific Transactions, Events and Disclosures: Recognition, Measurement, Valuation, Calculation, Presentation, and Disclosures (27% - 33%)
  • Governmental Accounting and Reporting (8% - 12%)
  • Not-for-Profit (Nongovernmental) Accounting and Reporting (8%-12%)
    • Duration
  • 4 hour Exam
    • Question Pattern
  • 66 multiple choice questions (50% Weightage) & 9 short task-based simulations (50% Weightage)
    Syllabus
  • Engagement Acceptance & understanding the environment (12-16%)
  • Understanding the entity and its environment (16-20%)
  • Performing Audit procedures & evaluating evidence (16-20%)
  • Evaluating Audit findings, communications & reporting (16-20%)
  • Accounting & review services engagement (12-16%)
  • Professional responsibilities (16-20%)
    • Duration
  • 4 hour Exam
    • Question Pattern
  • 72 multiple choice questions (50% Weightage) & 9 short task-based simulations (50% Weightage)
    Syllabus
  • Ethics, Professional, and Legal Responsibilities (15% -19%)
  • Business Law (17% - 21%)
  • Federal Tax Process, Procedures, Accounting, and Planning (11% - 15%)
  • Evaluating Audit findings, communications & reporting (16-20%)
  • Federal Taxation of Property Transactions (12% - 16%)
  • Federal Taxation of Individuals (13% - 19%)
  • Federal Taxation of Entities (18% - 24%)
    • Duration
  • 4 hour Exam
    • Question Pattern
  • 76 multiple choice questions (50% Weightage) & 9 short task-based simulations (50% Weightage)
    Syllabus
  • Corporate Governance (16% - 20%)
  • Economic Concepts and Analysis (16% - 20%)
  • Financial Management (19% - 23%)
  • Information Systems and Communications (15% - 19%)
  • Strategic Planning (10% - 14%)
  • Operations Management (12% - 16%)
    • Duration
  • 4 hour Exam
    • Question Pattern
  • 62 multiple choice questions(50% Weightage) & 5 short task-based simulations (35% Weightage),Written communication( 15% Weightage)
Download Prospectus

CPA Course Duration

An aspirant is required to qualify for all the four parts of CPA in under 18 months from the date of the first test results. CPA being a flexible course, the aspirant is constantly in control of his CPA preparation. The aspirant has all the control throughout CPA. Simandhar's aspirants usually qualify for all four parts in under a year, without any pressure, and earn their CPA license.

CPA Prometric Locations/Centres in India

  • Regarding the US CPA exams fees, if candidates are testing at any international test center, he/she must pay an exam administration fee before planning with Prometric. To do this, log in to your NASBA CPA Candidate Account Portal and select “International Administration”. The international administration process for the India region is now available.

  • Hyderabad
  • Ahmedabad
  • Bangalore
  • Calcutta
  • Chennai
  • Mumbai
  • New Delhi
  • Trivandrum

CPA Fees in India

    • Auditing and Attestation (AUD): $250
    • Business Environment and Concepts (BEC): $250
    • Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR): $250
    • Regulation (REG): $250

    International Testing Fee- $1500

    Application Fee- $225

    Overall, the cost of pursuing CPA in India would amount to INR 2,20,000 approximately.

Get in touch with us for Free Career Guidance

US CPA vs ACCA vs US CMA

Key Point US CPA ACCA US CMA
Levels of toughness 1 2 1
No. of exams 4 14 2
Paper Pattern Objective Objective + Descriptive Objective
Syllabus Auditing, Public Accounting, Taxation, Financial Reporting Auditing, Accounting, Taxation Management Accounting, Financial Management
Recognition Global Recognition Global Recognition, focused in UK and EU Global Recognition
Exemptions for graduates No exemptions (Level playing field) Yes No exemptions
Work experience required for license Varies 3 Years 2 Years
Hiring organizations location India & Global EU, UK, Middle East India & Global
License validity Global (Can practice in India too) Few Countries (Cannot be practiced In India) Global (Can practice in India too)

How Simandhar helps you to be US CPA ready

  • 1

    Comprehensive Study Material

    Becker CPA review, along with Simandhar CPA, gives you everything required for a CPA aspirant to clear all four exams. Mock tests, revision tests, quizzes, counseling sessions, and personal mentoring by licensed CPAs make sure that you do not miss out on the details of anything.

  • 2

    End to End Evaluation Assistance

    Applying for CPA is a task in itself. But don’t you worry, we have you covered. Our expert crew will guide you through each step of the process, making your life easier and let you focus on studies and studies alone.

  • 3

    Last Minute Revision

    While Becker and Simandhar both offer the comfort of re-watching all the online classes at your leisure, Simandhar organizes live revision classes to make sure that you have everything served in a nutshell. We do this to ensure that you do not rush in the eleventh hour, which is often the case with CPA aspirants. They’ve been hit among the Indian CPA fraternity.

  • 4

    AI Mocks

    Becker’s Artificial Intelligence Adapt2U learning system takes you through your strengths and weaknesses and helps devise the exam strategy in a better way.

  • 5

    Live Interactive Classes

    While Simandhar provides the comfort of attending online classes, live classes allow us to interact with our clients and solve their problems ourselves. Our interactive classes are equally spaced and span anywhere between 1-3 hours, depending on the schedule. We make sure you don't get overburdened with the classes and syllabus.

  • 6

    Customer First Approach

    Customer centricity is Simandhar’s core tenet; everything we do is delight you and make the CPA journey smoother. We take care of it all, from scheduling classes as requested to supporting you through the nuts and bolts of paperwork required for CPA.

Course Training

    • Comprehensive material
    • Training by CPAs
    • Revision
    • Tests and Quizzes
    • Collaborative study forums
    • Short notes when required
    • Flexible Schedules

Professional Training

    • Placement Assistance with Top Accounting Firms
    • Corporate Grooming Sessions
    • Leadership sessions by CXO’s of various organizations
    • Stock Market Investment Suggestions and Training
    • Personality Development Program

CPA Ready

We support our clients by giving end to end evaluation assistance and placing them in Big 4 and top F&A organizations.

Career Opportunities After CPA in India

CPA offers wide career opportunities and opens new career avenues for finance and accounting professionals.

  • CPAs are Super Accountants, those who have mastered their craft of Accounting, auditing, taxation and other areas of Accounting
  • International Credibility: CPAs enjoy internationally recognition for their expertise and high standards.
  • Mandatory for High-Profile Roles: The CPA designation is mandatory for many high-profile roles such as Vice President, President, Head, CXO’s etc.
  • Better pay scale: Average salary of a beginner CPA in India is about INR 7,00,000 per annum.

Simandhar Education has various corporate tie-ups and elite industry relations that we leverage to place our clients in the top accounting firms round the year.

Our Placement Partners

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Simandhar CPA Highlights

Live Interactive Classes

Simandhar Education provides you with access to Live Interactive classes from anywhere in the world


Recorded Videos

Simandhar Education provides the facility to access recorded videos for students who seek to revisit the material taught.

Placement Assistance Program

Supports its students by placing them in Top F & A companies, Big 4 etc


Exam Registration Assistance

Simandhar Education provides support to its students in handling the criticalities of Exam Registrations




Comprehensive Study Material

The CPA experts meticulously prepare the study material that is provided by Becker with paperback and digital textbook which help the students to prepare well for all the four sections (AUD, BEC, FAR, & REG) of the CPA exam.

Becker Test Bank

Simandhar engages the CPA aspirants using unlimited mock exams, sample problems and MCQs with Becker training & experiential learning methodology.



Our Alumni Speak

CPA Exam in India
Simandhar Education is a one-stop solution for everything and anything related to US CPA and CMA. The support for an end-to-end process from enrolling in a course to licensing and placement is incredible. The teachers are knowledgeable and passionate individuals.
They will bring you a better understanding of all the major and minute concepts. The Simandhar team is lead by an extraordinary person, CA. CPA. Sripal Jain sir. The experience at Simandhar will make you appreciate the journey as much as or even more than the destination.
Kavneet Singh
CPA India Pratyush Kapahi
Simandhar Education has the best in class faculty for evaluation as well as teaching services. It's a one stop solution for all US CPA and US CMA queries.
Pratyush Kapahi
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Simandhar education is an extremely professional institute that caters to the need of its students. The staff are highly engaged, their responses to queries being clear, fast and helpful. The lectures are insightful, with the concepts explained clearly. The online tools offered are thorough, simple to access and use. Overall, I would recommend their course, as it offers a lot more than just academics.
Rashmi Karan
Anju Nampoothiry
My gratitude to Simandhar Education for providing unwavering support throughout the entire process of evaluation, preparation, for the outstanding lectures and study groups. A big thanks to Sripal Jain (CA, CPA ) and Simandhar team who helped me and is helping out a lot of professionals and freshers alike through Simandhar Education to get into their dream jobs in USA and also helping to crack US CPA exam too.
Anju Nampoothiry
Akshay Jaisawal
Simandhar education is truly one of the best institutes for CPA coaching currently. Only institute to have face to face classes for CPA in India. Being partnered with Beckers CPA Review , they have well structured/organised product coupled with live classes which helped me clear all 4 modules of CPA exam in one go/first attempt.
Akshay Jaisawal

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