Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
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. Each state board has different eligibility criteria. Generally: Master's Degree in Commerce/Accounting/Finance, 120 credits to take the exam and 150 credits to get the license. One year of University education in India equals 30 US credits.
There are many job opportunities in India for US CPA qualified professionals. Big 4s like Deloitte, EY, PwC, KPMG, and many international companies hire CPAs. According to Naukri.com there are around 26,426+ job openings for CPA in India.
The US CPA Exam has 4 sections: Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR), Auditing & Attestation (AUD), Regulation (REG), and one Discipline (choose from BAR / ISC / TCP).
You need a score of 75 or higher to pass each of the four sections of the CPA exam.
There is no negative marking in the US CPA exam.
The CPA Exam is a 16-hour exam in total, divided as 4 sections × 4 hours each. Each section includes a mix of MCQs, simulations, and written tasks.
Exam fees: Around $1,000 (for all 4 sections). International testing fee: Around $2,000 (for non-US candidates). Application & evaluation fees: Around $200–$300. In total, Indian students typically spend ₹2–2.5 lakhs on exams alone.
There are many US firms across the globe and a lot of accountancy related assignments are being outsourced to India. Companies like Deloitte, EY, Amazon, Synchrony, Invesco and many more frequently hire in India.
ACCA is a UK program with good scope, but CPA has broader global recognition especially for US GAAP, US Tax, and audit roles in multinational companies.
120 credits are required to appear for the exam. 150 credits are required to apply for a CPA license. In India, a B.Com + Postgraduate qualification generally makes you eligible.
With Continuous Testing, candidates can take the CPA Exam every month throughout the year. If you fail a section, you can reapply for a new Notice to Schedule (NTS) and retake it as early as the next month.
Yes. Once you pass your first section, you must clear the remaining three sections within 30-36 months. Simandhar provides structured study plans to help students complete CPA within this window.
In India: Freshers ₹6–8 LPA, Mid-level (3–5 years) ₹12–16 LPA, Senior roles/Big 4/MNCs ₹20 LPA and above. Globally, CPAs in the US earn an average of $70,000–$120,000 annually.
The CPA certification paves countless opportunities to work for renowned companies worldwide. Job roles include Senior Financial Analyst, Risk and Compliance Professional, Corporate Controller, Finance Director, and more.
A B.Com degree typically gives you 90 credits, but you need at least 120 credits to sit for the CPA Exam. Most B.Com graduates pursue a bridge course, M.Com, MBA, or a professional qualification like CA/CMA/CS to meet the credit requirement.
Yes. CPA focuses on accounting, auditing, taxation, and compliance. CMA emphasizes management accounting, costing, and decision-making. Together, they provide a competitive edge in both corporate and consulting careers.
Freshers: ₹7–10 LPA. Mid-level professionals: ₹12–16 LPA. Senior roles (Big 4/MNCs): ₹20 LPA and above. Globally, CPAs in the US earn an average of $70,000–$120,000 annually.
Yes. Since 2020, Indian candidates can write the US CPA Exam in India. Exam centers are located in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Trivandrum.
Simandhar Education is the exclusive partner of Becker Professional Education (USA) – the gold standard in CPA preparation in India, trusted globally for 60+ years.
Yes, Simandhar Education provides Live Interactive classes accessible from anywhere in the world, plus recorded videos for students who want to revisit material.
Simandhar offers: Becker product and live classes, competitive pricing, good placement assistance, associations with all Big 4s & multinationals, and a wide network of world-class trainers across CPA, CMA, EA, CIA, IFRS & HRCI.
Both CA and CPA are prestigious. In India, fresh CAs typically start with ₹7–9 LPA, while CPAs often command ₹8–11 LPA as freshers. With global exposure and Big 4 placements, CPAs can earn higher packages in multinational firms.
Yes. CA and CPA together is an amazing combination. If you are a Chartered Accountant who wishes to explore global opportunities and gain experience in MNCs, CPA is your chance to unlock a wider arena of career options.
A minimum of 12 to 18 months is enough to clear the CPA exam with focused preparation.
The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA Exam) is the examination administered to people who wish to become U.S. Certified Public Accountants.
There is no limit to the number of times you can retake a section of the US CPA Exam. Under Continuous Testing, if you do not clear a section, you can reapply and retake the exam the very next month.
The Notice to Schedule (NTS) is your notification that you may begin scheduling your examination with Prometric. It is essentially your Hall ticket. Your NTS is valid for 6-9 months depending on the jurisdiction.
Indian candidates may schedule the US CPA Exam at Prometric locations in: Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Trivandrum.
Yes, Simandhar Education provides evaluation and licensing assistance for CPA. Mr. Sripal Jain (CA, CPA) can verify your 2,000 hours of work experience required for the CPA license.
Like we have Cost accountants in India, the US cost accountants are known as US CMA (Certified Management Accountants), the US CMA qualification is governed by IMA (Institute of Management Accountants). Simandhar Education is the pioneer in US CMA Qualification and approved training partners of IMA, USA both in India as well as globally in alliance with Becker professional education, USA.
There are many US companies operating in India like Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, World Bank, D.E.Shaw, Genpact — majority of them hire US CMA for FP&A profile. US CMA enjoys global recognition, thus there is ever-increasing demand for US Certified Management Accountants in India.
US CMA is composed of two parts — Part 1 and Part 2. Compared to Indian qualifications, US CMA is easier to crack with a pass percentage of 30-35%.
US CMA Salary per IMA survey is around $101,000 per annum in the US. In India, US CMAs are typically hired at ₹3,50,000–₹6,00,000 INR per annum, increasing over time.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university or a related professional certification, active membership in IMA, and continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management.
The CMA exam is available during three windows: January and February, May and June, and September and October. Schedule your appointment at least four weeks in advance.
The minimum passing score for the CMA Examination is 360 for both parts. The exam score range is 0-500.
Each part is 3 hours for 100 multiple choice questions (75% of score), plus 30 minutes for each of two essays (25%). Total testing duration is 4 hours. You must pass at least 50% of the MCQ section to advance to essays.
Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics: External Financial Reporting Decisions (15%), Planning/Budgeting/Forecasting (20%), Performance Management (20%), Cost Management (15%), Internal Controls (15%), Technology and Analytics (15%).
Strategic Financial Management: Financial Statement Analysis (20%), Corporate Finance (20%), Decision Analysis (25%), Risk Management (10%), Investment Decision (10%), Professional Ethics (15%).
US CMA duration is 6-8 months vs CMA India's 3-4 years. Pass percentage: US CMA 30-34% vs CMA India 2-3%. US CMA has only 2 parts vs CMA India's three levels. US CMA is widely recognized globally.
Yes, Simandhar Education has Live Interactive classes accessible from anywhere in the world plus recorded videos for students who want to revisit material.
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is the only federally licensed tax practitioner specializing in all areas of taxation. Enrolled Agents represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax issues, including audits, collections and appeals.
EA contains 3 parts: Individuals, Businesses, and Representation, Practices & Procedures. It is suggested to take 1 paper at a time.
Each paper can be taken 3 times in a year.
Each part contains 100 MCQs with a duration of 3.5 hours and there is a 15 min break after completing 1 section (50 MCQs). Results are announced immediately once the exam is over.
$203 per part, non-refundable and non-transferable.
Yes, EA exams are conducted in India in all metro cities throughout the year except March and April (blackout period for test updates).
Obtain a PTIN, apply to take the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE), achieve passing scores on all 3 parts, apply for enrollment, and pass a suitability check including tax compliance and criminal background check.
The primary role of an enrolled agent is to deal with every kind of taxation affair. They can represent taxpayers before the IRS. It's a globally recognized course with opportunities in all US-based MNCs.
All those who have completed +2 (12th grade) are eligible to enroll in the EA course.
Yes, Simandhar Education provides Live Interactive classes accessible from anywhere in the world, plus recorded videos for students who want to revisit material taught.