CPA Exam Cost in 2026: Fees by State and Total Price

Your CPA Exam cost in 2026 depends on your jurisdiction, testing location, preparation materials, and number of attempts.

There is no single CPA exam price for every candidate. The total varies with your jurisdiction and the resources you choose to prepare.

The CPA Exam cost is more than simply paying for four examination sections. Depending on your jurisdiction and circumstances, your total CPA Exam budget may include an eligibility or education evaluation fee, application fees, examination fees, CPA review course costs, supplemental study resources, Prometric rescheduling fees, international testing fees, travel expenses, and retake costs.

NASBA confirms that CPA examination fees are only part of the total cost: candidates may also pay application and administration fees, which vary by jurisdiction.

Use the fee breakdowns and Pennsylvania example below to estimate the cost of CPA exam preparation and testing for your circumstances.

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The Uniform CPA Examination has four sections.

Every candidate must pass Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). Candidates also choose one discipline: Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Controls (ISC), or Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP).

Each CPA Exam section is four hours long, meaning candidates complete 16 hours of testing across the four sections.

Because you must pass four sections, even relatively small differences in per-section application or examination fees can significantly affect your total cost.

CPA Exam Eligibility and Evaluation Fees

Before taking a CPA Exam section, you must first be determined eligible under the requirements of a U.S. jurisdiction.

The fee for this process depends on the jurisdiction.

For example, as of September 2026, Pennsylvania charges a $96 education evaluation application fee. Massachusetts charges $136, Montana charges $146, Nebraska charges $111, and Alaska charges $121.

This is why a CPA Exam cost estimate should begin with the state or jurisdiction through which you are applying.

CPA Test Fee: How Much Does Each Exam Section Cost?

For many jurisdictions administered through NASBA CPA Examination Services, the current CPA Exam section fee is $268.59 per section.

At that rate, the examination fees alone for four sections equal:

4 × $268.59 = $1,074.36

That amount does not include eligibility evaluation fees, application fees, CPA review materials, retakes, international testing, or other costs.

Fees for CPA Exam Applications

Candidates may also pay an application fee when applying for an individual CPA Exam section.

These fees vary by jurisdiction.

Pennsylvania currently charges $96 per exam-section application. Iowa charges $106, Ohio charges $101, Washington charges $103, Massachusetts charges $148, Wisconsin charges $146, and Alaska charges $109.

NASBA notes that candidates applying through this process apply for an individual exam section rather than placing multiple sections on one NTS.

Add your jurisdiction’s application fee for each exam section to your budget, and confirm the latest amount before applying.

Cost of CPA Exams: A Pennsylvania Example

Consider a Pennsylvania candidate who passes all four CPA Exam sections on the first attempt.

The current published fees are:

• Education evaluation: $96
• Four exam application fees: 4 × $96 = $384
• Four exam section fees: 4 × $268.59 = $1,074.36

Total estimated exam-related fees before study materials:

$1,554.36

This example is specific to Pennsylvania and should not be interpreted as the nationwide price of the CPA Exam.

Is There a Separate Prometric Fee for the CPA Exam?

Normally, there is no additional domestic Prometric scheduling fee that should simply be added to every candidate’s CPA Exam budget.

After receiving a Notice to Schedule, candidates schedule their examination appointment through Prometric. NASBA states that there is no additional fee for testing at another domestic testing center simply because it is outside the jurisdiction through which you applied. Prometric separately identifies additional administration requirements for Guam and international testing.

For a standard domestic appointment, budget $0 for an additional Prometric scheduling fee unless a separate charge applies to your circumstances.

Prometric fees can arise, however, if you change an existing examination appointment.

CPA Exam Prometric Rescheduling Fees

According to NASBA’s 2026 CPA Exam Candidate Guide, the current Prometric appointment-change fees depend on how close you are to your scheduled examination.

• Changing an appointment 60 or more days before the exam costs $0.
• Changing it 31 to 60 days before the exam costs $30.
• Changing it 5 to 30 days before the exam costs $60.
• Changing it less than five days but at least 24 hours before the appointment costs $93.61.

If the candidate waits until less than 24 hours before the appointment, examination fees may be forfeited and the candidate may have to reapply.

Leave rescheduling costs at $0 in your budget unless you expect to change an appointment.

How Much Does It Cost to Take the CPA Exam Internationally?

International candidates may face a substantial additional cost.

NASBA currently charges an additional $390 per CPA Exam section for international testing locations other than India.

For India, the additional international administration fee is $460 per section.

These amounts are charged in addition to the domestic examination and application costs.

For example, taking all four sections internationally at the $390 rate could add $1,560 to the candidate’s CPA Exam costs.

Taking all four sections in India could add $1,840.

Add the applicable international administration fee for every section you plan to take outside the domestic testing locations.

How Much Does a CPA Review Course Cost?

CPA review course costs are separate from the fees charged to take the CPA Exam.

Some candidates receive a review course from their employer. Others purchase a complete commercial CPA review program themselves. Candidates may also use supplemental lectures, question banks, books, notes, flashcards, AI study tools, or other resources.

Because pricing varies considerably by provider and package, you can use $2,500 as a planning estimate for a primary CPA review course until you know your actual price.

You can also budget $300 as a planning estimate for supplemental study resources.

These amounts are planning assumptions, not NASBA or state fees. If you already know what your CPA review program will cost, replace the estimates with your actual amounts.

Cost of CPA Exam Retakes

Retaking a CPA Exam section can substantially increase your total cost.

You generally have to obtain a new examination authorization and pay the applicable section and application fees again before another attempt.

For example, where a candidate pays a $268.59 section fee plus a $96 application fee, one additional attempt would cost approximately $364.59, before considering additional study materials or travel.

A candidate who passes all four sections on the first attempt will therefore spend less than a candidate who requires five, six, or more total attempts.

Include expected retakes in your budget, using your jurisdiction’s section and application fees for each additional attempt.

Other Costs of Taking the CPA Exam

Do not overlook expenses that are outside the formal examination fee.

Depending on your circumstances, you might pay for transcripts or credential documentation, transportation to a Prometric testing center, parking, lodging, international travel, supplemental CPA study resources, replacement study materials, or other candidate-specific costs.

List these expenses individually in your budget and add any other costs that apply to your situation.

CPA Exam Cost vs. Total CPA Cost for Licensure

There is an important difference between the cost to take and pass the CPA Exam and the total cost to become a licensed CPA.

Passing the CPA Exam is only one component of CPA licensure. Your jurisdiction may have additional education, experience, ethics, application, or licensing requirements.

This guide focuses primarily on the cost of preparing for and taking the CPA Exam.

Licensing costs that arise after passing the examination should generally be budgeted separately.

Calculate Your CPA Exam Cost

There is no single CPA Exam price that applies to every candidate.

Your cost depends on your jurisdiction, CPA review program, testing location, number of attempts, and personal expenses.

To estimate your total CPA Exam cost, identify your jurisdiction’s fees and add the following budget items:

• CPA Exam eligibility and evaluation fees
• Application fees for four sections
• Four CPA Exam section fees
• Any Prometric appointment-change fees
• International testing fees
• CPA review course costs
• Supplemental study resources
• Expected retake costs
• Travel and other personal expenses

Replace planning estimates with your actual costs as you confirm them. Separate mandatory exam fees from optional preparation expenses to see where your budget may change.

Fee information last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Fees can change. Always verify the final amount with NASBA, your state board of accountancy, and Prometric before making a payment.