CPA Exam Cost and Licensing Fees | [Updated for 2026]

CPA Exam Rescheduling Fee

CPA Exam rescheduling fees vary based on the advance notice days.

You will not be able to reschedule your exam if it is scheduled within 24 hours of your exam time; you will need to register again with your State Board of Accountancy. In other cases, if you reschedule the CPA Exam:

• at least 61 days in advance, there is no fee associated with the reschedule.
• between 31 and 60 days, you’ll have to pay a rescheduling fee of $30, whereas for 5 to 30 days before the scheduled appointment, the applicable fee is $60.
• within 5 days of your current exam date and up to 24 hours before, you will need to pay the Prometric Testing Center a fee of $93.61.

CPA Exam Retake Fee

The CPA Exam retake fee ranges from $50 to $200.

For all re-examination candidates, instead of paying the application fee, they are required to pay both the reapplication fee and the examination section fee when they register to re-take any parts of the CPA Exam. This is also referred to as the registration fee. Some states will offer discounts on CPA Exam retake fees if the candidate is retaking 2 or more exams.

International CPA Exam Fees

International CPA candidates will need to pay domestic testing fees and additional fees for each section of the CPA Exam that is taken internationally, which includes $390 per CPA Exam core section, and $510 for discipline sections.

CPA Exam Cancellation Fees and Refunds

Unfortunately, CPA Exam fees are not refundable if your Notice to Schedule (NTS) expires or you do not show up for your scheduled exam. There is no cancellation fee if you cancel the exam at least 60 days before the scheduled date. If you cancel the exam between 60 days and 24 hours before the time of the appointment, you’ll have to pay the Prometric Testing Center a cancellation fee. However, there are some exceptions to this policy for candidates with extenuating circumstances. Those circumstances include:

• Visa rejections
• Military deployment
• Medical emergencies
• Death

To see if you qualify for a partial refund or NTS extension based on hardship, contact the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

Note: CPA candidates are only eligible for 1 NTS extension or a partial refund for an NTS for the same hardship.

CPA Exam Approximate Total Cost

The CPA designation is one of the most widely recognized credentials in the world, and for good reason. The total cost of the CPA Exam ranges from $2,293 to $5,581. This takes into account application, examination, re-examination, and review course fees. Although the total cost initially appears high, consider it an investment in yourself, knowing that CPAs typically earn up to 15% more over the course of their careers than non-CPAs.

CPA Licensing Fees

Once you pass the CPA Exam, there are a few more requirements needed to obtain a CPA license.

CPA Ethics Exam Fee

The CPA ethics exam fee ranges from $150 to $250.

Some states require passing an ethics exam, and most state boards accept the AICPA’s comprehensive ethics course and exam. This exam can generally be taken before, during, or after the CPA Exam, and test results are valid for a 2-year period. The CPA ethics exam fee can range from $150 to $250, depending on the state or jurisdiction.

CPA State Licensing Fee

The CPA state licensing fee ranges from $50 to $500.

Once you have passed the CPA Exam and taken the ethics exam (if required), it is time to apply for certification. Your state likely has an online application process. They may require you to submit documentation, such as a signed statement from a supervisor or a licensed CPA, that can attest to your work experience or additional educational or exam records. You may need to participate in an in-person interview with the board. CPA licensing fees range from $50 to $500, depending on the state.

CPE Costs

When budgeting costs, consider the associated fees for continuing professional education (CPE), which can range from $0 to $300.

After CPA licensing, most states require CPAs to complete CPE credit hours to maintain licensure. Be sure to check with your State Board of Accountancy to find out how many hours are required each year to maintain your credential.

How to Save on CPA Exam Costs

Between application fees and study materials, the costs associated with becoming a CPA can quickly add up. Here are a few tips to make your CPA Exam process more affordable.

• Scheduling to Save Every time you apply to sit for any part of the CPA Exam, it costs money. For each CPA Exam application, you can apply to sit for as many of the exam sections as you want, but they have to be taken in the same 6-month period. However, if you know your ideal schedule and timing of sitting for your exams, you can easily split your tests up into 2 applications and save yourself $150.
• Be Ready the First Time One of the best ways to keep costs down throughout your CPA journey is to pass your exams the first time. There’s no way around it: The more times you sit for an exam part, the more you will have to pay. To avoid incurring those additional costs, it is essential to be as prepared as possible the first time around.
• Choose the Right Review Course The best way to ensure you’re prepared to pass the CPA Exam is to study with a CPA Review course. Do your research before committing to a course or any type of study materials to ensure that your investment will pay off.
• Discounts, Financing, and Partnerships

  UWorld CPA Review offers several different types of discounts. For example, if you’ve tried another review course that didn’t work for you, you can save a lot with our Fresh Start Discount. If this is your first time studying for the CPA Exam, check with your employer to see if they are one of the hundreds that partner with us to provide their employees with special rates and discounts. Lastly, you always have the option to pay for your course with fixed monthly payments through our partnership with Affirm.