CPA Exam Score Release Dates: When Will You Get Your Results?

Understanding the CPA Exam Score Release Schedule

After sitting for a section of the CPA exam, one of the most anxious periods is waiting for your score. The AICPA and NASBA follow a structured score release schedule that determines when results become available. Understanding this schedule helps you plan your study timeline and manage expectations during the waiting period.

Scores are not released immediately after you take the exam. The scoring process involves quality control checks, statistical analyses, and coordination between the AICPA, NASBA, and individual state boards. This process ensures accuracy and fairness across all exam forms and testing periods.

How the Score Release Schedule Works

The AICPA publishes a score release timeline at the beginning of each year. Under the current continuous testing model, scores are typically released in waves throughout each quarter. The general pattern involves a testing window period, a score processing period, and a target score release date.

Scores for exams taken earlier in a testing window are usually available sooner than those taken near the end of the window. If you take the exam close to a score release cutoff date, your score may not appear until the next release cycle. This delay can add several weeks to your wait time.

Typical Wait Times

Most candidates receive their scores within four to six weeks of taking the exam. However, this can vary based on when during the testing window you sat for the exam. Candidates who test early in a window often receive scores in as few as two to three weeks, while those who test near the end of a window may wait six weeks or more.

Where to Find Your Scores

Scores are released through your NASBA CPA candidate account. Log in to the NASBA website to view your results. Some state boards also post scores on their own portals, though NASBA is typically the first source to update. You may also receive an email notification from NASBA when your scores are available, but do not rely solely on email notifications, as they can be delayed.

Scores are usually released in the evening hours on the designated release date, though the exact time can vary. Many candidates report checking throughout the day and finding their scores posted late at night.

Understanding Your Score Report

Your score report will show your scaled score on a 0 to 99 scale. A score of 75 or higher is passing. If you did not pass, the report includes a performance breakdown showing your relative strength in each content area. The performance indicators use a scale of weaker, comparable, and stronger relative to the passing standard.

Use this diagnostic information to target your restudy efforts. If you scored below passing, focus additional preparation time on the areas marked as weaker. The feedback does not tell you exactly which questions you missed, but it provides enough guidance to adjust your study approach for a retake.

What to Do While Waiting for Scores

The waiting period between taking an exam and receiving scores is a strategic window that many candidates underutilize. Here are productive ways to use this time:

• Begin studying for your next section immediately. Do not wait for confirmation of a passing score before moving forward.
• If you feel uncertain about your performance, prepare a contingency plan. Identify the areas where you struggled and begin light review of those topics in case you need to retake the section.
• Take a brief recovery period of one to three days after the exam, then transition into your next study plan.
• Maintain your study routine and momentum even if you are not yet in full preparation mode for the next section.

Retake Policies and Timing

If you do not pass a section, you must wait until the next available testing window to retake it. Under the current model, you can retake a failed section after your score is released, subject to scheduling availability at Prometric. There is no limit on the number of times you can retake a section, though each attempt requires paying the exam fees again.

Candidates who score close to passing (70 to 74) often pass on their second attempt with targeted preparation. Those who score significantly below passing should consider adjusting their overall study approach, potentially adding more practice questions, changing study materials, or extending their preparation timeline.