CPA Exam: What It Is, Who Takes It, and How to Succeed

When you hear CPA exam, the rigorous certification test for Certified Public Accountants in the United States, required to practice public accounting and sign off on financial statements. Also known as Uniform CPA Examination, it's the gatekeeper to top accounting roles in firms, corporations, and government. This isn’t just another test—it’s a career milestone that opens doors to higher pay, leadership roles, and credibility in finance.

The Certified Public Accountant, a licensed professional authorized to audit financial records and file tax returns with the IRS designation is controlled by individual U.S. states, but the exam itself is set by the AICPA and stays the same nationwide. It covers four sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). Each section is four hours long, and you must pass all four within 18 months. Most people spend 300 to 400 hours studying—often while working full-time.

It’s not just for accountants in big cities. Teachers, small business owners, and even people in rural areas with accounting backgrounds take the CPA exam to boost their earning power. You don’t need a fancy degree from an Ivy League school—you need discipline, access to free or low-cost study tools, and a clear plan. Many who pass started with nothing but a textbook, a free YouTube channel, and a daily 90-minute study habit.

The accounting careers, a broad field including auditing, tax advisory, financial analysis, and corporate finance, all of which often require or prefer CPA certification that follow the CPA exam pay significantly more than non-certified roles. Entry-level accountants without the CPA make around $55,000 a year. With it? Often $75,000 to $90,000, and that’s just the start. Senior roles in public accounting firms can hit $150,000+.

What you won’t find in this collection are generic tips like "study harder" or "get a tutor." Instead, you’ll find real stories from people who passed the CPA exam while working night shifts, raising kids, or living in small towns with no local prep classes. You’ll see how they used free resources, managed time between jobs and family, and cracked the exam without breaking the bank. Some didn’t even have a bachelor’s in accounting—they had grit, the right strategy, and a clear goal.

If you’re wondering whether the CPA exam is worth it, whether you’re too old, too busy, or too far from a big city, the posts below answer those questions with facts—not fluff. You’ll learn what actually matters on test day, which study materials deliver the most value, and how to avoid the mistakes that make 40% of candidates fail on their first try. This isn’t about luck. It’s about knowing what to focus on, when, and how.