Getting your CPA certification is a big investment. Not only will you need to invest time, but the process also requires a number of different fees to be paid. For many applicants, this can be a major deterrent. Remember that getting your CPA will set you up to earn a good salary. In the end, your license is likely to pay for itself ten times over.  

Before embarking on your CPA exam, it is important that you understand what fees you will be expected to pay. This is not as simple as it sounds, because there is no single fixed amount. Furthermore, each state has its own charges, so your expenses will vary depending on where you live. You also need to remember that you may not pass the exam on your first attempt. This could mean additional registration fees. 

In the following article we have broken down each of the fees you will be expected to pay and offered a rough estimate of the total cost. 

Types of Costs / Fees Price Range Estimated Average Paid To 
CPA Exam Application Fee $50 – $200 $125 Your State Board
CPA Exam Fees About $200 each ~$800 (4x $200) Payment varies by state. More information is available on the NASBA website
Registration Fees $65 – $100 per exam section $300 Payment varies by state. More information is available on the NASBA website
CPA Ethics Exam Fees $189 – $315 $245 AICPA
Total:   $4,400  

CPA Exam Application Fee

  • Varies by state: $50 – $200
  • Payable to your state board

If your application is approved, you will receive your Authorisation to Test (ATT). If your application is rejected, you will need to reapply and pay your application fees again. To avoid this, make sure you are familiar with your state’s CPA examination requirements before you apply. 

CPA Exam Fee

Varies by state: About $200 (for each of the four sections of the exam)
Payable to NASBA. 

At this stage, you will need to choose which section(s) of the CPA examination you want to take first. You will pay only the relevant exam fees. 

It is best to only pay for the sections that you plan to take in the next 6 months. This is because the Notice to Schedule (NTS) that you receive after your ATT is only valid for 6 months. So, if you apply for too many exams at once and can’t complete them within this time frame, you will need to pay your exam and registration fees all over again. 

CPA Exam Registration Fee

  • Varies by state: $65 – $100 (for each of the four sections of the exam)
  • Payable to NASBA 

The exam registration fee is paid at the same time as your examination fee (described in the paragraphs above). Some states have a tiered system, for example: in Massachusetts, registration fees are payable in the following manner:

  • If register for all 4 exam sections: $177
  • 3 exam sections: $157
  • 2 exam sections: $137
  • 1 exam section: $117

While it seems like it would save you money to register for all exam sections at once, this is a risky move. Completing and passing all four sections of the exam in six months is not an easy task. If you do so, you will up the chances of failing and are likely to need to rebook your test, which will only mean paying more fees in the long run. It is recommended that you register for no more than two exams at a time. 

CPA Ethics Examination Fees

  • Varies by state: $0 – $315.00
  • Payable to AICPA or the State Board

Not every state requires an ethics examination to be written. Before you apply, find out whether your state requires an ethics exam. If you are still uncertain, it may be worth calling your state board and inquiring. 

State

Apply through

Exam fees

Paid to

Registration fee

Ethics exam fee

Alabama

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

State board

n/a

$189 - $245

Alaska

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $90

3 sections - $90

2 sections - $90

1 section - $90

$189 - $245

Arizona

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

State board

n/a

$189 - $245

Arkansas

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

State board

4 sections - $120

3 sections - $105

2 sections - $90

1 section - $75

$0

California

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

n/a

CNMI

NASBA's CPAES

n/a

NASBA

n/a

n/a

Colorado

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $224.99

FAR - $224.99

REG - $224.99

BEC - $224.99

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

$189 - $245

Connecticut

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

$189 - $245

Delaware

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

$189 - $245

District of Columbia

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

n/a

Florida

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $105

3 sections - $90

2 sections - $75

1 section - $60

n/a

Georgia

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

n/a

Guam

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $100

3 sections - $100

2 sections - $100

1 section - $100

n/a

Hawaii

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

n/a

Idaho

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

Illinois

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

State board

4 sections - $120

3 sections - $108

2 sections - $76

1 section - $40

$189 - $245

Indiana

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $110

3 sections - $95

2 sections - $85

1 section - $70

n/a

Iowa

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $90

3 sections - $90

2 sections - $90

1 section - $90

$189 - $245

Kansas

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

$189 - $245

Kentucky

NASBA

AUD - $209.99

FAR - $209.99

REG - $209.99

BEC - $209.99

NASBA

4 sections - $120

3 sections - $90

2 sections - $60

1 section - $30

n/a

Louisiana

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $80

3 sections - $80

2 sections - $80

1 section - $80

n/a

Maine

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

n/a

Maryland

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

Massachusetts

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $177

3 sections - $157

2 sections - $137

1 section - $117

n/a

Michigan

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

n/a

Minnesota

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

$85

$189 - $245

Mississippi

State board

AUD - $224.99

FAR - $224.99

REG - $224.99

BEC - $224.99

State board

n/a

n/a

Missouri

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $100

3 sections - $100

2 sections - $100

1 section - $100

$189 - $245

Montana

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $100

3 sections - $100

2 sections - $100

1 section - $100

$189 - $245

Nebraska

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

$189 - $245

Nevada

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

New Hampshire

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $160

3 sections - $160

2 sections - $160

1 section - $160

n/a

New Jersey

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

$80

$189 - $245

New Mexico

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $95

3 sections - $95

2 sections - $95

1 section - $95

$189 - $245

New York

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $224.99

FAR - $224.99

REG - $224.99

BEC - $224.99

NASBA

4 sections - $85

3 sections - $85

2 sections - $85

1 section - $85

n/a

North Carolina

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

State board

n/a

0-$315

North Dakota

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

State board

n/a

$189 - $245

Ohio

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $224.99

FAR - $224.99

REG - $224.99

BEC - $224.99

NASBA

n/a

n/a

Oklahoma

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $75

3 sections - $75

2 sections - $75

1 section - $75

$189 - $245

Oregon

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

Pennsylvania

NASBA

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $105

3 sections - $105

2 sections - $105

1 section - $105

n/a

Puerto Rico

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $224.99

FAR - $224.99

REG - $224.99

BEC - $224.99

NASBA

4 sections - $130

3 sections - $130

2 sections - $130

1 section - $130

n/a

Rhode Island

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $224.99

FAR - $224.99

REG - $224.99

BEC - $224.99

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

South Carolina

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $224.99

FAR - $224.99

REG - $224.99

BEC - $224.99

NASBA

4 sections - $105

3 sections - $90

2 sections - $75

1 section - $60

$189 - $245

South Dakota

State board

AUD - $256.15

FAR - $256.15

REG - $256.15

BEC - $256.15

State board

n/a

$189 - $245

Tennessee

NASBA

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

4 sections - $150

3 sections - $125

2 sections - $100

1 section - $75

$189 - $245

Texas

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

$15 per section

$0

Utah

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

AUD - $110

FAR - $95

REG - $80

BEC - $65

$189 - $245

Vermont

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

Virgin Islands

State board

AUD - $360

FAR - $360

REG - $360

BEC - $360

State board

n/a

n/a

Virginia

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

Washington

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

West Virginia

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

$40 per section

n/a

Wisconsin

NASBA's CPAES

AUD - $1,185.60

FAR - $934.45

REG - $683.30

BEC - $432.15

NASBA

n/a

$75

Wyoming

State board

AUD - $226.15

FAR - $226.15

REG - $226.15

BEC - $226.15

NASBA

n/a

$189 - $245

International Candidate Credential Costs

  • Varies by state: $150 – $200

Most states that allow international candidates to take the exam in their jurisdiction charge a $150 – $200 fee. This is because your state will need to assess whether your education meets the minimum requirements. 

So… how can you save money on your CPA exam?

Unfortunately, you will have to pay all the required fees to be eligible to write the CPA exam. Because of these costs, you probably don’t want to break the bank gathering your 30 extra credit scores. Luckily, you can do this pretty cheaply if you go through the right program. CpaCredits is the most cost efficient way to meet the 150 college credit requirement.