CPA Exam Requirements Arkansas

Educational Hours Required for Exam

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification is one of the most prestigious professional certifications available. It indicates that the accountant has satisfied a demanding set of educational, professional, and ethical standards. In addition, candidates must pass the rigorous uniform CPA examination in order to earn the distinction of this credential. Before candidates can sit for the exam, they must satisfy their Arkansas CPA Exam requirements and qualifications. Each state has its own set of eligibility requirements for the CPA exam, which should not be confused with licensing requirements. Below, we will be discussing the requirements for the state of Arkansas.

• A bachelor’s degree
• 30 hours upper level Accounting, and 30 hours in Business, other than Accounting. Accounting and Business classes must be completed with a grade of “C” or above.
• A general understanding of various accounting areas, including management accounting and not-for-profit accounting.

Arkansas CPA Exam Fees

Candidates can take one or more sections of the exam at a time and must pay the following fees to CPA Examination Services at the time of application:

• Initial (first‐time): $50.00

AND

• Examination 4 sections: $120.00
• Examination 3 sections: $105.00
• Examination 3 sections: $105.00
• Examination 2 sections: $90.00
• Examination 1 section: $75.00

AND

• Auditing and Attestation (AUD): $224.99
• Business Environment and Concepts (BEC): $224.99
• Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR): $224.99

Regulation (REG): $224.99

Scheduling for the CPA Exam in Arkansas

Upon successful state application, candidates will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS), which is valid for one testing event or six months, whichever comes first. The NTS lists the section(s) that the candidate is approved to take, as well as the deadline for testing. An examination appointment cannot be scheduled without a valid NTS. Once candidates receive their NTS, they can then contact Prometric to schedule the examination. All scheduling, rescheduling, or cancellation of testing appointments is done through Prometric.

The CPA Exam is no longer administered via “testing windows” with “blackout dates.” Instead, there is rolling testing. Candidates may schedule their exam appointment at www.prometric.com/CPA or alternatively by calling Prometric at 1-800-580-9648.

Note: Appointments are based on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that you will want to schedule your exam as soon as possible for the best chance to get your preferred location, date, and time. You must have your exam scheduled at least 6 days prior to the exam date, which also means there is no “walk-in” testing.

Preparing for the CPA Exam

Currently, the average pass rate for any given section of the exam is about 50%, which is a great indicator of the exam’s difficulty. This is where a great CPA Review Course is instrumental. Review Courses have been preparing accounting professionals to pass the exam for years. Just about every accountant that has become a CPA utilized a review program. In other words, they are a worthy investment. The CPAExam.com CPA Review Course Comparison Chart can help you select the best course for you.

Arkansas CPA Exam Score Release

Upon completing each section of the exam, candidates can obtain their scores online after the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy has released the information. They can also elect to have exam scores mailed to them. Process your CPA license at the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy after passing the exam.

Additional Information

While we do our best to keep all of this information up to date, you are welcome to visit and or contact the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy with any other questions you might have.

Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy
Address: 900 W. Capitol, Suite 400 Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-1520 Fax: (501) 682-5538
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.asbpa.arkansas.gov
Application form: Arkansas CPA Application Form