How much does the CPA exam cost?
The CPA exam costs about $1,074 in exam fees for all four sections: NASBA charges $268.59 per section since July 2026. On top of that your state board charges a one-time application fee, often around $100 to $150, and many candidates pay $2,000 to $5,000 for a review course. A first-attempt budget without a course is roughly $1,200.
In more detail
NASBA sets the exam fee and it is the same in every state. You pay it once per section, so four sections cost 4 x $268.59 = $1,074.36 if you pass each one on the first try. If you fail a section you pay that section fee again, and in some states you also repay a per-section registration fee. Taking the exam outside the US costs more: NASBA lists $390 per section for international administration and $460 per section in India. The US fee was $262.64 before July 2026.
The application fee depends on your state board. Virginia charges $120, other states charge anything from about $20 to $180, and some add a fee for evaluating your transcripts. Check your own board's fee page before you budget, because the numbers differ from state to state and can change during the year.
The exam fee is only part of the bill. A review course usually runs $2,000 to $5,000, many states ask for a separate ethics exam (the AICPA course costs about $250 to $320), and after you pass there is a license fee that varies by state. Passing each section on the first attempt is the cheapest way through, because every retake costs a full section fee.
What the CPA exam costs in 2026 (NASBA and state boards)
| Cost | Amount | When you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee per section (US) | $268.59 | Each section you schedule |
| All four sections, first attempt | $1,074.36 | Spread over the sections |
| State application fee | About $100 to $150, varies | Once, to your state board |
| Exam fee per section outside the US | $390 | Each section you schedule |
| Review course (optional) | $2,000 to $5,000 | Before you start |
| First-attempt budget without a course | About $1,200 | Fees only |
Step by step
- 1
Look up your state board's application fee and any transcript evaluation fee before you decide when to apply.
- 2
Multiply the section fee by four: 4 x $268.59 = $1,074.36 if you pass everything on the first try.
- 3
Add a buffer of one or two section fees for a retake, about $270 to $540.
- 4
Add the review course you picked, or build your own review from your notes and a free practice exam to shrink that line.
- 5
Book each section only when you are ready, because a failed section costs a full fee again.
- 6
Ask your employer or school whether they reimburse exam fees or a review course.
How StudyPDF helps
Try free CPA practice questions at CPA Practice Exam. Then upload your review notes, textbook pages or slides and build flashcards, quizzes and a practice exam in sections from them, timed if you want and with no feedback until you submit. StudyPDF tracks the topics you keep missing, so your study time goes where it moves your score. A free account needs no card.
See also
More questions
Do you pay for all four CPA exam sections at once?
No. You pay for each section when you schedule it, so you can spread the $1,074.36 over months. The application fee is paid once to your state board.
How much does it cost to retake a CPA exam section?
You pay the section fee again, $268.59 at the July 2026 rate, and in some states you also pay a registration fee for that section. Your state board lists the exact total.
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