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How many CPA candidates pass on the first try?

Author

Matthew Harrington

Updated on December 31, 2025

You’ve probably heard quite a bit of intimidating details about how hard it is — it’s long, it requires hundreds of hours of study time, it’s so difficult that the average CPA Exam pass rate for first time candidates is only 50%.

How many people pass far first try?

The number of people who passed the entire exam and passed each section on the first attempt is around 13.6 percent. The report says about 29.8% of all test takers ever pass the exam. Of the 29.8 percent, 45.92 percent only took 4 sections (i.e., they passed all on the first attempt.

What is the pass rate for CPA exams?

Wondering what the CPA exam pass rates are—and what your chances of passing might be? The cumulative CPA exam pass rate averages between 46-60% across all sections in 2019 and 2020, with some sections having much higher pass rates closer to 60%.

Is passing the CPA exam a big deal?

It’s a big deal because only only 10 to 20% of candidates pass all four exams on the first try. That’s a pretty small number. Consider that each exam only has an average passing rate of 50% and you can see how the odds are stacked against you.

Which CPA exam is the hardest?

Students often report that Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) is the most difficult part of the CPA Exam to pass, because it is the most comprehensive section.

What percent of people pass all 4 CPA exams first try?

Of CPA candidates, what percentage pass all four parts of the CPA exam the first time? About 20%, or one in five, CPA candidates pass all four parts of the exam on the first try.

Is getting CPA worth it?

The CPA designation is 100% worth the investment for those who plan to have long-term careers in accounting. Although the CFA designation is more distinguished in the finance and investment community, the CPA credential can still be valuable for those who have aspirations in finance.

How fast can you finish CPA?

The average CPA candidate may need 6-12 months to pass the entire CPA Exam. This could vary depending on: How familiar you are with the material.

Do CPAs make good money?

In a nutshell, CPAs are usually more educated than their peers (accountants). As a result, CPAs command a higher salary than accountants. While the average salary of a CPA in the USA is around $70,000 per year, senior CPAs with over 20 years of experience could command an average of $150,000 annual salary.

Is CPA hard to pass?

With national CPA Exam pass rates hovering around 50%, the Uniform CPA Examination is one of the most difficult professional credentialing exams. The right CPA Exam review course can be the difference between passing and failing.

Is getting your CPA hard?

You’ve probably heard quite a bit of intimidating details about how hard it is — it’s long, it requires hundreds of hours of study time, it’s so difficult that the average CPA Exam pass rate for first-time candidates is only 50%.

What are the chances of passing the CPA exam on first try?

If this number doesn’t sound appealing to you (it sounds scary to me), keep this in mind: According to a CPA pass/fail study, you have a 75% chance of passing at least one section on the first try and a 90% chance of passing at least one section on the second try.

What percent of the CPA exam takers pass?

Is the new CPA exam harder or easier?

Candidates typically have more problems with the task-based simulation portion of the exam and now that portion is worth more and covers more topics. It will also require a different way of thinking. All of the topics on the exam will be the same, but the way it’s tested will be more difficult.

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
Students often report that Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) is the most difficult part of the CPA Exam to pass, because it is the most comprehensive section.

What is the hardest exam in the world?

Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World

  • Gaokao.
  • IIT-JEE (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination)
  • UPSC (Union Public Services Commission)
  • Mensa.
  • GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
  • CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
  • CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert)
  • GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, India)

What’s the average passing rate for the CPA exam?

Historically, the average CPA exam passing rates for each section have been around 50 percent.

Is it possible to pass all 4 parts of the CPA exam?

So plan accordingly. This is not the same as passing all 4 parts on the first try. This is simply passing all 4 parts, in whatever order, at whatever time. 28% of all candidates who took all 4 parts of the CPA exam passed.

How often do CPA candidates fail the exam?

According to the AICPA, at least half of the CPA candidates who take the Certified Public Accountant exam each quarter fail their exam part. This isn’t an encouraging statistic by any means if you are looking to take the exam, but don’t give up.

How many CPA exams are there in the world?

As a result, the final sample consists of 4,016 degree-level CPA exam performance measures, 2,884 of which are bachelor’s degree results and 1,132 of which are graduate degree results.