You spend hundreds of hours preparing for the CPA Exam, but then wait weeks or months to find out if you passed. We know, that wait can feel interminable after you've put so much work into studying and have taken a four-hour exam. While we can't help you get your scores faster, we can share tips on what to do while waiting for your CPA Exam scores.
Summary
To navigate the three-to-ten-week CPA Exam score wait period, candidates can manage the mental and physical toll of waiting by relaxing, maintaining study momentum, growing relevant knowledge, and seeking support from their community.
The Wait for CPA Exam Scores
The AICPA’s CPA Exam score release timeline depends on the section you’re taking.
- When you sit for a Core section (AUD, FAR, REG), you’ll receive your score roughly 3-6 weeks after testing.
- When you sit for a Discipline section (BAR, ISC, TCP), you’ll receive your score 6-10 weeks after testing.
What Makes Waiting for CPA Exam Scores So Hard?
No matter how long you wait, it feels like an eternity. Why?
You’ve been studying for months and that takes a physical and mental toll. No matter how much you’ve prepared, finally sitting for the exam will likely bring up nerves, difficult questions, and environmental distractions that set your mind whirring.
After you leave the Prometric testing center, you may even start second-guessing yourself: “Did I fail?” , “Was I really prepared?” , “Did I study the right material?”
The most important thing you can do for yourself is breathe, trust the time you’ve invested in study, and don’t allow exhaustion and fear to drive your thinking.
Top 4 Things to Do While Waiting for Your CPA Exam Score
Whether it’s 3 weeks or 10 before you receive your CPA Exam scores, you can make the most of the time and distract your focus from the harrowing wait.
#1: Let Yourself Relax
Relaxing may seem like the farthest thing from your mind after stressing out in the exam room, but think about it this way: you’ve been putting in hard work for months and the hardest part is over. Since there’s nothing more you can do at this point, give yourself a much-needed break and do something you enjoy to recharge and refresh. Be it making bread, home improvement, taking a trip, or just relaxing with a nice book, take the time to celebrate the progress you've made so far toward your CPA goal!
#2: Build on Your Knowledge
It may seem counter-intuitive to move forward when you're not sure whether you passed or will need to re-take the section. However, if you're following Becker's recommendations for the best order to take the CPA Exam, you'll know that what you study for one section will help support what you need to learn in the next section. You'll be in a good position to succeed moving forward, especially if you don't let any big gaps in your studying derail your progress.
And if it turns out that you do need to re-take the section of the exam again, it's okay. Whether you decide to go back to that section to re-take it or put it on the back burner and move forward on the new section you're studying for, everything you learn will benefit you in the long run.
#3: Stay Focused
If you're waiting weeks for your scores and don't keep up with studying during that time, it may be hard to get back on track once you get your results back. You'll have to regain your motivation and your momentum. Taking a short break, then focusing your attention to the next section of the exam will keep you sharp and motivated.
#4: Rely on Your Community
Whether it’s family, friends, other CPA candidates, or all of the above, keep in touch with your community and accept the support they can give you. Even though you can focus your attention and time on something other than CPA Exam score release, it’s easy to fall back into worrying. If you feel the stress creeping in, reach out to your people to help regain perspective and peace of mind.
What's Next?
After you receive your last CPA Exam section score, the real fun begins.
If you didn't pass, breathe. It's disappointing, but you're not alone and there is still a way forward. Learn what to do if you fail the CPA Exam.
And if you pass, a BIG congratulations! The hardest part is behind you and it was well worth the wait; so learn how to make the most of your achievement to earn full CPA licensure and advance your career. Download your free guide today!
You passed the CPA Exam?! Make the most of your achievement!
Congratulations! Passing the CPA Exam is a huge accomplishment and the biggest step toward catapulting your career forward as a CPA.
Learn what to do next, the smoothest path to CPA licensure, and advice from experts who have done it before.
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