How to Apply for the US CPA Exam Through NASBA
By SimplyCPA · 11 October 2026
On this page (10)
- Portal: Boards using NASBA's CPA Examination Services take applications through the NASBA CPA Portal; you can be a candidate in only one jurisdiction at a time.
- Two stages: First an education evaluation application to establish eligibility (which can take up to six weeks), then an exam section application for each section.
- One section at a time: Each section application leads to its own Notice to Schedule (NTS), valid for a board-set period and one testing event.
- International: After receiving the NTS, register to test internationally and pay $460 per section for India; wait 24 hours before booking with Prometric.
- Other boards: Some boards (such as Illinois and Florida) handle parts of the application themselves — follow their instructions.
Before you start
- A completed credential evaluation sent to your chosen board (NIES or another approved evaluator).
- Your passport — your name must match exactly across the application, NTS and ID.
- A card for payments.
Step 1: Create a CPA Portal account
For boards that use NASBA's CPA Examination Services (CPAES), applications are made through the NASBA CPA Portal. You can apply to any jurisdiction whose requirements you meet, but you can't be a candidate in more than one jurisdiction at the same time. There's no application deadline.
Step 2: Education evaluation application
Submit the board's education evaluation application and pay its fee (for example, $96 for Washington, $146 for Montana). NASBA reviews your evaluation against the board's rules — this can take up to six weeks.
Step 3: Exam section application
Once you're found eligible, apply for an exam section and pay the board's exam application fee plus the $268.59 examination fee. Apply only for a section you can take within about six months: fees aren't refundable and there are no extensions if your NTS expires.
Step 4: Receive your Notice to Schedule
The NTS confirms you can book that section. It's valid for one testing event or until its expiry date, whichever comes first; the validity period varies by jurisdiction. No changes can be made to an NTS less than five days before your appointment.
Step 5: Register to test in India
All NTSs start as domestic. In the portal, register for international testing and pay the international administration fee — $460 per section for India — then wait at least 24 hours before scheduling. The fee applies every time you test internationally and is non-refundable.
Step 6: Book with Prometric
Schedule on Prometric's website at least five days in advance (45 recommended), choosing the international version of your section. Bring your NTS and passport on exam day. See scheduling through Prometric.
Boards with their own process
Some boards run parts of the process themselves. For example, NASBA's Illinois page directs candidates to the Illinois Board of Examiners for eligibility, and the Florida page directs candidates to the Florida Board of Accountancy. Testing accommodations are also handled by the board in some cases. Always start from your board's page on nasba.org.
After testing
Scores appear in the NASBA candidate portal and the NASBA CPA Mobile app on the target release date or within about 48 hours. If you fail, reapply for the section through the portal — you can retake as soon as you receive your score, reregister and obtain a new NTS.