Indian Students
US CPA Exam Application to Result: Complete Timeline
By SimplyCPA · 11 October 2026
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- Documents and evaluation: Allow 2–3 months — collecting sealed transcripts is usually the slowest part; NIES takes about six weeks after receiving everything.
- Eligibility: The board's review through NASBA can take up to six weeks.
- NTS to exam: Book 45 days ahead if you can; Discipline sections only in January, April, July and October.
- Scores: Core results come out in batches roughly twice a month; Discipline results about six weeks after the testing window closes.
- Overall: Most working candidates finish all four sections in 12–18 months from their first exam.
Stage by stage
| Stage | Typical duration | What can slow it down |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting official documents | 2–8 weeks | Universities slow to issue sealed transcripts |
| NIES evaluation | About 6 weeks after all documents arrive | Missing years, syllabi requests, translations |
| Board eligibility review | Up to 6 weeks | Deficiencies against the board's rules |
| Section application to NTS | Days to a few weeks | Payment issues, name mismatches |
| International registration | 24-hour wait after payment | — |
| Booking to exam | 5+ days (45 recommended) | Seat availability; Discipline windows |
| Exam to score (Core) | About 1–4 weeks, depending on the batch cutoff | Testing just after a cutoff |
| Exam to score (Discipline) | About 6 weeks after the window closes | — |
Example timeline for an Indian candidate
- January: request sealed transcripts from B.Com and M.Com universities; apply to NIES.
- March: all documents received; evaluation completed by mid-April.
- Late April: apply to the board through the NASBA portal; eligibility confirmed in May.
- May: apply for FAR; NTS received; register internationally and pay $460; book a date in late June.
- Late June: sit FAR; score released in July.
- August–September: AUD. October: sit the Discipline section (e.g. BAR) in the October window; score released mid-December.
- Following January–March: REG. All four sections done in about 14 months from starting the paperwork.
Score release in more detail
Core section scores are released in batches roughly twice a month, according to when the AICPA receives your exam data. Discipline sections have a single release about six weeks after each testing window. Scores are posted in the NASBA portal and mobile app, typically within 48 hours of the target date. Score notices are usually available within 72 hours of the advisory score.
The credit window
Most boards give you 30 months (Washington 36) from the release of your first passing score to pass the remaining sections. If you sit your final section before your earliest credit expires and pass, you keep the credit even if the score is released after the expiry date.
See the score release calendar and the step-by-step process.