The AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) administers the CPA exams. Candidates must pass all four CPA examinations to get membership in the AICPA. However, a CPA license is issued by the 55 state boards of accountancy in the US that are part of NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy). Each state board has different CPA eligibility requirements for the CPA exams.
Here is the eligibility for Indian students to become a US CPA:
- Master’s Degree in any of the streams of Commerce, Accounting, or Finance.
- In some cases, first-division graduates of a three-year degree from NAAC-A accredited universities in India are also qualified to take the US CPA exams.
- Bcom (Any university/college)+ CA IPCC Cleared Candidates.
- Bcom (Any university/college) + Qualified CA /CMA Candidates.
CPA Course Eligibility
CPA course eligibility in terms of education: candidates must complete their Bachelor’s program. Additionally, you must have 120 college credit hours to be eligible. A general Bachelor’s degree would also work, but a degree in accounting, business, or a related field like finance helps your cause. It is also required that you are studying in an accredited and recognized education to be eligible.
CPA Eligibility for Indian Students
Education:- CPA eligibility for Indian students is to have passed graduation in commerce and accounting with 60%. And CA, CMA, and CS degree holders are eligible to appear for CPA in India. Indian students should complete additional coursework in accounting and related subjects. These courses typically cover financial accounting, auditing, taxation, business law, and management accounting. Acquiring knowledge in these areas strengthens the foundation required for the CPA designation.
Work experience:- Candidates should have gained relevant work experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA. Although the specific experience requirements vary, candidates generally must accumulate 1-2 years of full-time work experience in a relevant accounting or finance role.
Examination:- Indian students must pass the Uniform CPA Examination, which is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The Uniform CPA Examination is a four-part exam that tests students’ accounting, auditing, and taxation knowledge.
After B.com eligibility for US CPA Course:
US CPA effectively wants you to have 120 credits.
Now what are these credits?
One year of graduation gives you 30 credits, so if you have done your B.com, you would have 90 credits. US CPA calls out for 120 credits because graduation is of four years in the US.
If you have done your B.com from a NAAC (Accredited College/ University), then you may be qualified to take the US CPA exams too. They give you the flexibility of starting a US CPA right away. So you become eligible for US CPA.
The above points cover the CPA eligibility criteria in India. Fintram Global offers free eligibility checks.
The CPA exam’s modules
The US CPA exam is divided into 4 sections, each of which is 4 hours long and covers a different area of accounting.
The US CPA Exam syllabus:
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
- Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
- Regulation (REG)
The CPA exam is not a pen-and-paper exam. Instead, it is a CBE (computer-based exam) and consists of multiple-choice questions, task-based simulations, and written communication tasks.
The AICPA has also divided the grade weightage for each topic:
| Subject | Topic | Weightage |
| AUD | Auditing standards, financial statement assertions, and attestation engagements | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) 50%, Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) 50%. |
| FAR | Financial statement preparation, accrual accounting, and international financial reporting standards | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) 50%, Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) 35%, Written Communication Tasks 15%. |
| REG | Federal taxation, business law, and ethics | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) 50%, Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) 50%. |
| BEC | Economics, management, and information technology | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) 50%, Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) 50%. |
To become a CPA in India, you must pass all four parts of the exam within 18 months of passing the first section/paper.
CPA Exam Eligibility
Let’s have a look at the CPA exam eligibility. First, A candidate must have a bachelor’s Degree or equivalent to enrol in the CPA certification programme. The candidate must finish 150 hours of CPA course semester to get the CPA licence. Many states demand that candidates have 1-2 years of experience working under the supervision of a CPA.
Prometric test centres in India for the CPA exam
There are several Prometric test centres in India where candidates can take the exam. These centres are located at:
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Bangalore
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Trivandrum
If you still have any doubts regarding CPA Eligibility, then FinTram Global is a leading provider of CPA Course training. Contact us today to learn more about CPA eligibility and begin your CPA journey.