CPA score release dates 2026: official core release table

If you only need one table from this page, this is probably it. These are the official AICPA core section cutoffs and target score release dates for 2026, presented clearly and with the current check date shown so you know you are not looking at an older schedule.

The most useful way to read this table is not just to look at the release date, but to work backward from it. If you want a result before starting the next section, choose a cutoff that gives you a decision point at the right time. If you are comfortable keeping study momentum without waiting for the score, you can test earlier in the cycle and move straight into the next section.

It also helps to remember that a cutoff is not the same thing as a promise. AICPA says the file must arrive from Prometric first, and NASBA warns that taking the test on the cutoff date itself does not guarantee that target release. That is why many candidates prefer to leave a small margin rather than book the final possible day and hope everything posts exactly on time.

Because this is a time-sensitive page, the update date matters. A clear current date helps candidates trust that the schedule reflects the actual 2026 release cycle rather than an older calendar or an outdated summary copied from another year.

CPA discipline exam dates 2026 and score release schedule

Discipline timing works differently from core timing, so it deserves its own table. If you are taking BAR, ISC, or TCP, these are the official 2026 testing windows and target score release dates you should build your plan around.

This quarterly structure changes how you should plan. A core section can be booked far more flexibly because AICPA says core scores are released throughout the year on a rolling basis. Discipline sections are different. The test month itself is fixed. That makes discipline planning feel more like a true exam window than an open scheduling system.

Another useful takeaway is that discipline result timing naturally feels slower because you are waiting for the quarterly window to close and the scheduled discipline release date to arrive. That is normal. It is not a sign that your file is necessarily delayed. For this reason, many candidates use rolling core sections to maintain momentum and then position the discipline window at a point in the year where the longer wait will not disrupt the rest of their plan.

CPA exam schedule 2026: how core and discipline testing actually work

Once you have the exact dates, the next important step is understanding how the 2026 CPA schedule behaves in practice. The schedule is not one uniform system. It is two connected systems: rolling testing for core sections and quarterly windows for discipline sections.

Core sections

Discipline sections

That split is the heart of the 2026 CPA exam schedule. If you remember only one structural rule, remember this one: core equals rolling, discipline equals quarterly. Once that is clear, the rest of the planning logic becomes much easier.

From a planning perspective, the model creates a simple but powerful study rule. Use rolling core scheduling when you want flexibility. Use discipline windows when you are ready to anchor a quarter around a specific elective. The best order is not universal. It depends on your state credit rules, your work schedule, your strongest content area, and whether you want faster score feedback between sittings.

The other important schedule nuance is that score release timing is part of scheduling. Candidates often think only about the test day itself, but the search data shows that many more are actually planning around when the score will arrive. That is especially true when they are trying to decide whether to book another section immediately, wait for a result, or switch their discipline choice and study path.

CPA Evolution in 2026: section choice, pass rates and what the latest data suggests

A strong 2026 CPA page should not stop at dates. Searchers also want to know how to interpret the structure they are scheduling around. Under CPA Evolution, all candidates take the three core sections AUD, FAR, and REG, plus one discipline of BAR, ISC, or TCP. Passing any discipline leads to the same CPA license. The discipline you pass does not limit your license. That point matters because many candidates still worry that choosing a discipline narrows their future eligibility.

The most useful current data here is the official AICPA pass-rate snapshot for 2025. While pass rates should never be treated as guarantees, they do help candidates understand where sections have been more forgiving or more difficult for recent candidate pools. That is useful when you are deciding section order or trying to judge whether a discipline aligns with your background and timeline.

These pass rates should not decide the discipline for you on their own, but they are useful context. They can help you decide whether a section lines up with your academic background, work experience and tolerance for risk in your 2026 schedule.

There is also a specific 2026 planning implication. If your strongest background is tax, the combination of REG plus TCP can make sense because the knowledge areas feel more connected. If you are coming from audit and systems work, AUD plus ISC may feel more natural. If you want a reporting-heavy track, FAR plus BAR may align better. AICPA itself notes that candidates should let their education, experience and interests help guide discipline choice.

The ideal page for search engines is not just long. It is intentionally useful. That means helping the reader move from question to decision. By tying the latest official pass rates to the 2026 testing model, this page gives candidates a practical reason to stay rather than bounce back to search results for another comparison article.

CPA exam scoring in 2026: what 75 means and why it matters for scheduling

A surprising amount of CPA search traffic around release dates comes from candidates who are still unclear about how the score itself works. That confusion can hurt decision-making after release day, so this page now includes a cleaner, current explanation tied to official AICPA guidance.

AICPA states that the total reported score is a weighted combination of scaled scores from multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations. For most sections, that split is 50% MCQs and 50% TBSs. The exception is ISC, which AICPA says is weighted 60% MCQs and 40% TBSs. That alone can influence how some candidates think about their discipline choice and study method.

The page also now needs to connect scoring back to schedule behavior. The reason score release dates matter so much is that a score below 75 changes your next move immediately. If you test near a cutoff and get a faster score, you can pivot sooner. If you choose a discipline window and then wait longer for the quarterly release, your retake or next-step timeline naturally stretches. Searchers understand this intuitively, which is why release-date queries are often stronger than broad informational queries.

Another important detail for failed attempts is the Candidate Performance Report. AICPA explains what the score means, while NASBA says the score notice or performance report is posted to the CPA portal within 72 hours from when the advisory score is posted, and that the detailed performance report is only available for failed scores. That report is often more useful than candidates expect because it gives a clearer picture of where the section broke down.

Registration, NTS validity, fees and Prometric scheduling

A long-form page about CPA exam dates still needs a registration section, but the old page leaned too heavily on generic process text and one-size-fits-all fee assumptions. The more accurate 2026 approach is to explain the process clearly and highlight where the rules actually vary by jurisdiction.

What stays consistent

NTS validity is not identical everywhere

One of the most important corrections on this page is that an NTS validity period should not be presented as one universal rule. NASBA's current candidate guide shows multiple validation patterns by jurisdiction, including 6 months from NTS issue date, 180 days from application date, 9 months from NTS issue date, and 12 months from NTS issue date. That is a much more accurate guide than telling everyone they have the same window.

CPA exam fees in 2026

Another place where vague pages lose trust is fees. CPA exam fees vary by jurisdiction, application path and board structure. NASBA's current New Jersey page, for example, shows an exam section fee of $262.64 and an exam application fee of $96.00. That is useful as an example, but it should never be treated as a universal national CPA fee. The better wording is that candidates should expect both a section fee and an application or registration fee, then confirm the exact numbers on their own state or NASBA page.

This distinction matters because candidates quickly lose trust when a page presents one fee as universal and it turns out to belong to a different jurisdiction. For time-sensitive planning pages, precision about what varies is just as important as precision about dates.

Prometric scheduling and test-center reality

The schedule published by AICPA tells you when a section can be tested and when a target score release happens. Prometric availability tells you whether you can get the exact date, city and time slot you want. This is especially important for discipline months, because the window is narrower and popular seats can be less forgiving if you wait.

That is why a good 2026 scheduling strategy is not just "pick a date." It is "pick the release cycle or discipline month you want, then book the seat early enough that the calendar works in real life." Many candidates understand the academic side of the CPA exam very well but still lose flexibility because they book too late.

Where CPA scores post, when notices appear, and what can vary by jurisdiction

Many candidates asking about score release dates are really asking where the score will appear and how long the rest of the process will take. NASBA says all CPA exam candidates can obtain their scores using the CPA Mobile App, and candidates can still access scores from the Candidate Portal. NASBA also notes that boards of accountancy determine the actual release schedule, so not every candidate will see scores at exactly the same moment.

NASBA also warns that the portal does not permanently house every old score. The "score available until" date matters. Candidates who want to keep formal records should download or print the score notice while it is still visible. That is a small operational detail, but it is exactly the kind of thing candidates appreciate once it is written plainly on the page.

Jurisdiction handling can vary. NASBA's public pages make clear that state boards are still part of the release chain and may take additional processing time. The safest wording is not to promise identical release timing for every jurisdiction. The safest wording is to say that AICPA supplies the target dates, NASBA processes and posts scores, and state rules can still affect when a candidate actually sees the result.

That operational detail matters more than many candidates expect. A chart tells you when to start checking. This section tells you where to check, what should appear after the advisory score, and why one candidate may see the result later than another even when both used the same target release table.

How the 30-month CPA credit window works in 2026

The old page still had an outdated 18-month window heading, which is exactly the kind of detail that can quietly damage trust on a page that otherwise ranks well. AICPA's current 2026 score release resource states that candidates must complete all four sections within at least 30 months of sitting their first section, and that in some states the timeline extends to as long as three years. NASBA state pages support that nuance as well, with some jurisdictions listing a 30-month rolling window and others, like Washington, showing 36 months.

That matters strategically. Under the old 18-month model, the common advice was often to tackle FAR first because the clock was so tight. Under the longer 30-month-or-more framework, some candidates can be more flexible. AICPA itself has discussed the idea that candidates may choose to sit for the sections they are most comfortable with first, secure early wins, and then use the remaining time for the more difficult sections.

This matters because the calendar is not just about dates. It is about pressure. Once you know whether your jurisdiction effectively gives you 30 months or 36, the right section order can look very different.

Best 2026 CPA testing strategies based on the official release calendar

Once the date tables are clear, the next useful move is strategy. The best schedule is not the one that looks ideal on paper. It is the one you can actually execute while balancing work, study energy, and your jurisdiction's credit rules.

There is no single perfect CPA order for everyone in 2026. But the official release table does make some choices easier. If you prefer momentum, lean into the quicker core release rhythm. If you need a discipline, anchor your quarter around it. If you are working in busy season, avoid pretending you will study normally during peak workload weeks. The best CPA schedule is the one you can realistically execute, not the one that sounds ideal in a vacuum.

This kind of strategy section also supports long-tail search growth. A page that only targets one exact keyword can rank for that keyword, but a page that also helps users interpret the dates can expand into adjacent queries like cpa important dates, cpa exam testing schedule 2026, when is the next cpa exam date in 2026, and other naturally related searches.

Related RevisionTown resources from the sitemap

Internal linking matters for both crawlability and user progression. These are the most relevant existing RevisionTown pages to support CPA candidates who also need accounting, finance and professional-exam context.

CPA exam FAQs 2026

Final 2026 CPA planning summary

This page is built to answer the most practical 2026 CPA questions quickly: when scores release, when discipline windows open, how the core-versus-discipline model works, where scores post, how the 30-month window affects planning, and which details vary by jurisdiction.

It also corrects the kinds of details that most often weaken trust on CPA schedule pages: outdated score dates, outdated credit-window wording, and broad universal statements where state rules really do vary. For a time-sensitive planning page, that level of precision matters.