2024 CPA Exam
The CPA Exam is changing significantly in January 2024. The changes to the CPA Exam and its future administration will not impact a candidate who passes and retains credit for all four CPA Exam sections by December 31, 2023. But a candidate who will still be working through the CPA Exam in January 2024 and beyond needs to know how the CPA Evolution-aligned CPA Exam (the 2024 Exam) and its administration will impact them.
The 2024 Exam is a Core + Discipline model. It will have a three-section “Core” of Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Auditing and Reporting (FAR), and Taxation & Regulation (REG) that all candidates must complete. Then, each candidate must choose one “Discipline” section to complete. The new Discipline sections replace BEC (Business Environment & Concepts) and reflect three pillars of the CPA profession: Business analysis and reporting (BAR); Information systems and controls (ISC); and Tax compliance and planning (TCP)
Transition Policy
Candidates with credit for AUD, FAR, or REG on the current Exam will not need to take the corresponding new Core section of AUD, FAR, or REG on the 2024 Exam. Candidates with credit for BEC on the current Exam will not need to take a Discipline section. A candidate who does not have credit for AUD, FAR, or REG as of December 31, 2023, must take the corresponding Core section of AUD, FAR, or REG on the new Exam. A candidate who does not have credit for BEC as of December 31, 2023, must take one of the three Discipline sections (BAR, ISC, TCP).
Candidates should note that the last day of testing for all current CPA Exam sections (AUD, BEC, FAR and REG) is December 15, 2023. No CPA Exam sections will be administered from December 16, 2023, through January 9, 2024, to allow for conversion of IT systems to the 2024 CPA Exam.
BEC Application Processing
The Board has established a cut-off for accepting applications for the BEC section. The Board will process applications for BEC if the application package is postmarked by October 15, 2023. The deadline was established in response to the limited testing opportunities that will be available through December 15, 2023, the last day of testing until the launch of the new Exam in January 2024. Candidates are in the last testing period where scores will be released in time to reapply for BEC to meet the Board’s BEC application deadline. The current testing period ends on September 30, and scores from this testing period will be released on October 10.
For BEC applications postmarked after October 15, the Board’s Executive staff will review, on a case-by-case basis, a candidate’s testing history to determine if the application for BEC will be processed. Candidates must submit a request for review to Phyllis Elliott. Priority will be given to those candidates for whom BEC is the last section needed to complete the Exam.
The Board will continue processing applications for AUD, FAR, and REG as usual. The Board will start processing applications for BAR, ISC, and TCP on November 27, 2023.
Credit Extension Policy
Due to the limited testing schedule and anticipated delayed score releases in 2024, the Board has adopted a credit extension policy for North Carolina CPA Exam candidates with unexpired section credits. If a North Carolina candidate has an unexpired section credits as of January 1, 2024, the Board will automatically extend (i.e., candidates do not need to request this extension) those credit expiration dates to June 30, 2025 . Although the Board anticipates that NASBA will update score sheets accordingly, the Board’s official records will show the modified expiration date.
2024 Testing Schedule & Score Release Dates
*All dates subject to change **Could be throughout the 24Q4 window
Timeframe to Pass the CPA Exam
In May 2023, the Board approved moving from an 18-month Exam credit window to a 30-month Exam credit window for North Carolina CPA Exam candidates. This decision is part of the process of transitioning CPA Exam candidates to the 2024 CPA Exam. To enact this change, the Board must go through the rulemaking process with the NC Office of Administrative Hearings. However, the Board authorized Executive Staff to review, upon request, a current North Carolina candidate’s CPA Exam history to determine if the 30-month score window extension would assist them in completing the CPA Exam.
If a current North Carolina candidate sat for the CPA Exam in January 2021 or later and lost credit for a section, they may ask for a review of their CPA Exam history to determine if the Board can reinstate the expired credit. To request a review, a candidate should send their full name, the CPA Exam section(s) passed but expired, and, if available, a copy of the score notice showing when the credit(s) expired to the Board’s Executive Director, David R. Nance, CPA. If the Board reinstates the section credit(s), the Board’s official records will indicate the reinstated score, but the NASBA score sheet may not.
CPA Exam Candidate Records
The Board maintains the official records for each North Carolina CPA Exam candidate, from initial CPA Exam application to CPA licensure and beyond. Communications from NASBA, such as score reports, may not reflect changes made at the Board level. Any questions related to section credits, score windows, etc., should be directed to Phyllis Elliott, the Board’s Exam Specialist.
Important Dates
(all dates subject to change)
| 08/05/2023 | New AUD, BEC, FAR, & REG fees go into effect |
| 10/15/2023 | Last day to submit BEC applications to the Board |
| 11/27/2023 | The Board starts processing BAR, ICS, and TCP applications |
| 12/15/2023 | Last day to take BEC. All BEC Notices to Schedule expire |
| 12/15/2023 | Last day to take AUD, FAR, & REG in 2023 |
| 12/16/2023-01/09/2024 | No Exam sections administered to allow for the conversion of IT systems to the 2024 Exam format |
| 01/10/2024 | 2024 CPA Exam Launches |
Resources
NC CPA Exam Candidate Bulletin (07-2023)
NC CPA Exam Candidate Bulletin (08-2023)
CPA Exam’s Future: Key Tentative Dates Announced
Uniform CPA Examination Blueprints – Effective date: January 2024