CPA study schedule: how long per section?
Plan about 6 to 10 weeks per section at 15 to 20 hours a week, which puts all four sections at roughly 9 to 15 months. You take three core sections (AUD, FAR, REG) and one discipline you choose (BAR, ISC or TCP). Each section is 4 hours and you need 75 on a 0 to 99 scale to pass. Your state board sets how long credit lasts, often 30 months.
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In more detail
Since 2024 the CPA Exam follows the CPA Evolution model. Everyone takes Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Taxation and Regulation (REG), plus one discipline: Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Controls (ISC) or Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP). Each section mixes multiple-choice testlets and task-based simulations. A 75 is a scaled score, not a percentage, and it is not curved.
Timing matters more than it used to. Core sections can be taken year-round, but the discipline sections only run in testing windows. In 2026 those windows are January, April, July and October, and scores come about six weeks later. Plan your discipline around its window, then fit the core sections around it.
Most candidates study while working, so a realistic week is 1 to 2 hours on workdays and a longer block on the weekend. FAR usually needs the most time because it covers the most material. Pairing a discipline with the core section it builds on, such as REG then TCP, saves review time.
Sample CPA schedule per section (15 to 20 hours a week)
| Section | Typical study time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FAR (core) | 8 to 10 weeks | Largest section, good first pick if your accounting is fresh |
| AUD (core) | 6 to 8 weeks | Lots of reading and judgment questions |
| REG (core) | 6 to 8 weeks | Federal tax plus business law |
| BAR (discipline) | 6 to 8 weeks | Builds on FAR, testing windows only |
| ISC (discipline) | 5 to 7 weeks | Builds on AUD, testing windows only |
| TCP (discipline) | 5 to 7 weeks | Builds on REG, testing windows only |
Step by step
- 1
Check your state board's rules: eligibility, fees and how long section credit lasts.
- 2
Pick your discipline and write down its next testing window.
- 3
Choose your first section and book a date 6 to 10 weeks out, so the deadline is real.
- 4
Split the section into weekly topics. Do multiple-choice questions every day and task-based simulations at least twice a week.
- 5
Spend the last 1 to 2 weeks on timed mock exams and on reviewing every miss.
- 6
Start the next section right after you sit for one, instead of waiting weeks for the score.
How StudyPDF helps
Upload your review course notes, textbook chapters or lecture slides, and StudyPDF turns them into flashcards, quizzes and a timed practice exam from your own material. Set your section's test date in the Plan tab and it schedules sessions up to it, weak topics first. It does not include licensed review course questions or official AICPA items.
Sources
See also
- AnswerHow do you study for the CPA exam?
- AnswerHow hard is the bar exam?
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- Practice testCPA Practice Exam
- Use caseCPA Exam Prep AI
- Best picksBest CPA review courses in 2026: prices compared
- TemplateStudy plan template: free printable
- TemplateRevision timetable template: free printable
- AnswerHow long is the CPA exam?
- StudyPDFAI Exam Generator
More questions
How many hours does it take to study for the CPA Exam?
Prep providers usually estimate about 300 to 500 hours for all four sections, depending on how recent your coursework is. That works out to roughly 80 to 120 hours per section, with FAR at the high end.
Which CPA section should I take first?
Many candidates start with FAR while their accounting courses are fresh, because it is the largest section. Others start with their strongest section for an early pass. Either works, as long as you book the next section right away.
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