CPA Exam Score Release Dates 2026 | Full Schedule

CPA Exam Score Release Schedule 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Waiting for a CPA exam score distorts time. Each email notification stirs hope and anxiety. Checking NASBA becomes a ritual.

I know the feeling. After guiding hundreds of CPA candidates, I’ve learned uncertainty is often worse than the result. One candidate I worked with, Emily, found the waiting period particularly challenging. Instead of dwelling on her anxiety, she decided to channel it into creating a study group with peers who were also waiting for their scores. They discussed potential outcomes and future strategies, helping each other manage the uncertainty. Knowing when your score arrives and what to do while waiting, as Emily discovered, can transform anxiety into productive focus.

This guide presents the complete 2026 CPA exam score release schedule and equips you with effective strategies to manage the waiting period.

Key Takeaways: 2026 CPA Exam Score Release 

1. Core sections (AUD, FAR, REG): Rolling releases every 2-3 weeks throughout 2026.
2. Discipline sections (BAR, ISC, TCP): Fixed releases on March 13, June 16, September 11, and December 15.
3. Where to check: NASBA CPA Candidate Portal (or state board portal for CA, IL, and select states).
4. Passing score: 75 or higher on the scaled scoring system.
5. Credit window: 30 months to pass all four sections after your first pass.
6. Retakes: Core sections can be retaken immediately; Discipline sections require waiting for the next quarterly window.

How CPA Exam Score Releases Work in 2026

Before exploring dates, let’s understand the mechanics. The CPA exam operates differently for Core sections versus Discipline sections, and this affects when you’ll receive your scores.

Core Sections (AUD, FAR, REG) follow continuous testing. You can schedule these exams throughout the year, with rolling score releases approximately every two to three weeks. Your score release date depends on when the AICPA receives your exam data file from Prometric, not when you actually sat for the exam. If you must verify employment eligibility by a specific date, for example, May, choose an exam date that ensures your score is released well before that deadline, allowing time for any necessary follow-up actions.

Discipline Sections (BAR, ISC, TCP) operate on quarterly testing windows. You can only take these exams during the first month of each quarter (January, April, July, October), and scores are released on specific dates tied to those windows.

This distinction is important for your planning strategy. If you need your score by a particular deadline, identify the exact release date first, then select your exam date to ensure your score arrives on time.

2026 Core Section Score Release Schedule

Grasping the Core Schedule

Most score releases are two to three weeks after the data cutoff, but timing varies based on AICPA processing and technical issues.

Critical insight: Your exam date and the date AICPA receives your file aren't always the same. Prometric typically transmits files within 24-48 hours of your exam, but weekends and holidays can introduce delays. Test on a Thursday and hit the cutoff; test on a Friday before a weekend, and you might miss it. If timing is vital—such as avoiding credit expiration—schedule exams with a time buffer before the score release cutoffs. Do not count on immediate file transmission after your exam date.

If timing is vital—such as avoiding credit expiration—schedule exams with a time buffer before the score release cutoffs. Do not count on immediate file transmission after your exam date.

2026 Discipline Section Score Release Schedule

Why Discipline Scores Take Longer

The extended wait for Discipline section scores frustrates many candidates. Here’s why it happens:

Discipline sections involve more complex simulations that require human scoring, which means they are processed in batches, leading to longer wait times. In contrast, Core sections rely mostly on automated scoring, allowing quicker turnaround.

With the discipline sections, everyone in a window receives scores at the same time, so the AICPA waits for the window to close and processes all exams together. This takes longer than Core section rolling releases.

For those nearing the 30-month deadline, carefully align your exam window with the release date. Candidates who test in October may not receive their scores until mid-December, which could cause credits to expire. Check the schedule and select a window that guarantees your score arrives in time.

The Anatomy of Score Day

• A small number of candidates may see scores the evening before the release date. This early release is not guaranteed and appears to vary by state. Staying up all night refreshing is generally not worth the fatigue.
• Morning of release: Most scores appear between 8 AM and 12 PM Eastern Time. NASBA’s system releases in waves, so if your score isn’t there at 8:01 AM, it doesn’t mean bad news. Keep checking.
• Throughout the day: Stragglers trickle in during the afternoon. If your score hasn’t appeared by the end of business on the release date, that’s when concern becomes warranted.
• 24-hour buffer: The AICPA’s official position is that scores will release “within 24 hours” of the target date. Most candidates receive scores on the target date itself, but a small number see delays into the following day.

Where to Check Your CPA Exam Scores

• Most candidates: Log into the NASBA CPA Candidate Portal at nasba.org. Navigate to the score section. Your numeric score (0-99) will appear for each section attempted.
• State-specific portals: Some states (California, Illinois, and a few others) release scores through their own board websites rather than NASBA. Check your state board’s requirements during your application process so you know where to look.
• What you’ll see: A numeric score from 0 to 99, with 75 being the passing threshold. You won’t receive a thorough breakdown of which questions you missed—the AICPA provides only the final score and, for failed sections, a performance indicator showing relative weakness in each content area.

What Your Score Actually Means

• A score of 75 doesn’t mean 75% correct. The scaling algorithm adjusts for question difficulty among different exam forms. Candidates who receive harder questions need fewer correct answers to reach 75 than those who receive easier questions. This ensures impartiality across all test forms.
• Scores above 75 don’t matter for licensing. Whether you score 76 or 96, the outcome is identical—you passed. Don’t obsess over maximizing your score. Focus on passing, then move forward.
• Failing scores include diagnostic information. If you score below 75, your score report includes a performance breakdown by content area: Stronger, Comparable, or Weaker. This diagnostic helps target your restudy efforts. A “Weaker” rating in a specific area signals where to focus before retaking.

The 30-Month Window: How Score Timing Affects Credit

Understanding the CPA exam sections and their score release dates becomes critical when managing the rolling credit window.

Here’s how it works: Once you pass your first section, a clock starts. You have 30 months (in most states) to pass the remaining three sections. If that window expires before you’ve passed everything, the earliest passed section expires, and you must retake it.

Scenario that traps candidates: Imagine passing the FAR on February 15, 2026. Your 30-month window ends August 15, 2028. You pass AUD and REG over the following year, then schedule your Discipline section for the July 2028 window. Your score won’t release until September 11, 2028—after your FAR credit expires.

Even if you passed the Discipline exam, you’d need to retake FAR because the credit expired before you could prove completion of all four sections.

The strategy: Review your credit expiration dates, then map out specific exam and score release dates, especially for Discipline sections, to ensure you receive your passing scores before any credits expire.

Planned Scheduling: When to Schedule Your Exams

For Candidates Starting Fresh

• Gives you continuous testing flexibility.
• Provides faster score feedback to adapt your study approach.
• Preserves Discipline windows for when you understand the examination format better.

For Candidates with Credits Expiring

• Schedule remaining exams to ensure scores are released before deadlines.
• For Discipline sections, this may mean testing in an earlier window than ideal.
• Always allow time to retake an exam by scheduling at least one testing window before your final possible deadline, reducing the risk of credit loss.

For Candidates Managing Work andStudy

• Consider testing in late November/December before the busy season starts.
• Alternatively, test immediately after tax deadlines clear.
• It is wise to avoid scheduling exams during periods of peak work stress, as this can affect your performance.

What to Do While Waiting for Scores

If You Feel Confident About Passing

• Start studying for your next section immediately.
• Don’t wait for approval.
• The worst case—you need to restudy the failed section—still leaves you ahead because you’ve begun preparing for what comes next.

If You’re Uncertain About Your Performance

• Take 3-4 days completely away from CPA materials.
• Mental recovery matters.
• Then begin a light review of the section you just completed, focusing on areas where you felt weakest during the exam.

Regardless of How You Feel

• Continue working on CPA experience requirements if you haven’t met them.
• Research your state’s CPA licensure application process.
• Stay physically active—exercise reduces anxiety and improves cognitive function.
• Connect with other CPA candidates for mutual support.

When Scores Are Delayed

• High-volume release days may process in waves.
• Technical issues with NASBA’s portal.
• Your state board processes releases differently.

• Testing irregularities were detected during your exam.
• Issues with your exam file transmission.
• Problems with your candidate information.

If your score hasn’t appeared within 24 hours of the target release date, contact NASBA first. They can confirm whether your score has been transmitted. If NASBA shows the score was sent, but your state portal doesn’t reflect it, contact your state board directly.

Security holds: In rare cases, the AICPA flags an exam for security review. This can delay scores significantly. You’ll typically receive communication if this affects you, but the waiting period can extend beyond normal release dates by weeks.

Retaking Failed Sections

• For Core sections, you can schedule a retake as soon as you receive your failing score.
• There’s no mandatory waiting period, and continuous testing means you can typically find an appointment within days.
• For Discipline sections, you must wait for the next quarterly window.
• A January failure means waiting until April to retake—a longer gap that can affect momentum and retention.

• Use the diagnostic information from your score report.
• If you showed “Weaker” performance in a content area, that’s where intensive review should focus.
• Don’t simply repeat your entire study plan—target the gaps.

Score Release Day Rituals: What Candidates Actually Do

• The Early Refresher: Checks NASBA at 6 AM, then every 15 minutes until the score appears. High anxiety, but they know the instant scores drop.
• The Delayed Gratification: Refuses to check until evening. Figures, they can’t change the outcome, so why stress all day? Often, the healthiest approach is mental.
• The Surrogate Checker: Has a spouse, parent, or friend check the portal and deliver news. Removes the candidate from the initial shock (positive or negative).
• The Work Distractor: Schedules important meetings or tasks on score release day. Stays too busy to constantly check. Look at the results during lunch or after work.

Planning Your 2026 CPA Journey

• Core sections test continuously with releases on Feb 10, Feb 24, Mar 17.
• Discipline window: January 1-31, scores release March 13.
• It's a great time to start if you want to complete by summer.

• Core releases on April 9, May 7, May 27, and June 16.
• Discipline window: April 1-30, scores release June 16.
• With the busy season coming to a close, many candidates find this an ideal time to ramp up their studying. To make the most of the reclaimed hours each week, consider setting a specific study schedule. For example, you could block 2-3 hours on weeknights and 4-5 hours on weekends. Creating a study-hour template can turn vague plans into productive habits, assuring consistent progress towards your CPA exam goals.

• Core releases on July 10, August 7, August 25, and September 15.
• Discipline window: July 1-31, scores release September 11.
• Summer studying is often productive for students and those with lighter workloads.

• Core releases on October 9, November 10, November 24, and December 16.
• Discipline window: October 1-31, scores release December 15.
• Holiday distractions can impact study consistency—plan accordingly.

Comparing CPA to Other Credentials

While waiting for scores or deciding on your path, you might wonder how the CPA compares to other certifications. The CPA vs CMA comparison helps you understand the differences between public accounting and management accounting credentials.

If tax representation interests you specifically, exploring the Enrolled Agent credential provides another career pathway with different examination requirements and score release timelines.

Key Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

• January 23, February 14, March 9, March 31.
• April 23, May 16, June 8, June 30.
• July 23, August 15, September 7, September 30.
• October 23, November 15, December 8, December 31.

• Q1: January 1-31 (scores March 13).
• Q2: April 1-30 (scores June 16).
• Q3: July 1-31 (scores September 11).
• Q4: October 1-31 (scores December 15).

Final Thoughts: The Wait Is Temporary

The anxiety between exam and score release feels eternal while you’re living it. But looking back, successful CPAs barely remember those waiting periods. They remember the relief of passing, the lessons from failing, and the eventual triumph of licensure.

Use the schedule in this guide to remove uncertainty from the equation. Know exactly when to expect results. Plan your study schedule around score releases. Keep in mind that every licensed CPA once sat where you’re sitting now, wondering, waiting, hoping. To further personalize your journey, consider creating your own mantra: By [date], I will achieve my goal of becoming a CPA. This self-authored commitment can turn passive planning into active commitment.

That credential is coming. The score release date is marked. Now focus on preparation, and let the timeline take care of itself.

FAQ on CPA Score release dates

When will I get my CPA exam score in 2026?
For Core sections (AUD, FAR, REG), scores are released on a rolling basis approximately 2-3 weeks after the AICPA receives your exam file. For Discipline sections (BAR, ISC, TCP), scores are released on fixed dates: March 13, June 16, September 11, and December 15 for 2026.

How long does it take to get CPA exam results?
Core section results typically arrive within 2-3 weeks of your exam date. Discipline section results take 6-10 weeks because testing occurs in quarterly windows with batch score processing.

Where do I check my CPA exam score?
Most candidates check scores through the NASBA CPA Candidate Portal. Some states (including California and Illinois) use their own state board portals. Check your state’s specific process during your application.

What score do I need to pass the CPA exam?
You need a score of 75 or higher on each section to pass. This is a scaled score, not a simple percentage of correct answers.

What happens if I fail a CPA exam section?
You can retake Core sections immediately after receiving your failing score. For Discipline sections, you must wait for the next quarterly testing window. There’s no limit on retake attempts.

How long do I have to pass all CPA exam sections?
In most states, you have 30 months from passing your first section to pass all remaining sections. Some states extend this to 36 months. Check your specific state board requirements.