Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
October 4, 2023

2016 CPA Exam Testing Window Extension and Transitional Credit

2016 CPA Exam

Please enjoy this sponsored content from Gleim CPA Review.

The next version of the CPA Exam will introduce a significant number of changes in 2017, and NASBA is anticipating an increase in candidates in 2016 due to those upcoming changes. Because of this uptick in demand, NASBA recently revealed two CPA Exam testing updates: a ten-day extension to the testing windows and new rules on transitional credit for exam sections.

The 10-Day Testing Window Extension

Starting in the second quarter (April/May) of 2016 and running until the new version of the exam is released in 2017, testing windows will be extended into the third month of each quarter by 10 days. For example, candidates can schedule their tests through June 10, 2016, even though usually June is a blackout month in which testing is not offered. The additional days available in June 2016, September 2016, December 2016, and March 2017 add up to another month and 10 days in which candidates can sit for the CPA Exam before the next version launches.

When the next version of the CPA Exam debuts in 2017, the 10-day extension will be temporarily suspended to allow the AICPA time to adapt to the scoring of the new exam. The extension will be available again in Q3 and Q4 of 2017.

CPA Exam extra testing days

The New Transitional Credit Rules

Even though the new CPA Exam will be considerably different from the current exam in some ways, NASBA has confirmed that the content and the sections of the two exams will still have enough in common to allow transitional credit to continue as usual. Therefore, candidates can combine sections passed in the 2016 version with sections passed in the 2017 version to achieve a complete pass of the CPA Exam. For example, if a candidate passes REG in July 2016, the candidate will not have to retake REG in 2017 but rather will retain conditional credit for passing REG for the usual 18 months.

NASBA also clarified that once the 2017 CPA Exam commences, the old version of the exam will no longer be available, i.e., there will be no migration period in which both versions can be taken.

CPA Exam table of sessions

More Good News

Both of these announcements are good news for current candidates because they make it easier for candidates to pass as many sections as possible before the exam evolves. Gleim CPA Review has even more good news to share: the Gleim CPA Review courses can empower candidates to pass all four sections of the CPA Exam in 2016! Learn more about how the CPA Exam study planner and many other features of our review systems can help you prepare to pass today!

Latest Accounting Jobs--Apply Now:

Have something to add to this story? Give us a shout by email, Twitter, or text/call the tipline at 202-505-8885. As always, all tips are anonymous.

Related articles

Obvious Figure of the Day: 95% of Hiring Managers Are Having Trouble Finding Finance and Accounting Talent

Fun number of the day: 95%. That’s the percentage of hiring managers in finance and accounting having trouble finding skilled talent according to recent Robert Half research. The figures come from a survey of hiring managers and employees from small (20-249 employees), midsize (250-499 employees) and large (500-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector […]

deer behind grass

Listen Up, Young Accountants: Career Advice For Sticking Out Those Early Years

Ed. note: enjoy some wisdom from a profession OG in this guest post from Blake Oliver. TLDR: Patience, intellectual curiosity, soft skills, and time management will take you far. Most importantly, advocate for yourself. Different generations in the workforce often struggle to understand each other. But experts say one thing that young professionals can do, […]