You’ve finished the exam. That four-hour marathon of multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations is finally over. You walked out of the Prometric center feeling either like a genius or like you’ve been hit by a freight train. Now, the real torture begins: the wait for the cpa exam test score release.
Honestly, the waiting is often worse than the studying. You’re Refreshing the NASBA portal at 11:59 PM, wondering if the "eyeball trick" still works (spoiler: it doesn’t), and trying to calculate if a 74 is actually a 75 in some parallel universe. In 2026, the schedule has a specific rhythm, but it’s still kinda confusing if you don't live and breathe AICPA press releases.
The 2026 Reality of Score Windows
The biggest thing people trip over is the difference between "Core" and "Discipline" sections. Since the CPA Evolution launch, the AICPA doesn't treat every exam the same. If you took AUD, FAR, or REG—those are your Core sections—you’re looking at a continuous testing model. This basically means you get your scores much faster. Usually every few weeks.
But if you’re waiting on a Discipline score (BAR, ISC, or TCP), you’ve gotta be more patient. These only have specific windows.
Core Section Score Release (AUD, FAR, REG)
For the Core sections, the AICPA follows a rolling schedule. If they get your exam data by a certain cutoff, your target release date is set.
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- If they got your file by January 23, 2026, your target date was February 10.
- Missed that? The next cutoff was February 14, with a release on February 24.
- Moving into the spring, a March 31 cutoff leads to an April 9 release.
It keeps going like this. Basically, you're looking at a 10-to-14-day turnaround for Core sections. It’s fast. Almost too fast if you aren't ready to see that number.
The Discipline Wait (BAR, ISC, TCP)
Now, the Discipline sections are the outliers. They only test in the first month of each quarter. Because of this, the scores are batched.
If you sat for a Discipline exam in the January 1–31 window, you won’t see that score until March 13, 2026. That’s a long time to keep your fingers crossed. The Q2 window (April) releases in mid-June. It’s a different beast entirely compared to the Core sections.
What Actually Happens at Midnight?
You’ll hear people on Reddit or Discord saying the scores "drop early." Is it true? Sorta.
NASBA usually starts pushing scores out around 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM Central Time the night before the official target date. So, if your release date is Tuesday, January 13, you should probably start caffeinating on Monday evening.
But here is the catch: not everyone gets them at once.
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It’s a rolling release. Your friend in New York might see their AUD score at 7:05 PM, while you’re sitting in California staring at "Attended" until 10:00 PM. It doesn't mean you failed. It just means the database is slow. Also, if you’re in a "non-NASBA" state—like California, Illinois, or Maryland—you’re stuck waiting on your specific state board portal. Those boards often take an extra 24 to 48 hours. It’s frustrating, but that’s the deal.
Why Your Score Might Be Delayed
Sometimes the cpa exam test score release date passes and you still see nothing. Don't panic.
There are a few boring, technical reasons for this. First, Prometric has to send your data file to the AICPA. Usually, this happens within 24 hours. But if there’s a technical glitch or a power outage at the testing center, that file might sit in limbo for a day or two. If the AICPA doesn't get your file by the cutoff second, you're bumped to the next release window.
Another reason? The BEC replacement (the Disciplines) or any section with heavy written communication can sometimes require a manual review if your score is right on the bubble of 75. The AICPA wants to be 100% sure before they break your heart or make your year.
The Myth of the 74
We have to talk about the 74. It is the most cursed number in accounting.
People think a 74 means the examiners "found a reason" to fail them. In reality, the CPA exam is a scaled score. It’s not a percentage. You didn't get 74% of the questions right. It means your performance, weighted against the difficulty of the questions you were served, landed you just below the "competence" threshold.
If you get a 74, the score report (which usually comes out a day or two after the score itself) will be your best friend. It’ll tell you if you were "comparable," "stronger," or "weaker" in specific areas. Use it.
Moving Forward After the Release
So, the score is out. Now what?
If you passed: Celebrate. Briefly. Then, immediately check your credit expiration dates. In 2026, most states have moved to a 30-month window, but some are still on 18 months. Don't let that clock run out because you got too comfortable.
If you didn't pass: Re-apply fast. You can usually get a new NTS (Notice to Schedule) within 3 to 5 days after the score is officially posted. Since the Core sections have continuous testing, you could potentially retake the exam in the next window.
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Essential Next Steps
- Download your Score Notice immediately. The NASBA portal doesn't keep these forever. They usually disappear after a few weeks. If you need it for your licensing application later, you’ll wish you had that PDF.
- Check your state’s specific "Credit Extension" rules. With the transition to CPA Evolution, many states granted automatic extensions for credits that were active in 2024 and 2025. Make sure you know exactly when your older credits expire.
- Audit your study plan. If you failed, don't just start the book from page one. Look at your performance report. If you were "weak" in simulations but "strong" in multiple-choice, your problem isn't knowledge—it's application. Focus your next two weeks purely on TBS practice.
- Schedule your next section based on the release calendar. If you're planning a Discipline section, remember those tiny windows. If you miss the April window, you're stuck waiting until July. Plan your Core exams around those Discipline dates to keep your momentum.
The cpa exam test score release is a hurdle, not a wall. Whether you're seeing a 75 or a 70, the data is just feedback for your next move. Get your NTS, book your seat, and keep moving.