The wait. It’s the worst part of the entire journey. You’ve survived the four-hour gauntlet at Prometric, smelled the faint scent of industrial carpet and anxiety, and now you’re stuck in the "black hole" period. Honestly, checking the CPA test score release schedule becomes a sort of ritualistic obsession. You refresh the portal. You check Reddit. You refresh again.
But here’s the thing: most candidates actually misunderstand how the AICPA and NASBA handle these dates. They aren't just arbitrary deadlines. There is a massive machinery behind the scenes involving data transmission, psychometric analysis, and, occasionally, the "score release gods" smiling upon you a few hours early.
The 2026 Reality: Core vs. Discipline
Everything changed a bit with the CPA Evolution, and in 2026, we’re seeing the full impact of that split. You’ve got your Core sections—AUD, FAR, and REG—and then your Disciplines: BAR, ISC, and TCP. They don’t play by the same rules.
Core sections are basically on a continuous loop. If you take a Core exam, you’re usually looking at a 1-to-5 week turnaround. The AICPA receives your data from Prometric (usually within 24 hours), and they slot you into the next available release window.
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Disciplines are the "slow burners." Because they are only tested in specific windows—generally the first month of each quarter—the scores are batched. If you sit for BAR in January, don't expect a score in February. You're likely looking at mid-March. It’s a test of patience as much as it is a test of accounting knowledge.
Target Dates for the First Half of 2026
If you’re testing in the first six months of this year, keep these dates taped to your monitor. Remember, these are target dates. They aren't a pinky-promise.
Core Sections (AUD, FAR, REG)
For those hitting the Core sections, the windows are tight.
If the AICPA gets your data by January 23, your target is February 10.
Tested a bit later? A February 14 cutoff gets you a February 24 release.
Then it rolls:
- Cutoff March 9 → Release March 17
- Cutoff March 31 → Release April 9
- Cutoff April 23 → Release May 7
- Cutoff May 16 → Release May 27
- Cutoff June 8 → Release June 16
- Cutoff June 30 → Release July 10
Discipline Sections (BAR, ISC, TCP)
The Disciplines follow a quarterly rhythm.
If you tested in the January 1–31 window, mark March 13, 2026, on your calendar.
For the April 1–30 window, you’re looking at June 16, 2026.
The Midnight Myth and the "Early" Release
You’ve probably heard people say scores come out at midnight.
Kinda true, kinda not.
NASBA usually starts tweeting (or posting on X) that "scores are coming" around 7:00 PM Central Time the evening before the target date. So, if your date is February 10, start hovering over your keyboard on the night of February 9. In most states—excluding the "rebel" states like California, Illinois, and Maryland—you’ll see that advisory score pop up before you head to bed.
If you’re in one of those three states, I’m sorry. You typically have to wait for your specific State Board of Accountancy to pull the data into their own systems. That can add anywhere from 24 to 72 hours of extra "fun" to your wait time.
Why Do Some Scores Take Longer?
It’s incredibly frustrating when your study buddy gets their score at 8:00 PM and you’re still staring at "Attended."
Don't panic.
It doesn't mean you failed. It usually just means your specific data file had a slightly slower journey from the Prometric server to the AICPA. Sometimes, a specific exam section requires a deeper statistical review if a new question is being "vetted" for future exams.
Also, if you're taking the BEC section (for those still under older transition rules or similar written components in certain versions), the written communication portion is graded by a computer, but "edge cases"—those near the 75-point line—often get a human set of eyes. That adds time.
What to Do While You Wait
Honestly? Stop.
Stop checking the forums every ten minutes.
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Once you’ve confirmed your "Attended" status on the NASBA portal, the hay is in the barn. If you’re on a roll, start studying for the next section. The biggest mistake candidates make is taking a three-week "waiting holiday." If you pass, you’ve lost three weeks of momentum. If you fail, you’ve lost three weeks you could have spent reviewing.
The "Eyeball Trick" is Dead
Let's pour one out for the eyeball trick. For years, you could see if your status changed from "Attended" to "Credit" or "No Credit" before the actual number appeared. NASBA patched that hole in their system back in 2022. If you see people talking about it in old threads, ignore them. It’s gone. You just have to wait for the score notice now.
After the Score Drops
If you see a 75 or higher, congratulations. You’re one step closer to those three letters. Download your score report immediately. NASBA doesn't keep them there forever—usually only for one testing window.
If you didn’t get the 75 this time, take a breath. It happens to the best of us. In fact, many successful CPAs failed at least one section.
Wait about 48 to 72 hours for your Candidate Performance Report. It’ll show you exactly where you tripped up—whether it was the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) or the Task-Based Simulations (TBSs). Use that data. Don't just start the book from page one again.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify your cutoff: Check the exact date you sat for the exam. If it was a day after the cutoff, you’re in the next batch.
- Bookmark the NASBA Candidate Portal: Don't rely on Google searches every time; have your login saved and ready.
- Check your NTS: Ensure your Notice to Schedule hasn't expired if you need to quickly re-register for a retake.
- Download your score report: Even if you pass, you need that PDF for your records before it disappears from the portal.
The CPA test score release is the final hurdle of every exam cycle. It’s a mental game. Stay busy, stay focused, and remember that one score—pass or fail—doesn't define your entire career. It's just a data point on the way to the finish line.