CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Subjects List: Year-wise Syllabus, Semesters & Books

Updated on Jan 9, 2023 04:20 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaSenior Executive Content

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination comprises four sections. Each section is conducted for a duration of four hours long. The section assesses the associated skills and the representative tasks a newly licensed CPA will have to perform to be considered competent. The CPA syllabus is divided into four sections. Each section of the CPA examination consists of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) which carry equal weightage.  

Table of Contents
  1. List of CPA subjects at each level 
  2. CPA Books 
    • 2.1 Popular CPA Authors with Book Name  
    • 2.2 Subject wise Recommended CPA Books 
  3. CPA Exam  
    • 3.1 Auditing and Attestations (AUD) 
    • 3.2 Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) 
    • 3.3 Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) 
    • 3.4 Regulations (REG) 
  4. CPA FAQs on the basis of PAA 

List of CPA subjects at each level 

Candidates can check the subjects below for the CPA examination 

Sections 

Contents 

Number of questions 

Auditing and Attestations (AUD) 

AUD 2- Section Introduction 

AUD 6- Summary blueprint 

AUD 7- Area 1- Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and General Principles 

AUD 11- Area 2- Assessing Risk and Developing a Planned Response 

AUD 17- Area 3- Performing further procedures and obtaining evidence 

AUD 22- Area 4- Forming conclusions and reporting 

72 (MCQs), 8 (Task-based simulations) 

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) 

BEC 2- Section Introduction 

BEC 6- Summary Blueprint 

BEC 7- Area 1- Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Controls and Business Processes 

BEC 10- Area 2- Economics 

BEC 12- Area 3- Financial Management 

BEC 14- Area 4- Information Technology 

BEC 17- Area 5- Operations Management 

62 (MCQs), 4 (TBSs), 3 (Written Communication) 

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) 

FAR 2- Section Introduction 

FAR 6- Summary Blueprint 

FAR 7- Area 1- Conceptual framework, standard-setting, and financial reporting 

FAR 13- Area 2- Select financial statement accounts 

FAR 19- Area 3- Select transactions 

FAR 24- Area 4- State and Local Governments 

66 (MCQs), 8 (TBSs) 

Regulations (REG) 

REG 2 – Section Introduction 

REG 5- Summary Blueprint 

REG 6- Area 1- Ethics, professional responsibilities and federal tax procedures 

REG 8- Area 2- Business Law 

REG 11- Area 3- Federal taxation of property transactions 

REG 14- Area 4- Federal taxation of individuals 

REG 16- Area 5- Federal taxation of entities  

76 (MCQs), 8 (TBSs) 

CPA Books 

Popular CPA Authors with Book Name  

 Book Name

Author /Publisher

How To Pass The CPA Exam 

Stephanie NG 

Questions for the CPA Exam 

McGraw Hill 

CPAexcel Exam Review Study Guide 

Wiley 

CPA Exam Review 

Becker 

Subject wise Recommended CPA Books 

Sections 

Book name 

Author 

Auditing and Attestations (AUD) 

CPA Study Guide: Auditing & Attestation 

C. Allen Hansen 

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) 

CPA - Business Environment and Concept 

Muhammad Zain 

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) 

CPA excel Exam Review Study Guide: FAR 

O. Ray Whittington 

CPA Exam  

The CPA examination is conducted for a duration of 16 hours. Each section of the CPA examination is conducted for a duration of four hours.  

Auditing and Attestations (AUD) 

The Auditing and Attestation (AUD) section of the CPA Examination tests the essential knowledge and skills a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate when performing audit engagements, attestation engagements or accounting and review service engagements. 

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) 

The Business Environment and Concepts section of the CPA Examination tests skills and knowledge that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate when performing:  

  • Audit, attest, accounting and review services 
  • Financial reporting 
  • Tax preparation 
  • Other professional services 

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) 

This ection of CPA Examination assesses the knowledge and skills that a CPA must demonstrate in the financial accounting and reporting frameworks used by business entities (nonpublic and public), not-for-profit entities and state and local government entities. 

Regulations (REG) 

The Regulation (REG) section of the CPA Examination tests the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must show with respect to:  

  • U.S. federal taxation 
  • U.S. ethics and professional responsibilities related to tax practice 
  • U.S. business law 

CPA FAQs on the basis of PAA 

Q. What is CPA?

Ans. CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant. A CPA does bookkeeping, prepare financial documents and does financial planning like profit-loss statements, tax returns and so forth.  

Q. Is CPA a certificate or degree?

Ans. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a certification offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).  

Q. Can a CPA work in India?

Ans. Yes, a CPA can work in India. CPA is recognised in India, the USA and around the world. With the certification, candidates have more career opportunities around the world.  

Q. Which is better CA or CPA?

Ans. CA and CPA have their own level of importance. Both courses enhance the candidate’s financial skills. CA degree is only recognised in India whereas, CPA degree is recognised around the world. CPA covers US GAAP & IFRS, while CA covers Indian GAAP.  

Q. Can I do CPA after 12th?

Ans. CPA programme cannot be pursued after 12 th . Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Many states require to have 1-2 years of experience under CPA to pursue the course.  

Q. What are the sections of CPA?

Ans. The CPA examination is divided into four sections viz., Auditing and Attestations (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Regulations (REG).

Q. What is the duration of the examination?

Ans. CPA examination is conducted for a duration of 16 hours long duration. Each section of the CPA examination is conducted for 4 hours duration.  

Popular CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Colleges in India. Learn more about these CPA (Certified Public Accountant) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
3 Courses
432 - 540
7 LPA

#3 India Today

2 Courses
87.73 K
4.6

#1 Outlook

10 Courses
43.41 K - 3.82 L
5.3 - 6.89 LPA

#7 India Today

70 K - 11.9 L
4.8 - 6.14 LPA

#9 The Week

2 Courses
51.6 K - 80.61 K
9.24 - 9.5 LPA

#2 Outlook

3 Courses
29.51 K - 49.49 K
5.45 - 6.05 LPA

#6 Outlook

Popular Private CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Colleges in India

1.4 L - 6.25 L
4.0
4.14 L - 9.48 L
89 K - 2.5 L
1.2
1.65 L
1.44 L - 7.8 L
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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
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Answered a month ago

Yes, you can qualify to take the CPA exam if you have an accounting degree from San Francisco State University (SFSU): 

Undergraduate program

The accounting programme at SFSU offers courses that prepare students for professional certifications like the CPA. Students should consult an accounting adviso

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S

Sama Supriya

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

SQUAD Infotech offers a course called CPA+ that includes all levels of CPA exam including the foundation (Level 1), Intermediate (Level 2) and Advanced (Level 3) levels. Students will get assignments for evaluation, work on live projects to practise their acquired knowledge and will also go through

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J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 9

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