This question is about certified public accountant certifications.
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- Jun. 12, 2023
Yes, the CPA Exam is harder than the Bar Exam. Both the CPA Exam and the Bar exam are notoriously difficult exams that require months of rigorous study and cover very different material. However, if you look at just the exam pass rate for first-time takers, then the CPA exam is harder, with only a 14 - 20% pass rate. This is compared to the 70% pass rate for the Bar Exam.
With that said, it is difficult to compare the CPA Exam and the Bar Exam as they test for different skills and knowledge. The CPA Exam primarily tests knowledge of accounting and finance, while the Bar Exam tests knowledge of legal concepts and principles. Ultimately, the level of difficulty will depend on the individual's background and preparation for each exam.
To better determine which exam is harder it's important to understand the many differences between the CPA Exam and Bar Exam in what they require and in what they test.
Qualifications to sit for the exams:
Most states require a law degree from an accredited law school to sit for the Bar Exam, which takes two to three years beyond an undergraduate degree and about 210 hours of formal education. While a few states may allow you to substitute some years of law school with an apprenticeship or sit for the exam without a law degree, passing the exam without a law degree is difficult, with a pass rate of around 26%, and passing it may not guarantee job prospects.
To sit for the CPA Exam, you must have a bachelor's degree and a total of 120 to 150 hours of education. Some states will allow you to begin the testing process with 120 hours completed, but you must have 150 hours of formal education to obtain a license. Usually, the coursework is specific and must be approved by your state's regulatory agency.
Exam structure:
Each state has its own requirements for the Bar Exam. Many states now participate in the Uniform Bar Examination while others still administer their own tests. The exam is offered twice a year and consists of a minimum of a two-day testing process.
Bar Exam includes:
- Sixteenareas of the law are tested, including all areas of criminal, constitutional, contract, property, torts, evidence, civil legal procedures, and more.
- Two hundred multiple-choice questions.
- Six formal essay analyses of legal issues.
- Two Multistate Performance Tests (MPT). The MPT is designed to test a future attorney's ability to use fundamental skills in a realistic task-based situation to complete a task that a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish.
The CPA Exam was previously tested in a similar manner as the Bar Exam, with the exam given over a few consecutive days. The test is offered year around and you can retake the exam as often as you like. Most CPA candidates allow themselves the full 18 months to complete the four sections
CPA Exam includes:
Four sections, with each section tested at the exam-taker's convenience. The exam consists of Financial Accounting and Reporting, Regulations, Business, and Audit. Within each section are many subtopics. Each is rigorous and demands weeks, if not months, of preparation.
Both exams require extensive study time, but the CPA Exam may require more due to its breadth and depth of content. CPA candidates typically spend 300-400 hours studying, while Bar Exam candidates typically spend 400-600 hours studying. Passing the CPA Exam is often a requirement for becoming a certified public accountant, while passing the Bar Exam is a requirement for becoming a licensed attorney.
Overall, you can think of the Bar Exam itself as a sprint. For two days, you will run as hard and fast as you can to finish a grueling race. But when you are done, you are done -- unless, of course, you failed! Then you must wait an additional four months to try again.
The CPA Exam, on the other hand, is a marathon. You usually test only one section at a time, but the next day, you wake up and begin to study for the next section. The race could take you 18 months. The information tested is a mile deep, but only a block wide for each exam
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