Let’s be real: trying to figure out the cpa exam testing windows used to be a lot simpler. You had four windows, four blackout months, and a pretty predictable rhythm. But then the CPA Evolution happened, and honestly, it felt like someone threw the whole playbook in a paper shredder.
If you’re staring at a 2026 calendar and feeling a bit of vertigo, you aren't alone. Between "Core" sections having one set of rules and "Discipline" sections having another, scheduling your life around these four-hour marathons has become a strategic game.
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The Core Reality: Freedom (With a Catch)
For the three Core sections—Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Taxation and Regulation (REG)—we are back to the glory days of continuous testing.
Basically, this means you can sit for these exams any day the Prometric centers are open. There are no more "blackout dates" where the system shuts down for a month. If you feel ready to tackle FAR on a random Tuesday in February, you can just do it.
But here’s the kicker: the score release dates are still tied to specific cutoffs.
If you take your exam on January 23, 2026, you’re likely getting your score back by February 10. But if you wait until the next day, January 24? Suddenly, you’re looking at a February 24 release. That two-week gap might not seem like much until you’re sitting there in "score release limbo," unable to decide if you should start studying for the next section or prepare for a retake.
The Discipline Trap: Don't Miss the Bus
Now, this is where it gets kinda messy. The Discipline sections—Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Controls (ISC), and Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)—do not follow the continuous testing model.
For 2026, these are restricted to specific, month-long windows. You generally get one shot per quarter, specifically in the first month.
- Q1 Window: January 1 – 31 (Score release: March 13)
- Q2 Window: April 1 – 30 (Score release: June 16)
- Q3 Window: July 1 – 31 (Score release: September 11)
- Q4 Window: October 1 – 31 (Score release: December 16)
If you miss the January window for TCP, you can’t just "catch up" in February. You are stuck waiting until April. It’s a rigid system that forces you to be way more organized with your study plan than the Core sections require.
One weird quirk I’ve noticed? Some people have reported Prometric availability shifts in the second quarter. While the standard is the first month of the quarter, there was a June window in 2025 to help with the transition. In 2026, the official word from NASBA is that we are sticking to those January/April/July/October slots, but always double-check your local center’s specific seat availability.
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Why the 30-Month Rule Changes Everything
We used to live and die by the 18-month rule. It was the "ticking clock" that caused many a breakdown. Thankfully, most states have now moved to a 30-month credit window.
This is huge.
It means from the date you pass your first section, you have two and a half years to finish the rest. This extra breathing room is supposed to make the cpa exam testing windows less stressful, but don't let it make you lazy.
The complexity of the exam hasn't gone down. If anything, sections like FAR and the new BAR discipline have become more specialized. If you take too long, the content you learned for your first exam might be completely outdated by the time you're on your fourth, especially with tax laws (REG and TCP) changing so frequently.
Strategizing Your 2026 Calendar
So, how do you actually piece this together? Most experts, and honestly most people who have actually passed this thing, suggest a "Core-then-Discipline" pairing.
Think about it this way. FAR covers the basics of financial reporting, but BAR goes into the deep, technical weeds of things like revenue recognition and leases. It makes zero sense to take FAR in January and then wait until October to do BAR.
A logical path looks like this:
- Take FAR in late March (Core).
- Follow up with BAR in April (Discipline window).
- Everything is fresh. You aren't relearning the same GAAP principles six months later.
The same logic applies to REG and TCP. If you’re a tax person, hit the Core REG section right before a Discipline window opens for TCP.
The "Last Day" Risk
I see this all the time on Reddit. Someone schedules their exam for the very last day of a window—say, January 31 for a Discipline section.
Don't do it.
Prometric is notorious for glitches. If the power goes out, the internet dies, or the "Prometric Biometric Fingerprint Scanner" decides it doesn't like your thumb that day, and your exam gets pushed back 24 hours? You might miss the window entirely. For Core exams, a one-day delay just bumps your score release by two weeks. For Disciplines, it could bump your score release by three months.
Aim to sit for your exam at least 3-4 days before the cutoff. It gives you a buffer for "life" to happen.
Actionable Next Steps for Your CPA Journey
- Check your state's specific window. While most states have adopted the 30-month rule, some (like Florida or New York) have had different implementation dates. Log into your state board's portal today.
- Map your Disciplines first. Since these windows are the most restrictive, put them on your 2026 calendar now. Work your Core sections around them.
- Apply for your NTS early. The Notice to Schedule (NTS) can take weeks to process if it's your first time or if the state board is backed up. You can't even look at seat availability at Prometric without that NTS code.
- Align your study materials. Ensure your review provider (Becker, UWorld, etc.) has the 2026 updates, especially for REG and TCP, as tax provisions from 2024 and 2025 are now heavily testable.
- Book the seat, not just the date. Availability at Prometric centers in major cities like New York, Chicago, or LA fills up fast. Once you have your NTS, book the actual seat immediately, even if your exam is three months away.