CPA Exam Testing Windows 2027: Dates and July Transition
Explore the 2027 CPA Exam calendar, Core and Discipline windows, July testing blackout, and practical study plans for the new exam platform.
January-June
Continuous Core testing
AUD, FAR, and REG; score targets use file-receipt cutoffs.
July 1-11
Announced testing pause
Build this gap into summer appointments and study plans.
July 12
New platform target launch
Testing resumes with adjusted windows and score targets.
Start with your section, then choose a window. The calendar below shows the announced 2027 plan; your Notice to Schedule (NTS) and an available Prometric seat determine the appointment you can book. All published dates remain targets.
The whole year, in one view
2027 CPA Exam calendar at a glance
January
01Core 1-31
Discipline 1-31
February
02Core 1-28
Discipline Not listed
March
03Core 1-31
Discipline Not listed
April
04Core 1-30
Discipline 1-30
May
05Core 1-31
Discipline Not listed
June
06Core 1-30
Discipline Not listed
July
071-11: testing blackout
Core 12-31
Discipline 12-31
August
08Core 1-31
Discipline 1-12
September
09Core 1-30
Discipline Not listed
October
10Core 1-31
Discipline 1-31
November
11Core 1-30
Discipline Not listed
December
12Core 1-15
Discipline Not listed
Ranges show days within each month. Core = AUD, FAR, REG. Discipline = BAR, ISC, TCP. “Not listed” means the published schedule contains no window for that section type in that month. Use the detailed tables below before making an appointment.
Announced change to watch
What changes with the July 2027 exam platform?
AICPA has announced a new delivery platform and changes to the exam interface. Its explanation also connects the adjusted score schedule to recalibration using candidate response data after launch. That makes the waiting period part of your study plan, especially if you may need a retake.
Before the transition
Check the current official tutorial and the Blueprint applicable to your sitting. Save your appointment details, NTS expiration, and the source date of your schedule.
During July 1-11
Use the announced pause for review, missed-question explanations, and timed practice. Do not plan travel around a CPA Exam appointment inside the blackout.
From July 12
Use the new published windows and target releases. When official interface guidance is available, practice navigation separately from your accounting knowledge.
Keep format and content separate. This announcement does not establish a new set of MCQ counts, simulation counts, or tested topics. Use the question-count and practice-planning guide for the currently verified specification.
Source: AICPA: CPA Exam user-interface changes coming in 2027, published August 19, 2026.
Core and Discipline testing windows
Read the testing window and target release together. Finishing an exam earlier within a second-half window does not create an earlier published score target.
Core: AUD, FAR, and REG
January through June uses continuous testing. The full score-release table lists the file-receipt cutoffs for those months.
| Testing window | Target score release |
|---|---|
| July 12-September 30, 2027 | October 19, 2027 |
| October 1-December 15, 2027 | December 28, 2027 |
Discipline: BAR, ISC, and TCP
Your chosen Discipline has specific windows. The summer period spans part of July and August after the transition.
| Testing window | Target score release |
|---|---|
| January 1-31, 2027 | March 16, 2027 |
| April 1-30, 2027 | June 9, 2027 |
| July 12-August 12, 2027 | September 28, 2027 |
| October 1-31, 2027 | December 17, 2027 |
Year-end boundary: The published second-half Core schedule ends on December 15 and the last Discipline window ends on October 31. Do not extend those rows to December 31. Check the official schedule for any later revision.
Source: AICPA administration and target score-release schedule, reviewed September 15, 2026.
Three ways the calendar changes your study plan
These are planning examples, not personalized readiness estimates. Choose the scenario closest to your situation, then replace the assumptions with your own appointment, workload, and credit dates.
Starting FAR in the first half
Build a list of remaining Blueprint areas and reserve time for simulations before choosing a date. Check the file-receipt cutoff if a particular score target matters to you.
Start with a section baseline →Preparing for BAR, ISC, or TCP
Work backward from the July 12-August 12 window. Keep the blackout out of your booking options and budget for the interval before the September 28 target release.
Compare the three Disciplines →You need room for another attempt
Separate your hoped-for sitting from the date your result is targeted to arrive. Check reapplication steps and each existing credit expiration before relying on a later window.
Work through a retake plan →| Study block | What to do | What to check before moving on |
|---|---|---|
| Learn and explain | Review a weak topic, then explain the rule in your own words. | Can you identify when the rule applies in a new scenario? |
| Practice and diagnose | Attempt fresh MCQs and log the cause of each mistake. | Was the gap knowledge, reading, calculation, or time management? |
| Apply with simulations | Work through exhibits and complete the required response. | Can you choose relevant evidence and show the calculation? |
| Review the plan | Revisit the error log and compare progress with your exam window. | Does the next week need a different topic mix or more time? |
Before you book: four checks that belong in every plan
Eligibility and NTS
Confirm the jurisdiction, authorized section, exact name requirements, and NTS expiration. Your calendar window does not replace those conditions.
Check state requirements →Appointment and location
Search the actual location and date. Keep travel plans flexible until the appointment is confirmed, especially around the platform transition.
Check Prometric availability →Score and credit dates
Record the target release beside your exam date and check existing credit expirations with your board. Do not assume every jurisdiction uses the same credit window.
Calculate a target release →Budget and study capacity
Use current fee amounts, planned retakes, travel, and preparation costs. Compare your remaining work with the time you can actually study.
Build a candidate-entered budget →Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take the CPA Exam during July 1-11, 2027?
- No. AICPA announced a testing blackout for July 1-11 and a July 12 restart on the new platform. These are target dates and remain subject to change. An eligible window still requires an unexpired NTS and an available appointment.
- Which months can I take a Discipline in 2027?
- The published windows are January 1-31, April 1-30, July 12-August 12, and October 1-31. These apply to BAR, ISC, and TCP. Choose one Discipline alongside the three required Core sections.
- Can I take FAR, AUD, or REG whenever I want in 2027?
- The Core sections use continuous testing in the first half. After the July transition, the announced Core windows are July 12-September 30 and October 1-December 15. Appointment availability and your NTS still control which date you can actually book.
- Are score-release cutoffs appointment deadlines?
- No. First-half Core cutoffs concern AICPA receiving your exam data file. Testing on the cutoff day does not guarantee that your file arrives that day. Use the score-release guide for target dates and Prometric for appointments.
- Does the July platform change mean the exam content is changing?
- An interface announcement and a content specification answer different questions. The platform announcement covers delivery and scoring-schedule adjustments. Verify content, item counts, and score weights in the Blueprint that applies to your exam date.
- Should I rush to take an exam before the July blackout?
- A deadline alone is not evidence of readiness. Compare your remaining topics, timed practice, NTS expiration, and available appointments. A later sitting with a realistic study plan may be preferable to an earlier sitting for which you are not prepared.
- Can I book a retake before my first score is released?
- Check your jurisdiction and application service for the applicable re-examination process. Do not assume that a future calendar window lets you hold another appointment for the same section while a result is pending.
- Can international candidates use this calendar?
- Use it for the published section windows and score targets, then verify whether your jurisdiction, NTS, chosen testing location, and any international-testing requirements permit your specific appointment. The calendar is not a seat inventory.
The schedule and platform announcement were reviewed September 15, 2026. Candidate scenarios and study routines are CPAPass editorial examples. Historical references remain available in the 2026 testing-window archive and 2026 score-release archive.