[January 04, 2018]

AICPA Announces New CPA Exam User Experience is Coming

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) today announced the forthcoming launch of the next generation of Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) technology. These technology updates will improve the user experience and enhance the tools and functionality available to Exam candidates. The changes will become effective at Prometric test centers on April 1, 2018.

The new Exam software will make the Exam more closely resemble the professional tools and business environment a CPA would experience in their everyday work life. The update includes the utilization of a full screen 23" HD monitor, the addition of Microsoft (News - Alert) Excel as a tool, and a dedicated on-screen "workspace" for candidates to review Exam exhibits and documents. In addition, the new user experience will feature seamless cut/paste functionality and add "highlight" as a tool.

"These improvements and updates to the CPA Exam software and tools will modernize the candidate's testing experience," said Michael Decker, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants vice president of examinations. "Beyond that, this is an investment in the future of the Exam that will increase our ability to make changes to both the technology and content. This added flexibility will help ensure that the exam remains aligned with the work being done in the profession."

To aid candidates as they work to familiarize themselves with the new experience, the AICPA website has tutorial help files, web-based sample tests for each Exam section and a video that takes viewers through the enhanced features of this software.

The launch of the software requires additional evaluation of test question performace for the 2018 Q2, Q3 and Q4 test windows, which necessitates scores to be held until the close of each window. In 2019 Q1, the Exam will return to the traditional rolling score release. Exact score release dates are posted to the Score Release Timeline page of AICPA website.

The improvements to the user experiences comes on the heels of the AICPA's successful launch of an updated version of the Exam in April 2017. That content-focused update had helped maintain the Exam's alignment with the work of a newly licensed CPA.

The Uniform CPA Examination is administered in 55 jurisdictions nationwide by the AICPA, NASBA (News - Alert) and Prometric. The same version of the Exam is also administered in English internationally in Japan, Bahrain, Brazil, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. On April 1, 2018, the updated user experience will be live in all Prometric test centers across the globe.

About the American Institute of CPAs

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world's largest member association representing the CPA profession, with more than 418,000 members in 143 countries, and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting. The AICPA sets ethical standards for its members and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, builds the pipeline of future talent and drives professional competency development to advance the vitality, relevance and quality of the profession.

The AICPA maintains offices in New York, Washington, DC, Durham, NC, and Ewing, NJ.

Media representatives are invited to visit the AICPA Press Center at www.aicpa.org/press.

About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA (News - Alert)) to power opportunity, trust and prosperity for people, businesses and economies worldwide. It represents 650,000 members and students in public and management accounting and advocates for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues. With broad reach, rigor and resources, the Association advances the reputation, employability and quality of CPAs, CGMAs and accounting and finance professionals globally.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180104005108/en/

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