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Eligibility Application
Overview
The Eligibility Application may be submitted at any time after the Application of Intent is approved. There is no deadline for filing an Eligibility Application. The Board has implemented an online submission process for the Eligibility Application.
Eligibility Application Fees
- The fee for online submission of the Eligibility Application is $15.00 for each section.
- Fees are non-refundable.
 Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.
Board Rule 521.14 establishes the Eligibility Fee.
Completing the Eligibility Application
The eligibility application process involves both the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). To apply for a section of the Uniform CPA Examination, begin by submitting an Eligibility Application to the Board and paying applicable fees. Continuous testing allows candidates to take the exam year-round. Under the continuous testing model, scores are released on a rolling basis, and candidates can retake a failed section without restrictions.
Step 1: Completing and Submitting the Eligibility Application
Each section of the exam may be taken independently of other sections and in any order. You will have only 180 days from the date your application is approved by the Board to pay NASBA the examination fees for the section for which you are approved, schedule with Prometric, and take the exam. There are no extensions to the 180-day eligibility period.
Forms and Fees Required with the Eligibility Application
The following forms and fees are required with each Eligibility Application submitted to the Board. Complete all areas of the Eligibility Application and make any necessary changes to your address or contact information.
- Examination Agreement. This document is included in the online application process. Read and execute the document. You are required to follow the terms of the Examination Agreement for each test section taken.
- Fees. You must pay TSBPA’s nonrefundable, nontransferable fee of $15 for the exam for which you are applying. The Board accepts American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.
- ID Documentation. You are required to present an unexpired Identification Document at the testing center; such as driver license, U.S. passport, or state-issued identification card at the testing center.
Review Valid Identification Documents
The Board no longer issues identification cards. You are required to present your NTS and two forms of identification when you arrive to take your examination, one of which must contain a recent photograph. Each form of identification must bear your signature and must not be expired. The same form of your name must appear on your application, NTS and on the identification you present at the test center.
- If your name is different from your identifications at check-in, you will not be permitted to test. Truncated (shortened) names are allowable on a candidate’s driver license, as long as the name on the signature ID exactly matches the name on the NTS.
- If you do not present acceptable identification, you will not be allowed to take your examination and you will forfeit all examination fees for that section.
- If your photograph identification appears to be damaged or altered in any way, you will not be allowed to take the examination and you will forfeit all examination fees for that section.
You must present one of the following primary forms of identification:
- Valid (not expired) driver license with photo and signature issued by one of the fifty US states or by a US territory
- Valid (not expired) driver license with photo and signature issued by a foreign government authority, that is printed in English to the extent necessary to compare your name with the one on the NTS and confirm that it is a valid driver license
- Valid (not expired) Passport with photo and signature issued by the US government
- Valid (not expired) government-issued Passport (for non-US citizens) with a photo that has your name exactly matching the Name or Passport Name field that appears on your NTS
- Valid state identification card issued by one of the fifty US states or by a US territory. (If you do not drive, you may have an identification card issued by the agency that also issues driver licenses)
- Valid US military identification card.
You must present one of the following secondary forms of identification: Secondary forms of identification must include the candidate’s signature. Acceptable forms of secondary identification include:
- An additional government-issued identification from the above listing
- Valid credit card
- Bank automated teller machine (ATM) card
- Bank debit card
- NASBA Identification Card
The following are unacceptable forms of identification:
- Employee card or ID
- Social Security Card (US Citizens)
- Student identification card
- US permanent residency card (green card)
NASBA Identification Card:Â Candidates may request a NASBA Identification Card under these circumstances:
- You possess a valid, UNSIGNED Passport
- You do not possess a valid secondary form of identification as required to take the CPA Examination
- Your state has approved the use of the NASBA Candidate Identification Card.
For additional information about the NASBA Candidate Identification Card, please visit www.NASBAstore.org. There is a fee associated with the NASBA Candidate Identification Card.
Name changes require additional documentation, such as a copy of your marriage license, divorce decree, or court order; accompanied by a copy of your social security card and current driver’s license. You may apply online using your former name and submit documentation by mail to change your name in our records.
Step 2: The Approval Process
When the Board receives your online Eligibility Application, it will be processed quickly—usually within 24–48 hours. The Board will verify with NASBA that you are not currently testing as a candidate of another board of accountancy and that you are eligible to schedule the section you have indicated on the Eligibility Application. Once your application is approved, the Board will send an email indicating your 180-day Eligibility Deadline. This is the date by which you must test on the section for which you have applied.
Step 3: Paying NASBA Exam Fees
Soon after receiving the email from the Board, you may pay the exam fees to NASBA. You will need to create a NASBA Exam Candidate account on the portal at www.NASBA.org. After your account is established, you may pay the exam fee. NASBA accepts payment by credit card. Fees for each exam section are based on costs for computer seat time, security features, and grading.
NASBA Exam Fees
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Step 4: Scheduling Your Examination
Do not delay. Testing days and times fill quickly so you should schedule early in your 180-day eligibility period.
Notice to Schedule
After your examination fees are paid, NASBA will make your Notice to Schedule (NTS) available on the portal. The NTS will list the section that you are approved to take, as well as the deadline for testing. If you cannot access the NTS within 48 hours after making your payment to NASBA, you should contact the Board office at (512) 305-7851. You are required to have a printed copy of the NTS with you at the time of scheduling and testing.
Verification
Upon receipt of your NTS, verify that all information is correct and that your name as it appears on the NTS matches EXACTLY your name on the identification documents that you will use during check-in at the test center. If the names do not match, immediately contact the Board to request a correction. You will not be allowed to test if the name on the identification documents does not exactly match the name on the NTS.
Testing Centers
Upon receipt of your NTS, you may schedule to take the exam section at any Prometric testing center in the United States or U.S. territory. The NTS will include information to assist you in contacting Prometric. All Prometric test centers are listed at www.prometric.com.
Application Disclaimer
By submitting this application, you acknowledge that you are subject to the Public Accountancy Act (Chapter 901 of the Occupations Code), the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy Rules of Professional Conduct, and all other rules promulgated by the Board. Any violations of the Act or its rules prior to licensure could be cause by the Board to take disciplinary action against you as an applicant, candidate, certificate holder, or deny the issuance of a CPA certificate.
Confidentiality Disclaimer
Section 551.11765 of the Texas Government Code, a subsection of the Public Information Act, directs a state agency to maintain all information in a license application in confidence and excepted from public disclosure. There are three exceptions; the applicant’s name, and the license number and status of any subsequently issued license. Therefore, the required contents of your initial license application and any future license renewal will not be disclosed to the public. This includes the information provided to NASBA as a part of the application’s evaluation. The Board takes seriously the safeguarding of private information about its applicants.