Planning CPA sections is partly a calendar exercise. Core sections (AUD, FAR, REG) can be booked at any time, but Discipline sections (BAR, ISC, TCP) are only offered in four windows a year, and their scores come later. In 2027, a platform update adds a short testing blackout and slower score releases.
2027 Discipline testing windows and score dates
| Testing window (BAR, ISC, TCP) | Target score release |
|---|---|
| 1–31 January 2027 | 16 March 2027 |
| 1–30 April 2027 | 9 June 2027 |
| 12 July – 12 August 2027 | 28 September 2027 |
| 1–31 October 2027 | 17 December 2027 |
The October 2026 Discipline window has a target score release date of 15 December 2026.
Core section score release dates
Core scores are released in batches. Your score arrives on the first release date after the AICPA receives your testing data.
| Data received by | Target score release |
|---|---|
| 23 October 2026 | 10 November 2026 |
| 15 November 2026 | 24 November 2026 |
| 8 December 2026 | 16 December 2026 |
| 31 December 2026 | 12 January 2027 |
| 23 January 2027 | 9 February 2027 |
| 14 February 2027 | 23 February 2027 |
| 9 March 2027 | 17 March 2027 |
| 31 March 2027 | 9 April 2027 |
| 23 April 2027 | 11 May 2027 |
| 16 May 2027 | 25 May 2027 |
| 8 June 2027 | 16 June 2027 |
| 30 June 2027 | 13 July 2027 |
| Tests 12 July – 30 September 2027 | 9 October 2027 |
| Tests 1 October – 15 December 2027 | 28 December 2027 |
The 2027 platform update: what changes for you
- Testing blackout: no CPA exams can be scheduled from 1 to 11 July 2027.
- Fewer score releases: from July 2027, Core scores move to one release per quarter instead of several, and this slower pattern runs through the second quarter of 2028.
- Longer waits: a Core section taken in mid-July 2027 may not be scored until October.
Check your credit window. If your 30-month window ends in late 2027 or early 2028, slower scores mean less time to retake a failed section. Sit any remaining sections before July 2027 if you can.
How to time your sections around the calendar
- Book your Discipline first in the calendar, since its windows are fixed, then fit Core sections around it.
- Sit a Core section early in a release cycle if you want a fast result, for example just after a data cut-off.
- Avoid scheduling a retake you depend on in July 2027, when testing pauses and scores slow down.
- Keep a buffer before your credit window ends. See the window rules in our CPA requirements guide.
Choosing which section to sit first? See the CPA pass rates by section.
Frequently asked questions
When are CPA exam scores released?
Core section scores are released on set target dates several times each quarter, usually a week or two after the AICPA receives the testing data. Discipline scores are released once per testing window, roughly six to eight weeks after it closes.
When can I take BAR, ISC or TCP in 2027?
Discipline sections run from 1 to 31 January, 1 to 30 April, 12 July to 12 August and 1 to 31 October 2027.
Is there a CPA exam blackout in 2027?
Yes. Because of a platform update in 2027, no exams can be scheduled from 1 to 11 July 2027, and score releases are slower from the third quarter of 2027 through the second quarter of 2028.
When will October 2026 Discipline scores be released?
Scores for Discipline sections taken from 1 to 31 October 2026 have a target release date of 15 December 2026.
What happens if my score release is delayed?
Target dates can move if testing data arrives late. Because states measure the credit window differently, some from the exam date and some from the score release, check your state board's rule before relying on a tight deadline.
Official sources