Contact Us : 800.874.5346        International: +1 352.375.0772
Contact Us : 800.874.5346        International: +1 352.375.0772

Places You Can Take the CPA Exam in Europe

Places You Can Take the CPA Exam in Europe

Good news for CPA candidates in Europe! Traditionally, most candidates living in European countries faced a trip to the U.S. to sit for the CPA Exam. Now those in Europe who wish to pursue a CPA license can test at sites much closer to home.

CPA Exam testing centers in England, Germany, Ireland, and Scotland

If you live in England, Germany, Ireland, or Scotland, you can now take the CPA Exam in a nearby major city without leaving the country.

CPA Exam centers in the UK include Bristol, London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. The Republic of Ireland offers CPA Exam testing sites in two cities, Cork and Dublin, while Germany offers testing locations in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich.

CPA Exam Testing Center Locations in Europe
Country City
England Bristol, London, Manchester
Germany Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich
Republic of Ireland Cork, Dublin
Scotland Edinburgh

Who can test at the European locations?

If you’re a U.S. citizen, you may sit for the CPA Exam at any international location.

If you are a citizen or resident of one of the following countries, you can apply to take the CPA Exam at one of the new Prometric locations in Europe. This includes all 28 member countries of the EU, plus a few non-member countries.

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Is IQEX affected for accountants in Ireland and Scotland?

The new Prometric locations do not affect the International Qualification Examination (IQEX). The new locations are only for the Uniform CPA Examination.

The mutual recognition agreements between the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) still stand. If you’re a member in good standing and meet their eligibility requirements, you can greatly reduce your testing requirement by taking IQEX.

How do I apply for the CPA Exam in Europe?

The application process is the same regardless of the location you take the CPA Exam. You must first apply through a U.S. jurisdiction, which will license you as a CPA in that state. This first step is necessary even for international CPAs, because it’s the individual U.S. states (or territories such as Puerto Rico) that license CPAs, not the federal government.

Choose your U.S. jurisdiction/state

If you don’t live in the U.S., it can be difficult to know which state to select for your CPA license. Each of the 55 jurisdictions (states) has its own Board of Accountancy eligibility requirements.

Some states have flexible or reduced education requirements or other elements that may make your international CPA Exam application easier. We’ve done some research to help you understand which states are best for international CPA applicants.

Request application materials from the jurisdiction board.

You can access all state Board of Accountancy websites as well as ask NASBA any questions you may have here.

Submit your application and fees.

You will submit your CPA Exam application and fees to NASBA’s CPA Examination Services division. NASBA processes these on behalf of each jurisdiction’s Board of Accountancy.

Once the board confirms your qualifications, schedule your exam.

You will schedule your CPA Exam with Prometric, the organization that administers the CPA Exam for all locations worldwide.

NASBA also lays out information on jurisdictions, eligibility, fees, and scheduling as well as document requirements by country.

When can I take the CPA Exam in Europe?

Testing windows for the CPA Exam are the same for all locations, whether international or U.S. based. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) breaks the testing periods into four quarters per year, with different dates for core and discipline sections

Core Section Dates

Quarter 1: January 1st – March 26th

Quarter 2: April 1st – June 25th

Quarter 3: July 1st – September 25th

Quarter 4: October 1st – December 26th

Disciple Section Dates

Quarter 1: January 10th – February 6th

Quarter 2: April 20th – May 19th

Quarter 3: July 1st – 31st

Quarter 4: October 1st – 31st

Remember, you have 30 months to complete all three core sections of the exam, and one discipline section once you pass the first section. See more on how to set your CPA Exam schedule.

Which is the best testing location in Europe?

The official answer is that they’re all the same. The governing bodies do their best to ensure the same testing experience no matter where you sit.

That said, you will probably have an easier time overall if you choose a testing location that you’re familiar with. If you have never been to Germany, then your CPA Exam is not the excuse you’ve been looking for to visit Munich!

Why Gleim is the #1 provider of accounting exam review materials for international candidates

We’ve helped accountants around the world pass over 1 million CPA Exams.

Professor Irvin Gleim published the first CPA Review book in 1974. In 1980, he published CIA and CMA Review courses that went on to become the most widely used worldwide. Then in 1999 he released EA Review materials, which are also commonly held as the standard for that field internationally. We understand the questions you face as you study toward your CPA Exam in Europe.

In fact, we have an international team here at Gleim that is ready to help you.

Reach out to us at international@gleim.com now or try a free demo of our CPA review materials. We’d love to hear how we can help you right now, wherever you are in your journey to CPA.