Is bar harder than CPA?

Both the CPA and Bar exams are notoriously difficult, but many professionals who've taken both find the CPA Exam harder due to its marathon structure (four parts over 18 months), breadth of material, and high endurance requirement, whereas the Bar exam is a high-stakes sprint over a few days, focusing intensely on legal application, with overall difficulty depending on individual strengths. While Bar pass rates can be lower, the CPA's four-section requirement, often with low first-attempt success for all parts, presents a unique challenge.

Which exam is harder, bar or CPA?

The bar exam is harder than the CPA exam for one reason, the way the exams are given. The bar exam is given over two consecutive 7 hour days and only twice a year. You study everything and it's all or nothing with respect to passing.

Does the CPA have a lower pass rate than the bar?

Average pass rates are around 50% for the CPA Exam and 70% for the Bar Exam, reflecting differing levels of difficulty. CPA candidates need a degree in accounting and relevant work experience, while Bar candidates must graduate from an accredited law school.

What's harder, CFP or bar exam?

The CFP® exam is equally as challenging as the CFA® exams, the CPA® exam, and bar exam. Every year, thousands of candidates go through this rigorous certification testing, but not everyone makes it to the finish line.

Is the bar harder than the CPA on Reddit?

I have taken both and here is my observation: If you are just going by comparing the exams, the CPA exam was more difficult than the bar exam. When comparing the undergraduate accounting courses/upper level accounting courses versus law school courses, the law school was more challenging and stressful.

The Exam that Kim Kardashian Failed

What is the hardest licensing exam?

There's no single "hardest" exam, but the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and the California Bar Exam are frequently cited as exceptionally difficult due to their depth, duration, and low pass rates, alongside the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) for its extremely low pass rates. The USMLE's multi-step format and comprehensive medical knowledge test, the California Bar's broad legal scope, and the CFA's notoriously tough Level I pass rates make them contenders, depending on the criteria (preparation time, pass rate, subject matter). 

Is a 75% on the CPA Exam passing?

Yes, a score of 75 or above is a passing score on the CPA exam, but it's a scaled score on a 0-99 range, not a direct percentage; a 75 doesn't mean you got exactly 75% of questions right, as scoring factors in difficulty and question types (MCQs, simulations).
 

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the bar exam, but not on her first attempt; she failed the Illinois bar exam the first time she took it but passed on her second try after graduating from Harvard Law School, later working as a lawyer before becoming First Lady.
 

Can I pass the CPA in 3 months?

You may wonder, can you really pass all four sections of the CPA exam in 3 months? The answer is yes, you can! While the preparation will be tedious, it's definitely doable.

What is the hardest certification to get?

Top 10 Toughest Exams in the United States

• USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) ...
• Uniform Bar Examination/ California Bar. ...
• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Exam. ...
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Exam. ...
• NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) ...
• GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

Is CPA still worth it in 2025?

Yes, the CPA remains highly valuable in 2025, offering enhanced job security, higher earning potential, increased credibility, and broader opportunities in a tight market with growing demand, acting as a career catalyst against automation by validating specialized skills for leadership roles in audit, tax, finance, and consulting, despite challenges with entry-level pay and work-life balance. 

Is law school harder than accounting?

Is It Easier to Become a Lawyer or an Accountant? Lawyers and accountants both require a specialized education, but it is easier to become an accountant. A typical lawyer goes through a four year college program, plus three years of law school before they can be admitted to the bar.

What percent of people pass all 4 CPA exams first try?

Only a small percentage of candidates pass all four CPA exam sections on their first try, with estimates generally falling between 13.9% and 20%, though some older data suggests around 13.6%. While individual section pass rates vary (often 40-70% depending on the section and quarter), successfully completing all four parts on the first attempt is a challenging feat, with many candidates taking longer or needing multiple attempts to pass all sections within the 18-month window, say sources like Accounting Today and UWorld. 

Is it harder to become a CPA or a lawyer?

Based on these findings alone, it would certainly seem that passing the CPA exam is consistently harder than passing the Bar exam.

Can I take bar before far CPA?

FAR is your strongest Core exam

You should also plan to sit for BAR immediately after passing FAR while the related content is still fresh in your memory.

What is the toughest bar exam?

Top 5 Toughest States: Data and Details

• California: Legal Maximalism at Its Peak. If there's a bar exam that haunts law school graduates from day one, it's California's. ...
• New York: Big Numbers, Big Pressure. ...
• Florida: The Legal Swamp. ...
• Georgia: The Silent Crusher. ...
• Washington D.C.: Prestige Meets Pressure.

Is a CPA harder than a bar?

Most people find the CPA exam harder than the Bar exam due to its multi-section format, requiring passing four parts within 18 months, compared to the Bar's intense but shorter, single-test focus; however, difficulty is subjective, depending heavily on your strengths, with the CPA testing broad accounting/business knowledge and the Bar testing legal reasoning, often leading to CPA candidates (especially those with JD/CPAs) finding the CPA more challenging, despite the Bar often having lower average pass rates in some jurisdictions. 

Can I finish CPA in one year?

Yes, many candidates complete all CPA exams in one year with a disciplined study plan and consistent effort.

How many attempts to pass CPA?

There is no limit. You may fail and retake as many times as needed, as long as you complete all four within 18 months.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?

No, Kim Kardashian has not yet passed the California Bar Exam; she failed her most recent attempt in late 2025 but shared tearful reactions and vowed to keep studying, fueled by coming "so close," with plans to retake the difficult exam in 2026. She announced the setback on social media, expressing determination despite the disappointment, which was also featured on The Kardashians. 

What was Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely in the 170s) to gain admission to Harvard Law School, especially given his undergraduate GPA was considered relatively low for Harvard applicants. Experts suggest his score was well above average, probably in the top percentile, possibly placing him in the 94th to 98th percentile range to compensate for his undergraduate record and secure admission.
 

Did Joe Biden ever pass the bar?

Yes, Joe Biden passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969, after earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, though he graduated in the lower part of his class. 

Are CPA exams curved?

Calculating your CPA Exam score

Scores are reported on a scale that ranges from 0 to 99. It's important to know that your total reported score does not represent a percentage correct, nor can you interpret it as such. Scores are not curved.

Has anyone ever scored a 99 on the CPA Exam?

A 99 is the highest score your can receive on the CPA exam. How likely is it that you will score a 99 on any section of the CPA exam? Well, it's highly unlikely, but aim high, miss high, right? While the passing CPA score is a 75%, Ryan, a Universal CPA student, recently scored a 99 on the REG section of the CPA exam.

Why are CPA pass rates so low?

A common complaint from CPA candidates concerns the enormity of the exam material. Since accounting concerns itself with frequently changing statutes and laws, there are many details one has to commit to memory. Another way to put it is that there are more than 600 key points packaged into representative tasks.