In this Resource

The AICPA regularly updates and publishes the CPA Exam Blueprints, a document explaining what is tested on the CPA Exam, along with the skills and tasks for each content topic. The Blueprints also include scoring weights assigned to each content area.

Students utilize Blueprints to refine exam preparation according to exam changes.

 Each CPA Exam section has a place on the Blueprints and includes content that has been added, modified or removed from forthcoming exams. The most recent set of Blueprints took effect on July 1, 2021, and includes exam changes to all four sections.

Introduction

Most of the changes to the CPA Exam are within the AUD and BEC sections. They reflect more emphasis on three topics:

  • Business processes and the information technology (IT) that enables them, including their associated risks and controls
  • Data analytics and the data-driven mindset
  • System and Organization Controls for Service Organizations: Internal Control over Financial Reporting (i.e., SOC 1, Type 2 Reports)

In AUD these items are tested from an auditor’s perspective. Conversely, these items are tested in BEC from the management’s perspective.

The FAR and REG sections have had some reductions in content without any additions.

AUD Blueprint changes effective July 1, 2021

Content added

TopicHighest skill level required
Consideration of technology’s impact on an entity and its environmentApplication
Obtaining an understanding of the IT systems that are used for financial reportingApplication
Effect of key controls (i.e., manual controls, IT general controls, application controls) on the completeness and reliability of dataAnalysis
Internal control walkthroughs and documenting the flow of transactions (i.e., flowcharts, process diagrams, etc.) to include significant business processes and how they relate to the financial statementsApplication
Use of audit data analytic (ADA) techniques to identify transactions that may have a higher risk of material misstatementAnalysis
Using the work of an IT auditorApplication
Determining the sources of sufficient appropriate evidence and identifying procedures to validate the completeness and accuracy of dataEvaluation
Using automated tools and ADAs in audit samplingApplication
Using automated tools and techniques related to recalculationApplication
Analyzing the results of an ADA procedure and understanding the significance of notable or unusual items (no Excel skills necessary)Analysis

The following AUD content will no longer be tested:

  • Communications with management and those charged with governance regarding all matters other than the timing of an engagement and internal control related matters
  • Communication with component auditors (in a group audit) and parties other than management and those charged with governance 
  • Auditing opening balances
  • Auditing investments in derivative instruments
  • Reporting on the audit of a single financial statement
  • Letters for underwriters (i.e., comfort letters) and filings with the SEC
  • Alerts that restrict the use of written communication

The following AUD content has been de-emphasized. The skill level for these topics has been reduced:

TopicNew skill level required
Preconditions for accepting or continuing an engagementRemembering & understanding
Developing a detailed engagement planApplication
Defining and identifying related partiesApplication
Litigation, claims and assessmentApplication
An entity’s ability to continue as a going concernRemembering & understanding
Written representations that should be obtained from management or those charged with governanceRemembering & understanding
Subsequently discovered factsRemembering & understanding
Reporting on compliance with regulatory or contractual agreementsRemembering & understanding

BEC Blueprint changes effective July 1, 2021

Content added

TopicHighest Skill Level Required
Business processes and flows of transactions, including enabling technology, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, identifying and designing transaction-level controls, use of SOC 1 reports from service providers, identifying risks and control gaps, and using data and business intelligence in the context of an entity’s significant business processesAnalysis
Understanding the need for SOC 1 reports for outsourced IT functionsRemembering & understanding
Extracting and loading dataRemembering & understanding
Transforming and working with data and data relationshipsApplication
Data governance and data managementRemembering & understanding

The following BEC content will no longer be tested:

  • Regulatory frameworks for corporate governance other than SOX

The following BEC content has been de-emphasized. The skill level for these topics has been reduced:

TopicNew skill level required
Capital structure (e.g., comparing strategies for financing new business initiatives)Application
Systems development and maintenance (now called Change Management)Remembering & understanding
Continuity and recovery plans (now called Business Resiliency)Remembering & understanding

FAR Blueprint changes effective July 1, 2021

No FAR added content in July 2021 Blueprints Changes.

The following FAR content will no longer be tested:

  • Going concern requirements
  • Compensated absences other than vacation accruals
  • Retirement benefits 
  • Differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP

The following FAR content has been de-emphasized. The skill level for these topics has been reduced:

TopicNew skill level required
Derivatives and hedge accountingRemembering & understanding

REG Blueprint changes effective July 1, 2021

No REG added content in July 2021 Blueprints Changes.

The following REG content will no longer be tested:

  • Federal securities regulation
  • Alternative minimum tax (AMT)
  • Obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status

The following REG content has been de-emphasized. The skill level for these topics has been reduced:

TopicNew skill level required
Bankruptcy and insolvency (debtor-creditor relationships)Remembering & understanding
Secured transactions (debtor-creditor relationships)Remembering & understanding
Net operating losses and capital loss limitations (C Corporations)Analysis
Unrelated business income (tax-exempt organizations)Remembering & understanding

CPA Exam Review that works

92% of Surgent students pass the CPA Exam