Environmental and university opportunity factors and CPA exam performance

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the role that opportunity, epitomized by the level of inequality a candidate faces (e.g., socioeconomic status and segregation) and the quality of the university the candidate attends (e.g., selectivity and type of accreditation), play in Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam performance. The CPA exam is rigorous and its passage is a requirement for CPA licensure and for advancement in the accounting profession and in business. As such, the CPA constituents are interested in finding ways to improve candidates’ performance on the exam. The results of univariate analysis of CPA exam performance across various demographic and opportunity factors and those of multivariate models indicate that opportunity factors affect exam performance of all candidates and differentially so for the disadvantaged groups.