Missed Your CPA Exam? What Happens After a Prometric No-Show
If you had a CPA Exam appointment and simply did not show up, you can be marked as a no-show. That can mean forfeited fees and a new section application, NTS, and appointment.
What counts as a no-show?
A no-show can occur when you do not appear, fail to properly cancel, or cannot be admitted because required NTS or identification rules are not satisfied.
What if you just forgot?
If the appointment passed, you cannot retroactively turn it into a normal reschedule. You generally need to let the no-show status process and then reapply.
What if you are running late?
Call the testing center or Prometric if possible, but do not assume the center must admit you late. CPA check-in includes security and identity procedures. Plan to arrive early.
Do you get the Exam fee back?
A normal no-show generally results in forfeited Exam fees. Skipping the appointment is not the same as properly rescheduling it.
What if you know the day before?
Use the proper cancellation or rescheduling process. Do not intentionally no-show.
What if it is less than 24 hours?
Current NASBA guidance says last-minute changes can result in forfeiture of Exam fees inside the applicable cutoff. If there is a documented emergency, contact the applicable authority as soon as possible.
What if you were sick or had an emergency?
Do not assume a refund is automatic. Document the event, contact the applicable authority promptly, and be ready to provide supporting records.
When can you reapply?
A no-show status can take several days to process before reapplication becomes available. A temporarily unavailable section immediately after the missed appointment can be normal.
Does the same NTS still work?
Generally no. A no-show exhausts the testing event for that section. You normally need a new application and NTS after the status processes.
What if you showed up with the wrong ID?
You can be denied admission, which can lead to the same expensive outcome.
What if Prometric closed the center?
That is not the same as a candidate no-show.
No-show recovery plan
1. Confirm status
Verify what happened to the appointment.
2. Document emergencies
Contact the authority promptly if relevant.
3. Let status process
Wait until reapplication becomes available.
4. Reapply
Obtain a new authorization.
5. Fix the root cause
Prevent the same failure from happening twice.
Fix the root problem
Was it readiness, forgetting, work scheduling, transportation, the wrong appointment time, or bad identification? The second appointment should have a system preventing the same issue.
Build test-day redundancy
The night before: confirm the appointment, address, time, ID, NTS, alarms, and transportation.
The takeaway
If you cannot attend, reschedule or cancel properly.
If you already missed it: handle the status, reapply, get a new NTS, and fix the reason the first appointment failed.