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What scholarship or learning opportunities are available for international accounting students pursuing a CPA without a U.S. visa?
I am currently pursuing Chartered Accountancy (CA) in Pakistan and hope to pursue the CPA in the future. At this time, I do not have a passport or US visa, so I am looking for scholarships or learning opportunities that are open to international students and do not require travel to the United States.
I would appreciate guidance on funding opportunities, online programs, or CPA-related pathways in the accounting or finance field that I can pursue remotely. Any advice on steps I can take now to prepare for CPA or strengthen my profile would also be very helpful.
Thank you for your support!
*Note: This is an anonymous question from the community
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Student !
Obtaining the American CPA certification is actually a good idea because the CPA Certification from the U.S. is internationally recognized in most countries.
You can do most of it online, yes. You can do the application and the preparatory classes online from your country. The actual American CPA Exam is administered at designated international test centers. Candidates from Pakistan can take the CPA exam in countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Kuwait, Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, among others. You can do a search online for the other locations where you need to go for the exam because this exam is not available in Pakistan.
Your first step would be to apply to a U.S. state board of accountancy that participates in the international administration of the CPA exam. Not all states allow international candidates, so it is essential to select a participating jurisdiction. To find a State that participates that you can apply to, contact the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants because a list of States that participate are not available online. The exam is given in English and you need to have a valid Passport for identification. Follow up for details at your University or at the organizations mentioned here.
Websites to take the classes to prepare you for the American CPA Exam are UWorld CPA Review, Becker CPA Exam Review, KPMG (based in India), and Ninja CPA. I left some links to websites below that I hope are helpful because there is lots of detail and information about this and I didn't want to make this post too long.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
U WORLD https://accounting.uworld.com/cpa-review/cpa-exam/international/
BECKER https://www.becker.com/cpa-review/international/non-us-resident-cpa-candidates
THIS WAY TO CPA - WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE AN INTERNATIOAL STUDENT https://www.thiswaytocpa.com/segmented-landing/international-licensure/
HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BECOME CPAs - https://www.gleim.com/cpa-review/international-candidate/
Obtaining the American CPA certification is actually a good idea because the CPA Certification from the U.S. is internationally recognized in most countries.
You can do most of it online, yes. You can do the application and the preparatory classes online from your country. The actual American CPA Exam is administered at designated international test centers. Candidates from Pakistan can take the CPA exam in countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Kuwait, Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, among others. You can do a search online for the other locations where you need to go for the exam because this exam is not available in Pakistan.
Your first step would be to apply to a U.S. state board of accountancy that participates in the international administration of the CPA exam. Not all states allow international candidates, so it is essential to select a participating jurisdiction. To find a State that participates that you can apply to, contact the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants because a list of States that participate are not available online. The exam is given in English and you need to have a valid Passport for identification. Follow up for details at your University or at the organizations mentioned here.
Websites to take the classes to prepare you for the American CPA Exam are UWorld CPA Review, Becker CPA Exam Review, KPMG (based in India), and Ninja CPA. I left some links to websites below that I hope are helpful because there is lots of detail and information about this and I didn't want to make this post too long.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for your answer, Michelle! I wanted to clarify a couple of points for international CPA candidates:
There is a publicly available list of U.S. state boards that allow international candidates through NASBA.
Scholarships or funding options for international students preparing for the CPA do exist and could be helpful to explore.
Bryleigh
@Bryleigh ~ Yes, a list does exist from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as I mentioned in my post. If you found the list of states online, definitely provide it for the student here. Thank you for your feedback !
Michelle M.
Tooba Malik
Audit
4
Answers
Temecula, California
Updated
Tooba’s Answer
Hi! Great answers above, I can tell you that PwC has hired from Pakistan in the past, CA's who did not yet have a CPA. I hope you can apply for positions on the PwC website. I have done ACCA, I moved to the USA, got my Masters degree in Accounting and then applied for a position in PwC. So it is possible!
Steven Graham
Chief Accounting Officer, Corporate Controller, VP Finance
4
Answers
Boynton Beach, Florida
Updated
Steven’s Answer
Similar to other responses. If you do an ai generated search on chrome, it gives you some sources to investigate. Bigger issue, I believe, will obtaining the experience necessary for the certification to be final after the test is passed.
Charissa Gonzalez
Executive Assistant
13
Answers
Chandler, Arizona
Updated
Charissa’s Answer
Great question — and it’s awesome that you’re already planning ahead for your CPA journey! Even without a U.S. visa or travel plans right now, there are several meaningful ways you can build your skills, strengthen your profile, and access learning opportunities from abroad.
1. Online & Remote CPA‑Relevant Learning Opportunities
These programs do not require being in the United States:
• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) — Free & Low‑Cost Courses
AICPA offers online courses in:
Auditing
Accounting essentials
Ethics
Data analytics for accountants
These aren’t CPA exams themselves, but they help prepare you academically.
• Coursera, edX & Udemy — University‑Level Accounting Courses
Look for courses from:
University of Illinois
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
University of Virginia
Many of these include financial accounting, audit, taxation, and analytics — all relevant to CPA foundational knowledge.
• ICAEW & ACCA Online Programs (UK)
Both offer online accounting and assurance certifications recognized worldwide.
These strengthen your profile and often count as relevant coursework for CPA pathways later.
2. Scholarships Open to International Accounting Students (No U.S. Visa Required)
While U.S. CPA exam programs rarely offer scholarships before you’re exam‑eligible, international students can apply for global accounting scholarships, including:
• ACCA Scholarships
ACCA awards scholarships for high‑performing international accounting students.
Website: accaglobal.com
• ICAEW Foundation Bursaries
These offer financial support to international students pursuing accounting training.
• Commonwealth Scholarships (for business & finance fields)
If you later pursue a master’s degree related to accounting (online or abroad), this may apply.
• Local Pakistani Scholarships for Finance/Accounting
Many local or regional scholarships support students who plan to pursue global certifications later, such as:
HEC scholarships
Pakistan Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAP) merit awards
Bank‑related scholarships (UBL, HBL, MCB) for finance students
These don’t require U.S. travel and can help fund your preparatory education.
3. Steps You Can Take Now to Prepare for the CPA
You don’t need to wait for a visa, passport, or U.S. exam eligibility. Start with:
• Strengthen your accounting foundation
Focus on advanced coursework in:
Financial accounting
Auditing
Business law
Tax
Cost/managerial accounting
• Improve your English writing & business communication
CPA exams require strong written communication. Online tools like Grammarly and business writing courses help.
• Stay updated on U.S. GAAP & audit standards
FASB and PCAOB resources offer free updates and learning materials.
• Join accounting communities
Look for online groups such as:
r/CPA on Reddit
AICPA student community
LinkedIn accounting groups
They offer guidance, study plans, and mentorship.
4. When You’re Ready for CPA Eligibility (Later On)
You will eventually need:
A passport
A U.S. state board evaluation of your education (often done remotely)
A testing center in your region (many countries have approved Prometric centers)
So even without traveling to the U.S., many international candidates complete the CPA exam from abroad.
You don’t need a U.S. visa or travel plans yet to start preparing for the CPA. There are plenty of global scholarships, online accounting courses, and professional programs you can begin right now from Pakistan. Building your skills in accounting, audit, and business communication today will put you in a great position when you’re ready to apply for the CPA later on.
1. Online & Remote CPA‑Relevant Learning Opportunities
These programs do not require being in the United States:
• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) — Free & Low‑Cost Courses
AICPA offers online courses in:
Auditing
Accounting essentials
Ethics
Data analytics for accountants
These aren’t CPA exams themselves, but they help prepare you academically.
• Coursera, edX & Udemy — University‑Level Accounting Courses
Look for courses from:
University of Illinois
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
University of Virginia
Many of these include financial accounting, audit, taxation, and analytics — all relevant to CPA foundational knowledge.
• ICAEW & ACCA Online Programs (UK)
Both offer online accounting and assurance certifications recognized worldwide.
These strengthen your profile and often count as relevant coursework for CPA pathways later.
2. Scholarships Open to International Accounting Students (No U.S. Visa Required)
While U.S. CPA exam programs rarely offer scholarships before you’re exam‑eligible, international students can apply for global accounting scholarships, including:
• ACCA Scholarships
ACCA awards scholarships for high‑performing international accounting students.
Website: accaglobal.com
• ICAEW Foundation Bursaries
These offer financial support to international students pursuing accounting training.
• Commonwealth Scholarships (for business & finance fields)
If you later pursue a master’s degree related to accounting (online or abroad), this may apply.
• Local Pakistani Scholarships for Finance/Accounting
Many local or regional scholarships support students who plan to pursue global certifications later, such as:
HEC scholarships
Pakistan Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAP) merit awards
Bank‑related scholarships (UBL, HBL, MCB) for finance students
These don’t require U.S. travel and can help fund your preparatory education.
3. Steps You Can Take Now to Prepare for the CPA
You don’t need to wait for a visa, passport, or U.S. exam eligibility. Start with:
• Strengthen your accounting foundation
Focus on advanced coursework in:
Financial accounting
Auditing
Business law
Tax
Cost/managerial accounting
• Improve your English writing & business communication
CPA exams require strong written communication. Online tools like Grammarly and business writing courses help.
• Stay updated on U.S. GAAP & audit standards
FASB and PCAOB resources offer free updates and learning materials.
• Join accounting communities
Look for online groups such as:
r/CPA on Reddit
AICPA student community
LinkedIn accounting groups
They offer guidance, study plans, and mentorship.
4. When You’re Ready for CPA Eligibility (Later On)
You will eventually need:
A passport
A U.S. state board evaluation of your education (often done remotely)
A testing center in your region (many countries have approved Prometric centers)
So even without traveling to the U.S., many international candidates complete the CPA exam from abroad.
You don’t need a U.S. visa or travel plans yet to start preparing for the CPA. There are plenty of global scholarships, online accounting courses, and professional programs you can begin right now from Pakistan. Building your skills in accounting, audit, and business communication today will put you in a great position when you’re ready to apply for the CPA later on.