Preparing for a US certification exam? Whether you’re pursuing a CPA, CFA, PMP, AWS, CISSP, or real estate license, having the right study materials, courses, and mock exams is essential.
This guide compiles the best resources for various US certification exams, covering:
Top-rated exam prep books Online courses & study platforms Practice tests & mock exams
Let’s dive into the best study resources for each field!
1. Accounting & Finance Certifications (CPA, CFA, FRM, CFP)
CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
Best Books:
Wiley CPA Exam Review – Comprehensive, updated yearly Becker CPA Review – Industry standard, includes practice questions Best Online Courses:
Becker CPA Review – Gold standard for CPA exam prep Roger CPA Review – Engaging video lectures Mock Exams:
Wiley CPA Test Bank (2,000+ practice questions) Gleim CPA Review
CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
Best Books: Kaplan Schweser CFA Study Notes – Most popular CFA prep books CFA Institute Curriculum – Official CFA learning materials Best Online Courses: Kaplan Schweser CFA – Top-rated CFA prep provider Wiley CFA Review – Good for structured study plans Mock Exams: CFA Institute Practice Questions FinQuiz CFA Mock Exams
FRM (Financial Risk Manager)
Best Books: GARP Official FRM Books – Official materials from GARP Schweser FRM Study Package – Highly recommended for FRM exam Best Online Courses: Bionic Turtle – Great for in-depth risk analysis Wiley FRM Review – Comprehensive FRM prep Mock Exams: Schweser FRM Practice Tests AnalystPrep FRM Question Bank
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
Best Books: CFP Board Exam Review – Covers all CFP topics Dalton Education CFP Exam Prep – Well-structured CFP materials Best Online Courses: Zahn Associates CFP Review – Highly rated CFP course Kaplan CFP Exam Prep – Trusted by CFP candidates Mock Exams: Dalton CFP Mock Exams Kaplan CFP QBank
2. Project Management & IT Certifications (PMP, CISSP, AWS, Google Cloud)
PMP (Project Management Professional)
Best Books: PMBOK Guide (Project Management Body of Knowledge) – Official PMP reference Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam Prep – Highly recommended by PMP candidates Best Online Courses: PMI Authorized PMP Exam Prep Course – Official PMI training Udemy PMP Exam Prep – Budget-friendly & effective Mock Exams: PrepCast PMP Exam Simulator PMTraining PMP Mock Tests
CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
Best Books: (ISC)² Official CISSP Study Guide – Most recommended CISSP book CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide by Shon Harris – In-depth coverage Best Online Courses: Cybrary CISSP Training – Free & structured learning path Pluralsight CISSP Course – Video-based learning Mock Exams: Boson CISSP Practice Exams Kaplan CISSP QBank
AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certifications
Best Books: AWS Certified Solutions Architect Study Guide – Covers all key AWS services AWS Certified Developer Official Study Guide – For AWS developer exam Best Online Courses: A Cloud Guru – Best for AWS beginners Udemy AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Highly rated Mock Exams: Whizlabs AWS Practice Exams Tutorials Dojo AWS Exam Simulations
Google Cloud Certifications (GCP)
Best Books: Official Google Cloud Certified Study Guide – Covers all GCP concepts Best Online Courses: Coursera Google Cloud Training – Taught by Google experts Linux Academy GCP Certification Course – Hands-on cloud labs Mock Exams: Google Cloud Practice Questions (on Google’s official site) Udemy Google Cloud Exam Simulator
3. Healthcare Certifications (NCLEX-RN, USMLE, MCAT)
NCLEX-RN (Registered Nurse Licensing Exam)
Best Books: Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX-RN Review – #1 NCLEX book Kaplan NCLEX-RN Prep Plus – Includes practice tests Best Online Courses: UWorld NCLEX Prep – Best for high-quality practice questions Kaplan NCLEX Review – Great for in-depth explanations Mock Exams: NCLEX-RN QBank (UWorld & Kaplan) NCSBN Official NCLEX Practice Exam
USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam)
Best Books: First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 – Essential for Step 1 Step-Up to Medicine – Great for Step 2 CK Best Online Courses: UWorld USMLE Prep – Highly recommended by medical students Kaplan USMLE Review – Structured learning Mock Exams: NBME Self-Assessments UWorld USMLE Practice Tests
4. Real Estate Certifications (Real Estate Agent & Broker License)
Best Books: Modern Real Estate Practice – Covers real estate principles Barron’s Real Estate Licensing Exams – Includes practice tests Best Online Courses: Kaplan Real Estate Education – Best for real estate licensing The CE Shop – Affordable & comprehensive Mock Exams: PSI Real Estate Exam Prep Real Estate Exam Scholar
No matter what certification exam you’re preparing for, having the right study materials is the key to success.
Which resource should you choose?
- Books – Best for in-depth understanding
- Online Courses – Great for interactive learning
- Mock Exams – Essential for real test simulation
Start studying today with the best books, online courses, and practice exams for your certification! 