Shaping the Future of CPA Licensure

The accounting talent pipeline is a top concern of leaders in public accounting firms, businesses, government entities, and nonprofit organizations. The demand for CPAs and their services has increased, yet the number of accounting graduates and new candidates for the CPA Exam has declined. 

NCACPA has long been committed to identifying and enacting solutions to attract and retain the next generation of CPAs. This spring, the Board of Directors appointed a diverse working group representing public accounting firms, educators, and industry to explore alternative pathways to CPA licensure and identify potential policy solutions. These members reviewed the CBEx and UAA exposure drafts and created a member survey to gather feedback. The Association’s response to these proposals are being thoughtfully drafted by this group and subsequently approved by the Board’s Executive Committee. 

Second Comment Letter Issued on CPA Licensure Pathways

We Still Need Your Input: Help Shape the Future of CPA Licensure

In October 2024, NCACPA launched a member survey to gather input on alternative pathways to CPA licensure. To date, over 400 members have shared their perspectives, with 80% supporting a new pathway that includes a bachelor’s degree with an accounting concentration, two years of experience, and passing the CPA exam.

We need to hear from more of you! Your voice is crucial as the NCACPA Board of Directors works to refine the Association’s position and influence future policies. In the short video below, Director of Advocacy Robert Broome, CAE, shares key updates and highlights why your input is vital to shaping the profession’s future.

Take just 5 minutes today to complete the survey and help us build a stronger future for the accounting profession.

NCACPA Responds to NASBA’s Proposed Competency-Based Experience Framework 

NCACPA actively engaged its members to provide feedback on two recent exposure drafts concerning alternative pathways to CPA licensure. In October 2024, NCACPA launched a survey to gather member input on these proposals and the 400+ responses collected were instrumental in formulating the Association’s official comment letter, which was submitted to the chairs of the UAA Committees of both NASBA and the AICPA on December 4, 2024. To read the letter, please click here. 

Update in Fall 2024  Interim Report

For an overview of NCACPA’s initiatives in this area, members are encouraged to read “Shaping the Future of CPA Licensure,” written by Michael Scott, CPA, who chairs the Working Group. Click here to read this article on page 18. 

Meet the Alternative Pathways to Licensure Working Group Members

Related Resources

Two exposure drafts were released in September 2024 and comments will help determine whether these changes are implemented as proposed or amended based on responses. Once the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) is amended, each state considers the changes and decides if they will adopt the recommendations. 

1. UAA Model Act and Model Rule changes (add a new pathway to licensure and modify language regarding substantial equivalency, a concept used to determine whether a CPA can enjoy practice mobility in other states) 
2. CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway (details the proposed pathway’s framework)