US: third pathway for CPA licensure approved
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) have approved a significant update to the Uniform Accountancy Act, which serves as a model for CPA licensing standards. This update introduces a third pathway to earning CPA licensure that requires a bachelor’s degree with an accounting concentration, two years of professional work experience, plus passage of the CPA Exam. It complements the existing two pathways—either combining a bachelor’s degree with 30 additional credit hours and one year of experience, or a bachelor’s followed by a master’s degree and a year of experience.
Additional changes include shifting from state‑based mobility rules to an individual-based practice privilege, allowing CPAs to serve clients across state lines on a single license, and adding "safe harbor" provisions to preserve mobility rights for those already licensed under varying standards as of December 31, 2024.
This revised model legislation has been formally approved by both AICPA and NASBA boards and will be included in the updated Uniform Accountancy Act, scheduled for release in early summer 2025. States will need to adopt or align their own laws before candidates can follow this new path; so far, 14 states have already taken action to implement these changes.