SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1246        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Cronin

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to modernizing the pathway to becoming a certified public accountant.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1246        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to modernizing the pathway to becoming a certified public accountant.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1. Section 87A1/2 of Chapter 112, is hereby amended by striking subsection (e) and adding the following: 

“(e) The educational and experience requirement for a certificate shall be one of the following:

(i) a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university approved by the board and two years of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board

(ii) a bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours of additional education from a college or university approved by the board and one of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board 

(iii) a master’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university approved by the board, and one year of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board”

Section 2. Section 87A1/2 of Chapter 112, is hereby amended by adding in the following after subsection (e): 

“(f) Educational requirements to take the uniform CPA examination shall be set forth in regulations promulgated by the board.”

Section 3. Section 87A1/2 of Chapter 112, is hereby amended by striking the (f) and amending it to: “(g)”. 

Section 4. Section 87A1/2 of Chapter 112, is hereby amended by striking the (g) and amending it to: “(h)”. 

Section 5. Section 87A1/2 of Chapter 112, is hereby amended by striking the (h) and amending it to: “(j)”.

Section 6. Section 87B of Chapter 112, is hereby amended by striking out (A), (B) and (C) and replacing them with the following after the wording, “(2) The applicant”:

“is certified or licensed and is in good standing; has passed the unform CPA examination and has completed the education requirements listed in subsection (e) in Section 87A1/2 of Chapter 112.  

Section 7. Section 87B of Chapter 112, is hereby amended in subsection (h)(2) by striking out the following language:

“any state which the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, hereinafter referred to as the NASBA, has verified to be in substantial equivalence with the certified public accountant licensure requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act published jointly by the NASBA and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, hereinafter referred to as the AICPA, if such state has adopted and implemented a 150 hour educational requirement as a qualification for initial licensure as a certified public accountant; or (ii) a valid license as a certified public accountant issued by any state which the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the NASBA has not verified to be in substantial equivalence with the certified public accountant licensure requirements of the AICPA/NASBA Uniform Accountancy Act, if such person has obtained, from the National Qualification Appraisal Service of the NASBA, verification that such person's certified public accountant qualifications are substantially equivalent to the certified public accountant licensure requirements of the AICPA/NASBA Uniform Accountancy Act;” and replacing it with the following language after the wording, “valid license as a certified public accountant issued”: 

“any other state. provided that the individual has met the education and experience requirements listed in subsection (e) of 87A1/2 of Chapter 112  and has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination or exceed the licensure requirements of this chapter or approved by the board.; Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no notice or other submission shall be required by any individual who offers or renders professional services under this section, whether in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means. An individual who practices in this state pursuant to this section consents, as a condition of the grant of such practice privilege: to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority of the Board; to comply with this Act and the Board’s rules; that in the event the individual’s license from the other state is no longer valid, the individual will cease offering or rendering professional services in this state individually or on behalf of a firm.”

Section 8. Sections 1-6 in this act shall take effect on January 1, 2026, and apply on or after this date. Section 7 in this act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.