Press Room

An Act relative to modernizing the pathway to becoming a certified public accountant would uphold the professionalism of certified public accountants (CPAs) in Massachusetts while opening the door for more people to pursue this career.

The bill emphasizes on-the-job training in addition to collegiate experience to create additional pathways for a person to become a CPA. As a workforce development measure, the legislation would help meet a growing demand for CPA services at a time when the supply of CPAs has been shrinking, according to testimony delivered to the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

The details of the legislation are below.

Opens Additional Pathways to the CPA Profession. Updates the educational requirement for certification as a CPA to offer a mix of college education and work experience, such as a bachelor’s degree combined with two years of full-time professional experience, or a master’s degree paired with one year of professional experience. Removes an outdated threshold, currently in place, which often burdens an applicant with completing more course credits than are needed for a college degree.

Allows Portability Between States. Helps meet the demand for CPA services by authorizing CPAs who are licensed in other states to practice in Massachusetts, as long as they have met Massachusetts’ educational requirements and passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.