AICPA Plans Revamp of CPA Exam

The American Institute of CPAs is asking for feedback as it plans the next version of the Uniform CPA Examination to respond to changing needs in the CPA profession.

The AICPA issued an Invitation to Comment on Monday, requesting feedback from key stakeholders to shape the next version of the Uniform CPA Exam as the skills demanded of the CPA profession are quickly changing. The comment period opened Monday and runs through December 2.

The Invitation to Comment – Maintaining the Relevance of the Uniform CPA Examination is the first document available for public comment in the Practice Analysis, a comprehensive research study that the AICPA said it is conducting to determine the outline for the next Uniform CPA Exam. The document explains the stages of the Practice Analysis and includes results from the AICPA’s preliminary research, along with specific questions about the potential changes under consideration.

“The Invitation to Comment is an opportunity for key stakeholders such as state boards of accountancy, standard setters, public accounting firms, academics and state CPA societies to review our preliminary research and provide feedback,” said AICPA vice president of examinations Michael A. Decker in a statement. “This valuable input will help influence the development of the Exam, and ultimately ensure that we’re continuing to protect the public interest, while setting the standard for testing accounting professionals.”

As part of the Practice Analysis, the AICPA’s research has found that the skills required of newly licensed CPAs are changing rapidly, underscoring the importance of ensuring the exam continues to meet the needs of today’s ever-evolving business world.

The Invitation to Comment is available at aicpa.org/NextCPAExam, which includes instructions for submitting comments. Stakeholders are invited to comment on any or all of the proposals, all of which address AICPA’s initial research finding.

The Practice Analysis is sponsored by the AICPA’s Board of Examiners, in collaboration with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

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