Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed a bill adding an alternative pathway to CPA licensure on Tuesday.
The law, effective Oct. 1, 2026, will create a third pathway that allows candidates to earn their CPA license with a bachelor's degree, two years of experience and passage of the CPA exam. The two existing pathways will remain: a bachelor's degree with a concentration in accounting and 30 additional credit hours, or a master's degree in accounting. Both require at least one year of experience and passage of the CPA exam.
The bill earned unanimous support from both the state House and Senate in early April. It was sponsored by Delegates Kriselda Valderrama, Lily Qi and William Wivell, who is a CPA, and supported by the Maryland Association of CPAs.
Over the past few years, nearly all U.S. states have implemented or considered similar changes as part of a profession-wide effort to make the accounting profession more accessible and attractive amid a talent shortage.
