West Virginia and Nebraska are the latest among dozens of states to implement legislation creating alternative pathways for accountants to obtain CPA licensure.
On Monday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a House Bill 4088 into law,
- Bachelor's degree with 30 semester credit hours, including an accounting concentration, and one year of experience;
- Bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration and two years of experience; and,
- Master's or graduate degree with an accounting concentration and one year of experience.
All paths require passing the CPA exam. The new pathways will go into effect May 24.
"We realize there's an accounting shortage and we are proactively taking care of ourselves and making sure the next generation of CPAs are ready for the future," Megan Kueck, CEO of the West Virginia Society of CPAs, which worked with legislators and supported the bill, told CFO Dive.
On Feb. 26, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed licensing reform legislation (LB718) into law, creating three routes to licensure:
- Bachelor's degree and two years of experience;
- Bachelor's degree with 30 credit hours and one year of experience; and,
- Master's degree and one year of experience.
All paths require passing the CPA exam. The new pathways will go into effect three months after the final day of the legislation session. The exact date is to be determined.
