CPA Exam

Accounting undergraduate enrollment grew 8.9% in spring 2026 year-over-year, continuing steady growth for the third consecutive year.

If firms want more employees to become CPAs, they need to start treating exam support as part of talent development.

Of the CPA exam candidates who completed testing in 2025, only six passed all four sections on the first attempt to qualify for the award.

New reporting changes represent meaningful progress, but inaccurate institutional attribution will distort university-level CPA exam outcomes in the 2025 data.

The bonus is available to employees who pass all four parts of the exam within their first year at the Big Four Firm, starting with those who join on June 1.

The number of students who graduated with a bachelor's or master's in accounting dropped again, but not by as much as in recent years, according to the AICPA.

While combing through the 2024 data, we found large numbers of candidate scores to be missing, and potentially classified to incorrect colleges or universities, or not reported at all.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that adds alternative pathways to CPA licensure, which will go into effect Jan 1. 2026.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy launched a CPA Mobile App, bringing key functions of the NASBA CPA Portal to mobile devices.

Failing a section of the exam isn't uncommon, but these strategies and tactics can make it less likely.

Would-be CPAs should prepare to pass the test — but be prepared to fail.

The state with the highest CPA exam pass rate in 2024 was Nebraska at 61.9%, followed by Utah at 58.6% and Montana at 57.4%, according to a NASBA report.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law that adds two additional pathways to CPA licensure and preserves the original 150-hour path.

The New York State Legislature passed a bill establishing an additional pathway to CPA licensure, and another bill authorizing the use of electronic signatures.

Eleven accountants were given the Elijah Watt Sells Award, granted to those who earn a cumulative average score above 95.50 across four sections of the exam.

The bill creates two additional pathways to CPA licensure and preserves the 150-hour path.

Minnesota approved a bill on Monday night to create additional pathways to CPA licensure, and it awaits the signature of Gov. Tim Walz.

The New Jersey Society of CPAs is proposing an additional pathway to obtain CPA licensure, supporting a bill that would modify New Jersey's Accountancy Act.

State CPA societies are pushing for alternatives to the 150-hour rule as a major step towards addressing the major talent crisis.

States are looking to add new pathways to CPA licensure, beyond the 150-credit requirement, amid an ongoing labor shortage.