Thanks to Accounting Today for publishing my article "Could a simple licensing change increase the number of CPAs by 15%?" based on my podcast conversation with Sharon Lassar, Ph.D., CPA , director of the School of Accountancy at the University of Denver.
Could This Be the Fix for the Accounting Talent Shortage?
Earning a CPA license requires 150 credit hours, deterring many students from pursuing accounting. On the Accounting Podcast, Dr. Sharon Lassar of the University of Denver proposes replacing the 150 hours with a “bachelor’s degree + 2 years experience” pathway to the CPA exam. Research shows this would increase candidate volume by 15% without lowering quality by removing an unnecessary time barrier. Lassar makes a compelling case for updating licensing based on facts, addressing concerns around impacts on graduate programs and cross-state mobility. Listen now to understand the 150-hour rule controversy and whether revising requirements could help reverse the talent shortage in the accounting profession.
The California Board of Accountancy wants to know how you feel about the 150-hour rule for CPA licensure
The wild classes CPAs take for their 150 hours
CPA pipeline problems: Insights from a state society CEO
What's the strangest class you took to get to 150 hours?
Rethinking the CPA 150-hour requirement: There must be a change
Sharing the Wealth: Is Asking Partners to Increase Salaries the Answer to the Accounting Talent Shortage?
The cost of the 150-hour rule: $2 billion
What is the cost of the 150-hour rule to becoming a CPA in the US? Based on my calculations, the accounting profession spends at least $2 billion per year on the fifth year of education. The cost to each candidate often exceeds $100,000. Read my post on Accounting Today to learn how I got to that number.