150 hour rule

Could a simple licensing change increase the number of CPAs by 15%?

Could a simple licensing change increase the number of CPAs by 15%?

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?

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 wild classes CPAs take for their 150 hours

The wild classes CPAs take for their 150 hours

Check out my latest piece in Accounting Today about the wild classes CPAs take to fulfill their 150 credit hours. Courses like pickleball, rock and roll history, and even “Alabama Dinosaurs” have enabled enterprising accountants to power through this arbitrary requirement.

CPA pipeline problems: Insights from a state society CEO

CPA pipeline problems: Insights from a state society CEO

In my latest Firm of the Future article, I share insights from a recent podcast interview with Jen Cryder, CEO of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs. She describes a profession facing urgent questions about its future workforce.

Rethinking the CPA 150-hour requirement: There must be a change

Rethinking the CPA 150-hour requirement: There must be a change

If we want a robust, dynamic, and inclusive accounting profession, we need to remove costly and unnecessary barriers to becoming a CPA. In my latest article on the Firm of the Future blog, I delve into the challenges associated with the CPA 150-hour education requirement.

The cost of the 150-hour rule: $2 billion

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.

Jimmy Corley says "We need to take a hard look" at the 150 hour rule for CPA licensure

What do the states think about NASBA and AICPA's efforts to quash the Minnesota Society of CPAs effort to create an alternative CPA pathway — one that doesn’t include a 5th year of education?