Bullied into submission by vocal opponents of the 150-hour rule and watching CPA exam candidate numbers dwindle with each passing year, the AICPA and NASBA have floated a completely insane idea that couldn’t possibly have any merit whatsoever (do I really need to /s here?): A competency-based pathway that would serve as an alternative to the current 5th year of education requirement for CPA licensure.
From the press release they put out today about the proposed CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway:
Designed to increase flexibility for candidates, respond to market conditions, and protect the public, the pathway allows candidates to meet the final stretch of licensure requirements by exhibiting competencies according to a model framework that has been developed by AICPA and NASBA. The framework was developed with significant input and advice from a diverse cross-section of the profession, including members of an AICPA and NASBA working group made up of practitioners, regulators, academics, and state society leaders.
Recycling this gif from “Did the Anti-150 Hour Crowd Finally Beat the AICPA Into Submission? Looks That Way” because lol:
“The proposed pathway encompasses the perfect mix of flexibility for CPA candidates while maintaining rigor for public protection,” said NASBA President and CEO Daniel J. Dustin, CPA. “We look forward to the input and direction from the 55 U.S. Boards of Accountancy on this important and necessary framework to strengthen the CPA pipeline.”
Let’s remember this is the same group that fought hard to keep the 150-hour rule in place even when everyone else, even academia, was saying the profession should think about ditching or at least modifying it. The 150-hour rule has been successful in artificially inflated Underwater Basket Weaving 101 class lists at universities across the country for two decades, making better CPAs not so much. But sure, let’s talk about “maintaining rigor for public protection” now.
Said Journal of Accountancy in their write-up:
The proposed professional competencies are:
- Ethical behavior;
- Critical thinking and professional skepticism;
- Communication;
- Collaboration, teamwork, and leadership;
- Self-management and continuous learning;
- Business acumen; and
- Technology mindset.
The proposed technical competencies are:
- Audit and assurance;
- Tax; and
- Business and financial reporting.
The competencies, which would be verified in the workplace by licensed CPAs, are expected to take most candidates a year, but there is flexibility in the timing for completion.
Comments on the CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway are open until December 6. If you have unhelpful troll comments to make or shitposting to do, please do so in our comment section and not the AICPA’s form. I’m serious.
Exposure draft in its entirety below:
Exposure draft: Proposed “CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway” [AICPA]