California CPA License Reform Becomes Core Topic of Campus Roadshow
The California Board of Accountancy (CBA) is using a campus roadshow to communicate significant upcoming changes to CPA license requirements to college students across the state. The event, styled like a rock music festival, aims to attract young talent. Meanwhile, the California Legislature has passed AB 1175, creating an alternative licensing path that does not require 150 credit hours, and the bill has been sent to Governor Newsom, who is expected to sign it into law. If the new rules take effect, they will be implemented on January 1, 2027, while the existing path will be repealed on January 1, 2029.
The California Board of Accountancy is taking upcoming changes to licensing requirements to college campuses across the state, pitching future CPA candidates.
In the process, the board is also cleverly upending the accounting profession's "boring" stereotype:The CBA 2025-2026 Accounting Campus Tourpromotional materials lean closer to the breezy vibe of a Lollapalooza music festival than a heavy ledger book.
"We've gone with a whole rock band visual theme," David Hemphill, CBA's information and planning officer, said in an interview Thursday (Sept. 18). "We're trying to make accounting a little bit fun."
The CBA, which operates under the state's Department of Consumer Affairs and is funded by fees from the accounting profession it regulates, has held similar educational campus events in past years.
But this year's agenda is different. At the heart of the educational effort is informing students about major upcoming changes to CPA licensing requirements. So-called "CPA pathways laws" have been passed in more than 20 states this year, aiming to reverse declining numbers of young people entering the profession by removing barriers.
The tour kicks off just days after the California Assembly passed a bill that would provide an alternative path to obtaining aCPA license in Californiathat does not require completing 150 college credits, equivalent to five years of higher education. On Tuesday (Sept. 16), the state Senate unanimously passed AB 1175 and sent it toGov. Gavin Newsom's desk, where it is widely expected to be signed into law.
Consistent with the wave of CPA licensing reform laws passed in other states this year, the new California rules would allow applicants to meet licensing requirements through a new path, including completing a bachelor's degree, two years of work experience, and passing the CPA exam.
If signed into law, the new requirements are expected to take effect Jan. 1, 2027; while the existing path — including 150 college semester credits, one year of experience, and passing the CPA exam —would be repealed on Jan. 1, 2029。
The first stop on the tour is a virtual event Friday (Sept. 19) for students at California State University, Fullerton. So far, the tour has scheduled visits to 11 schools, about half of them in person. The tour will cover several large institutions, including San Francisco State on Sept. 25 and UCLA on Oct. 16, as well as Mt. San Antonio College, a community college in Walnut, California, on Nov. 15. Hemphill said more stops may be added.
"We're really going all out, hoping to reach as many students as possible," he said. He added that the CBA initially worked with department chairs to arrange events, but later also reached out to accounting clubs and societies, such as Beta Alpha Psi. Although the CBA is barred by state law from using TikTok, it has reached students throughits LinkedInandX (Twitter) accounts.
The tour webpage continues the concert theme, describing the details of the discussion as a "set list." According to the website, the meeting discussion points will include: an explanation of the proposed CPA licensing changes, a comparison with current licensing requirements, a timeline for phasing in the new requirements and phasing out current ones, and how the CBA can help.
"This is a big deal," Hemphill said. "These requirements are changing, and we want to make sure students know about it." For students with questions, staff at the events should be easy to spot — just look for those wearing the black campus tour T-shirts.
To keep up with CPA licensing reform news, see CFO Dive'srelated topic tracker coverage。