{"id":6869,"date":"2025-10-19T06:55:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T14:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcclatchymhstg.wpenginepowered.com\/sabe-careers-education\/?p=6869"},"modified":"2026-06-19T06:32:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:32:37","slug":"new-calfornia-cpa-licensure-pathway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/new-calfornia-cpa-licensure-pathway\/","title":{"rendered":"California\u2019s New CPA Pathway Makes Licensure Easier"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If it feels like fewer people want to become accountants these days, you\u2019re not imagining it. The number of college students earning accounting degrees dropped nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.calcpa.org\/whats-happening\/articles\/california-moves-to-modernize-cpa-requirements-amid-talent-shortage\">8%<\/a> between 2021 and 2022, according to a recent AICPA report (Journal of Accountancy). That\u2019s a lot of calculators collecting dust.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Between student debt, long hours, and the dreaded 150-credit rule, many future CPAs have started wondering if the payoff is really worth it. California lawmakers took notice \u2014 and decided to make some long-overdue changes.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dca.ca.gov\/cba\/outreach\/california-legislation.shtml\">Assembly Bill 1175<\/a>, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, California is modernizing how accountants earn their licenses. Starting in 2026, candidates can take a more flexible route to certification: a 120-credit bachelor\u2019s degree in accounting plus two years of hands-on experience. It\u2019s a major step toward making the CPA journey more realistic for today\u2019s students \u2014 and, honestly, a sigh of relief for anyone tired of explaining why they\u2019re still in school after four years.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong> Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>AB 1175 reduces the education requirement<\/strong> from 150 to 120 semester credits, aligning with a standard four-year degree.<\/li> <li><strong>Experience requirements double<\/strong> from one year to two, emphasizing real-world learning.<\/li> <li><strong>California\u2019s reform starts January 1, 2026<\/strong>, with both old and new pathways available through 2028.<\/li> <li><strong>The move addresses a national CPA shortage<\/strong>, as retirements rise and accounting graduates decline.<\/li> <li><strong>CPA prep providers like Becker<\/strong> are adapting resources to help candidates navigate the new eligibility and experience mix.<\/li> <\/ul> <div style=\"gap: 20px\" class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\" id=\"ub-button-0a79137c-45cf-4371-863f-1ef877906785\"><div class=\"ub-button-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:Becker-SB-CPA-Coupon\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcpa-review%2Fcourses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-flex\" role=\"button\" style=\"--ub-button-background-color: #00d084; --ub-button-color: #ffffff; --ub-button-border: none; --ub-button-hover-background-color: #7bdcb5; --ub-button-hover-color: #ffffff; --ub-button-hover-border: none; font-size: 17px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px;; border-top-right-radius: 10px;; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px;; \"> <div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\" style=\"flex-direction: row\"> <span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">LEARN MORE ABOUT BECKER<\/span> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div><\/div> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-california-changed-course-for-cpa-licensure\"><strong>Why California Changed Course for CPA Licensure<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The traditional CPA pathway often meant an extra year of school \u2014 and for many, extra debt. By scaling back the educational requirement to 120 credits, the state hopes to make the career more accessible, particularly for students from underrepresented and lower-income backgrounds.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCollege is a lot of financial pressure on the student as well as the family,\u201d said Saurav Dutta, director of Chico State\u2019s accounting program and chair of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.calcpa.org\/\">CalCPA<\/a> Education Committee. \u201cBringing it down to four years evens the playing field, and we\u2019re hoping enrollment in accounting programs will increase.\u201d<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, the reform maintains California\u2019s commitment to quality. Candidates must complete two full years of supervised accounting experience, ensuring that future CPAs gain extensive real-world training before licensure..<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-bigger-picture-a-national-pipeline-problem\"><strong>The Bigger Picture: A National Pipeline Problem<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California\u2019s update arrives as the accounting industry faces a historic shortage of qualified CPAs. Nationwide, <a href=\"https:\/\/controllerscouncil.org\/accounting-crisis-cpa-firms-face-75-retirements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">75%<\/a> of current CPAs are expected to retire within the next 15 years, while new accounting graduates have declined by more than 30% since 2016.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The California Board of Accountancy (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dca.ca.gov\/cba\/\">CBA<\/a>) and CalCPA have worked closely with educators, firms, and national bodies like NASBA and AICPA to explore more flexible paths to licensure. Their consensus: the fifth-year requirement wasn\u2019t necessarily improving readiness \u2014 but it was discouraging entry.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This new \u201cdual-path\u201d model allows candidates to choose between:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>A 150-unit track with one year of experience, or<\/li> <li>A 120-unit track with two years of experience.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In both cases, candidates must still pass the rigorous Uniform CPA Examination, which remains the central measure of professional competence. This is why the best CPA exam prep, including adaptive learning tools, simulations, and mock exams, continues to be the go-to study option for candidates preparing under either route.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-the-california-cpa-license-transition-looks-like\"><strong>What the California CPA License Transition Looks Like<\/strong><\/h2> <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"California CPA change timeline\" class=\"wp-image-6870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new pathway begins January 1, 2026, with a transitional window through December 31, 2028, allowing candidates to choose between the current and new systems.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the breakdown:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Until 2025<\/strong>: Current 150-unit plus one-year experience pathway remains standard.<\/li> <li><strong>Starting 2026<\/strong>: 120-unit plus two-year experience route becomes available.<\/li> <li><strong>Through 2028<\/strong>: Both routes are accepted.<\/li> <li><strong>After 2028<\/strong>: The new model becomes the primary standard.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-this-matters-for-the-cpa-profession\"><strong>Why This Matters for the CPA Profession<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reform isn\u2019t just a California issue \u2014 it\u2019s part of a broader national reevaluation of how to sustain and grow the CPA pipeline. By emphasizing competency and experience over credit hours, California aims to ensure that licensure reflects skill, not just time spent in a classroom.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, the longer experience requirement helps bridge the gap between academia and practice. Employers may benefit too, as they can integrate mentorship, ethics training, and real-world learning earlier into their talent development plans.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what should accountants and accounting students in California do next?<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-next-steps-for-aspiring-cpas-in-california\"><strong>Next Steps for Aspiring CPAs in California<\/strong><\/h2> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Confirm your degree path.<\/strong> Talk to your school\u2019s accounting department or the California Board of Accountancy (CBA) to verify whether your degree aligns with the new 120-credit option.<\/li> <li><strong>Plan your experience early.<\/strong> Since the requirement doubles to two years, start looking for internships or entry-level accounting roles now \u2014 ideally under the supervision of a licensed CPA.<\/li> <li><strong>Stay updated on timelines.<\/strong> The new pathway begins January 1, 2026, but both old and new systems will run through 2028. Knowing where you fall on that timeline will help you plan efficiently.<\/li> <li><strong>Start exam prep sooner rather than later.<\/strong> The CPA Exam remains rigorous and unchanged. <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Becker CPA\" href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:Becker-SB-CPA-Coupon\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcpa-review%2Fcourses\" data-linkid=\"1576\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Trusted providers like Becker<\/a> have already adjusted their materials for California\u2019s new pathway, offering flexible self-study and live options that help candidates bridge academic learning with professional application.<\/li> <li><strong>Use your experience strategically.<\/strong> The extra year isn\u2019t just a hurdle \u2014 it\u2019s a chance to specialize. Work in tax, audit, or advisory to strengthen areas that will appear on the new CPA Evolution\u2013aligned exam.<\/li> <li><strong>Document everything.<\/strong> Keep organized records of coursework, supervised experience hours, and professional development \u2014 they\u2019ll make your licensure application smoother when the new system launches.<\/li> <\/ul> <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-26-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"California's new CPA pathway\" class=\"wp-image-6871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-26-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-26-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-26-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-26-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-26-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-26.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together, these steps can help future CPAs transition smoothly into the new structure while maintaining California\u2019s strong professional standards.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bottom-line\"><strong>Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California\u2019s CPA licensure reform represents a forward-thinking compromise between accessibility and professional integrity. For many aspiring accountants, it removes a financial obstacle that kept them from pursuing certification \u2014 without diminishing what the title stands for.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students who use this period to plan smartly \u2014 earning degrees aligned with the new rule, gaining supervised experience, and using <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Becker CPA\" href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:Becker-SB-CPA-Coupon\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcpa-review%2Fcourses\" data-linkid=\"1576\" data-shortcode=\"true\">trusted exam prep tools like Becker<\/a> \u2014 will be well-positioned to enter a modernized accounting profession that\u2019s more inclusive, practical, and future-ready.<\/p> <div style=\"gap: 20px\" class=\"align-button-center ub-buttons orientation-button-row ub-flex-wrap wp-block-ub-button\" id=\"ub-button-f3bc112a-c9e3-4306-9dfb-29e1d20f7ec4\"><div class=\"ub-button-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:Becker-SB-CPA-Coupon\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcpa-review%2Fcourses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"ub-button-block-main ub-button-flex\" role=\"button\" style=\"--ub-button-background-color: #00d084; --ub-button-color: #ffffff; --ub-button-border: none; --ub-button-hover-background-color: #7bdcb5; --ub-button-hover-color: #ffffff; --ub-button-hover-border: none; font-size: 17px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px;; border-top-right-radius: 10px;; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px;; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px;; \"> <div class=\"ub-button-content-holder\" style=\"flex-direction: row\"> <span class=\"ub-button-block-btn\">SEE HOW BECKER CAN HELP WITH CPA LICENSURE<\/span> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div><\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1760884784644\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>When do the new California CPA rules take effect?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The new pathway begins January 1, 2026, and both old and new systems will run through December 31, 2028.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1760884801949\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do I still need 150 credits to sit for the CPA Exam?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. Under AB 1175, candidates can qualify with 120 credits if they meet experience and concentration requirements. However, some states still require 150 units, so mobility seekers should verify multi-state standards.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1760884827571\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How does the two-year experience rule work?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Candidates must complete two years of verified accounting experience under a licensed CPA. Those with a master\u2019s degree or certain professional certificates may qualify with just one year.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1760884851500\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Will this affect CPA Exam difficulty?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. The CPA Exam remains standardized nationally and will not affect the difficulty.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1760884869675\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How can current students prepare for this change?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Students should confirm their program\u2019s alignment with AB 1175, begin accumulating work experience early, and consider enrolling in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/becker-cpa-review\/\">Becker\u2019s updated CPA prep courses<\/a> to maximize readiness for the 2026 exam cycle.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If it feels like fewer people want to become accountants these days, you\u2019re not imagining it. The number of college students earning accounting degrees dropped nearly 8% between 2021 and 2022, according to a recent AICPA report (Journal of Accountancy). That\u2019s a lot of calculators collecting dust. Between student debt, long hours, and the dreaded [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":6875,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,241],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-accounting"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":false},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/image-27-768x427.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>California\u2019s New CPA Pathway Makes Licensure Easier<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about the new CPA licensure framework signed into law that will help to modernize the CPA pathway in California.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/new-calfornia-cpa-licensure-pathway\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"California\u2019s New CPA Pathway Makes Licensure Easier\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about the new CPA licensure framework signed into law that will help to modernize the CPA pathway in California.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/new-calfornia-cpa-licensure-pathway\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; 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