Maryland's bid to add an additional pathway to CPA licensure took its next step on Feb. 18, and once again the MACPA was there to lend its support.

This time, the proposal moved to the House Economic Matters Committee in the form of House Bill 643, "Certified Public Accountants — Licensure — Qualifications." Sponsored in the House by Dels. Kriselda Valderrama, Lily Qi, and William Wivell, the proposal — like its companion in the Senate, SB 34 — proposes a modernized licensure framework that preserves the current 150-hour model while introducing an additional experience-based pathway for CPA candidates.

CPA candidates in Maryland currently have two options for obtaining their license — earn either (a) a bachelor's degree with a concentration in accounting plus 30 additional credit hours of college-level education, or (b) a master’s degree in accounting. Each option also requires candidates to pass the CPA exam and complete at least one year or relevant professional experience.

HB 643 would create a third pathway that allows candidates to earn their CPA license by completing a bachelor’s degree (with a minimum concentration in accounting or business) and two years of relevant professional experience while also passing the CPA exam.

HB 643 represents the latest in a nationwide movement to enact additional pathways to CPA licensure that offer flexibility while reducing barriers to licensure. To date, as many as 45 states have either passed similar legislation or taken steps to move in that direction. The reforms are meant to address shrinking talent pools, increasing workforce demands, and rapid changes in accounting and audit standards.

As she did during Feb. 5 testimony in support of SB 34, MACPA CEO Rebekah Olson told lawmakers that the proposal "is a measured, responsible update to Maryland’s CPA licensure law" that "preserves the rigor and public trust of the CPA credential while expanding opportunity and supporting workforce development."

Olson said the proposed pathway would benefit CPA candidates, employers, and Maryland’s business community in four important ways:

• It would offer candidates additional flexibility by recognizing diverse educational backgrounds and learning experiences, and by creating an additional route to licensure via structured work experience.
  
  
• It would reduce the financial and time burdens created by the 150-hour requirement while also supporting students and career changers without compromising quality.
  
  
• It would support employers who face a growing need for accounting talent by broadening access to licensure for qualified professionals.
  
  
• It would keep Maryland's employers and CPA candidates competitive with the dozens of other states that are pursuing similar reforms.

HB 643, Olson added, "does not eliminate the 150-hour pathway, reduce examination requirements, or weaken supervision standards. Instead, it recognizes that structured, supervised experience can demonstrate professional competency alongside formal education."