CoBA Holds The September California Board of Accountancy (CBA) Meeting

cba

The Department of Accounting hosted the September 2024 meeting of the California Board of Accountancy (CBA), September 19 & 20. CBA becomes the first in the nation to remove the 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure.

The California Board of Accountancy issues licenses to CPAs in the State; it regulates the accounting profession by establishing and maintaining entry standards of qualification and conduct within the accounting profession. With 115,000 licensees, the CBA is the largest state accounting regulator in the nation.

In recent years, the accounting profession has experienced a significant decline in the accounting talent pipeline; enrollment in accounting programs across the nation have fallen significantly, the number of CPA candidates is at a low, and government and private sector organizations have struggled to staff their accounting functions and meet statutory financial reporting requirements.

The Department of Accounting at �� was honored to host on campus the nation-leading CBA to discuss its role in the state efforts to revitalize the pipeline of accounting talent. During its meetings on our campus, the CBA approved actions that are leading the nation in reforms that aim to increase opportunities to attain the CPA licensure.

Acting on a referral from MIS Professor Yi Sun, in March 2023 the CBA’s Vice President Yen Tu (San Diego), invited Dr. Alan Styles (Chair, Department of Accounting) and �� to host the CBA. For two days the CBA held meetings and engaged with students and local professionals to highlight the benefits of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Dr. Styles negotiated and coordinated with various units of the �� and the CBA to host the event in the McMahan House complex. During his welcome to campus for the CBA, he mischievously commented on the challenge of working with the “bureaucracy of two state agencies.”

The student events included presentations by CBA Secretary/Treasurer, Kristian Latta and Board member Nancy Corrigan. Their presentations covered the role of the CPA, the value of the CPA Examination/CPA License. After the presentations, Board members mingled with accounting students in the courtyard while enjoying food and refreshments provided by the Department of Accounting and Accounting Society. After the networking event, accounting staff had the opportunity to meet with CBA staff to review their transcripts for compliance with the CPA Exam educational requirements. CBA staff reported that all our Accounting Option students comfortably met the educational requirements.

During Friday’s morning meeting, the CBA made the historic decision to loosen the 150-hour education requirement for CPA licensure in California. The Board approved a motion to seek a sponsor of a bill in the California Legislature that would allow an alternative path – possession of a bachelor’s degree in accounting and two years of work experience. This educational expansion of access to practicing as a CPA was backed with approval of a motion to allow CPAs from out of state to practice in California. These actions taken at the �� meeting, place California at the front of the movement to increase the accounting talent pipeline.

For a summary of CBA visit to ��, see CBA’s video at: