The accounting profession is at a crossroads. With fewer students pursuing accounting degrees and entry-level salaries lagging behind competing industries, the CPA pipeline has slowed significantly. One of the biggest barriers is the longstanding 150-credit hour requirement for licensure. 

According to a report by Accounting Today, many in the industry argue that the cost and time required for the extra coursework no long align with the financial realities of new graduates. Accounting salaries haven’t kept pace with inflation, and many students opt for careers in finance or technology, where they can earn more with fewer educational requirements. 

To address these challenges, several states are introducing alternative pathways to CPA licensure. Ohio recently passed a law allowing candidates to qualify with 120 credit hours and two years of work experience. Illinois has proposed similar legislation, and New Jersey is drafting a bill that would provide multiple options, including work-for-credit programs. The goal is to make the profession more accessible without compromising its rigor. 

Alternative licensure pathways aim to maintain the CPA’s credibility while allowing students more flexibility. Programs like the AICPA’s Experience, Learn and Earn initiative help students earn required credits while gaining hands-on experience, reducing the financial burden of an extra year of education. 

This type of initiative is not limited to the AICPA. According to Accounting Today, a private company named CPA Credits offers another cost-effective route to 150 hours. Founded by Jeffrey Chesner in 2020, the firm provides roughly 80 self-paced courses for $675 each. Students who take 10 courses get a discount, which means a student could pay about $6,000 to earn all 30 credits via CPA Credits.

Meanwhile, Accounting Today also said that  the New Jersey Society of CPAs is providing many initiatives such as The CPA Pathway Apprenticeship with Withum and Seton Hall University, and a work-for-credit program with Saint Peter's University and PwC.

While some worry that lowering education requirements could weaken the profession’s reputation, others argue that experience-based learning can be just as valuable as classroom instruction. The challenge now is ensuring that state-level changes don’t create mobility issues, making it harder for CPAs to work across jurisdictions.