News & Updates

Today’s college students say that picking a major that’s “AI-proof” feels like shooting at a moving target as they prepare for a job market that could be fundamentally different by the time they graduate.

Attorney General Jay Jones (D) called a new rule from President Donald Trump’s administration limiting access to student loans “unlawful,” as Virginia joined a multistate lawsuit against the Department of Education (DOE) challenging the policy.

The new CPA Evolution licensure format is an imperative classroom focus. Accounting professors serve as tip-of-the-spear resources to help students understand the new format and should be adjusting both curriculum and classroom learning approaches.

New regulations going into effect July 1 put annual and lifetime caps on federal student loans and create new guidelines for repayment. Graduate students in accounting, engineering, nursing, and a host of other professions are subject to an annual borrowing limit of $20,500, with an aggregate lifetime limit of $100,000.

The largest year-over-year rise in job mentions that require artificial intelligence or machine learning capabilities is the role of accountant, according to a new report.

On April 6, 2026, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation into law to establish Inactive and Emeritus CPA license statuses.

While the pipeline of CPA-credentialed accounting talent is getting stronger, accounting educators are trying new approaches to attract students, motivate them to take the exam, and help them pass.

As entry-level tasks are automated, the focus of training will shift to judgment, simulation, and continuous upskilling.

The Profession Ready Initiative is designed to identify the skills that early-career CPAs need to succeed today and over the near term. The academic community is a vital partner in the success of this initiative and in the success of early-career talent.

Despite an evolving business landscape and the rapid rise of automation and analytics, the core reasons for choosing accounting remain stronger than ever — and in many ways, more compelling.

On Feb. 26, 2026, the VSCPA submitted comments on the U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, “Reimagining and Improving Student Education.”

The accounting profession is sending a clear message on skills: workforce readiness at the early-career level has become a pivotal challenge as the business environment grows more complex and technology continues to reshape how CPAs work.  To address the skills gap, the American Institute of CPAs is launching an important effort to develop and strengthen young CPA talent: the Profession Ready Initiative.  

While H.R. 1, P.L. 119–21, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), extended and instituted a wide range of tax provisions, a number of its provisions directly and indirectly affect higher education.

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/feb/aicpa-supports-accounting-stem-pursuit-act-legislation

In addition to imparting subject knowledge and accomplishing the stated learning objectives, it’s important to prepare students to be professionals by providing them with perspective.

Every VSCPA scholar carries with them a story of ambition, discovery and the drive to succeed. Meet Marisa Cooke, an undergraduate senior at Virginia Tech and proud VSCPA Foundation scholarship recipient. Her journey into accounting is one of unexpected inspiration, bold decisions, and a growing passion for making a difference through the profession.

Accounting undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities rose for the third consecutive year in fall 2025, outpacing growth overall for undergraduate institutions, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse.

The CPA profession now offers dynamic, technology-driven career paths that extend far beyond traditional tax and audit work. One of the most promising paths is client advisory services (CAS), a rapidly growing niche in which accountants combine financial expertise, technology, and business insight to help organizations grow.

The VSCPA, along with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and other state CPA societies, strongly opposes any proposal that fails to recognize accounting as a professional degree program.

The VSCPA's advocacy related to the new 120-credit hour CPA pathway was featured in this November 2025 Virginia Business article. (Subscription may be required to view.)