News & Updates

As the General Assembly session moves deeper into February and crossover approaches, the gravitational pull of the budget is becoming impossible to ignore. Even for bills that don’t directly appropriate funds, fiscal impact is increasingly shaping which proposals advance, pause, or change form.

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.

Legislation to modernize Virginia’s CPA licensure statutes passed a House General Laws subcommittee unanimously Jan. 29, 2026.

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.)

This article outlines the structure of the alternative pathway and discusses its advantages and challenges, drawing insights from industry professionals and academic experts. It also provides an overview of ongoing alternative pathway adoption efforts across the United States. Finally, it examines the impact of CPA Evolution on CPA Exam pass rates over the past year.

Every VSCPA scholar carries with them a story of ambition, discovery and the drive to succeed. Meet Juan Chan, an undergraduate senior at George Mason University and 2025 VSCPA Foundation scholarship recipient.

The desire to hire new accounting graduates remains strong among public accounting firms, and signs point to a possible turning of the tide when it comes to supply meeting demand, according to data from the AICPA’s biennial Trends report.

The AICPA and state societies, including the VSCPA, have pledged strong support for accounting education programs to gain STEM status, and the idea also has backing from the majority of respondents in a new survey.

When designed with purpose, internship programs do more than provide seasonal help—they create a sustainable pipeline of future firm leaders.

The once-boring job of accounting is now being recognized by Gen Z for what it is: An amazing career with six-figure potential.

While a growing band of states have passed new CPA licensure laws, employers, universities, students and regulators are just beginning to grapple with how the new rules will work.

For Immediate Release Emily Walker, VSCPA (804) 612-9428 ewalker@vscpa.com Richmond (Feb. 17, 2025) — The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) applauds the Virginia House and Senate for passing VSCPA-backed legislation to address a crucial barrier preventing accountants from

Do something. CPAs have sounded the alarm for years: The pipeline of new talent joining the profession is getting smaller and smaller (the data backs it up — just read the latest AICPA Trends report). They want to see multiple paths to the CPA available to make the profession accessible for all students, including minorities and adults switching careers.

The world is changing fast. Should the qualifications to become a CPA change too? The VSCPA is introducing legislation in 2025 to add an additional pathway to become a CPA.

The pool of accounting graduates continues to shrink, according to the biennial 2023 Trends report from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), “A Report on Accounting Education, the CPA Exam and Public Accounting Firms’ Hiring of Recent Graduates.” However, colleges and universities are projecting enrollment will flat line or increase slightly this academic year, providing a bright spot in the data.

The word “pipeline” is everywhere these days, but what do we really mean by that? Essentially, the CPA pipeline is the queue of next-gen accountants — beginning with students’ piqued interest in accounting in middle school all the way through young professionals deciding to stick with the profession long term.

It's often said that earning the certified public accountant (CPA) credential opens doors and creates new opportunities for those that pursue it. Whether providing more earning potential, job security, credibility with clients, or opportunities to pursue more unique business niches, most CPAs will say that the license has changed their lives for the better. Perhaps, this is even more so for CPAs whose career paths began outside the United States.

For nearly the past two decades, prospective CPAs in Virginia have had to undertake 150 hours of education before becoming licensed. But a declining CPA pipeline has accountants asking: Is the 150 now a barrier to becoming a CPA? Is it time to reimagine how we prepare CPAs for an increasingly evolving profession?