New CPA pathway is now the law in Virginia!

Prospective CPAs now have another way to pursue the designation in Virginia — without a requirement to obtain 150 hours of education. This new CPA pathway will encourage even more accountants to become CPAs, increasing the talent pool into the profession.

On March 24, 2025, Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved legislation championed by the VSCPA to add a new pathway to the designation and ensure practice mobility for out-of-state CPAs. Virginia becomes just the second state behind Ohio to pass legislation with a new CPA license pathway.

What’s next? The Virginia Board of Accountancy will file emergency regulations to implement the changes, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. We’ll be issuing guidance and information on how prospective CPAs and their firms can take advantage of the new pathway.

“2025 is a monumental year for the accounting profession in the Commonwealth of Virginia," said VSCPA 2024-2025 Chair Christine Williamson, CPA, PMP. "I am so proud to be a part of this pivotal time as the chair of the Society to build back the accounting workforce. This bill is sure to help put accounting/finance back to the top five of majors at our universities and schools.”

“Our CPAs have been working diligently to bring back the CPA workforce to the numbers we had years ago. Accounting is a wonderful profession and from the Board of Directors we would like to thank all the legislators, governor, and board of accountancy for making this a reality. Please, today, join the VSCPA and/or renew your membership as these actions are a direct result of the Society being here for us, advocating for us and teaching us, so that our accounting profession here in the Commonwealth is the best it can be for today and years to come.” 

During this legislative session, the Virginia Board of Accountancy recognized the importance of supporting legislation to bolster Virginia's workforce. HB 2042 and SB 1042, introduced at the request of the VSCPA, create this additional path to licensure for prospective CPAs: a baccalaureate degree with completion of required accounting coursework, two years of experience, and passage of the CPA Exam. Prospective CPAs can still follow the older pathway (150 hours of education plus one year of experience and passing the Exam), but the new path allows accountants to opt for more real-world experience rather than take an additional 30 hours of education.

“Increasing the options accountants have to become licensed has been a major focus of the VSCPA and the profession nationwide,” said VSCPA President and CEO Stephanie R. Peters, CAE. “With declining college enrollments and new majors like data analytics, the competition to attract students to the accounting profession is strong. Corporations can’t run without finance teams, and businesses rely on their CPAs for valuable tax planning and strategic advice. It’s crucial we develop new ways to get accountants licensed as CPAs to become the trusted business advisors that help keep our economy running.”

The VSCPA worked with bill patrons Del. Holly M. Seibold (D-Fairfax) and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Fairfax) with support from VSCPA member and CPA Del. Joe McNamara (R-Roanoke). In conversations between VSCPA members, staff, and legislative counsel and elected officials, lawmakers understood the importance of supporting workforce development initiatives. Both bills passed the full General Assembly unanimously.

In addition to the new CPA pathway, the legislation ensures practice mobility for out-of-state CPAs. To qualify to practice in Virginia, an out-of-state CPA must have a license in good standing from another jurisdiction and have passed the CPA Exam. While this provision does not directly affect Virginia CPAs, it supports Virginia businesses — ensuring their CPAs who may be licensed elsewhere are able to continue their work in the Commonwealth without hindrance.

Addressing the 150-hour requirement has been a years-long goal for VSCPA leaders and members. In 2022, a special Board of Directors Task Force convened to gather data on the requirement, review challenges to the CPA talent pipeline, and make recommendations to the Board. Read this in-depth feature for more details on that process, the Board's updated position, and background on the 150-hour requirement.

Questions about the new legislation? Contact Emily Walker, CAE, VSCPA vice president, advocacy & pipeline.