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New Connecticut CPA pathway law takes effect Oct. 1; board to form working group to write regulations
Summary
The board discussed implementing House Bill 7020 (Public Act 2536), which creates an alternative pathway to CPA licensure and removes the 150-hour universal requirement; staff said regulations must be drafted before the Oct. 1 effective date and recommended a small working group that includes schools and DCP legal staff.
House Bill 7020, enacted as Public Act 2536 and signed by the governor on June 10, creates an additional pathway to a CPA license and becomes effective Oct. 1. Kat, a Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) staff member, told the Connecticut State Board of Accountancy that the new pathway removes the blanket 150-hour requirement and instead requires “a baccalaureate degree with an accounting concentration as determined by the board by regulation.”
The law matters because it changes education requirements that affect accounting curricula and how candidates qualify to sit for the CPA exam. Kat told the board a copy of the public act was included with meeting materials and that the board will need to promulgate implementing regulations to define “accounting concentration” and related terms.
Board members and staff said drafting regulations will take more time than is available before Oct. 1 if the full board must act at every step. Kat warned it is “impossible to get new regulations implemented by October 1,” and urged the board to form a small subgroup to draft proposed language that can be presented to the full board for public meetings and a vote. Bonnie, a board member, said she discussed the change with Chairman John Skyler and that he favors assembling a small group and including representatives from accounting schools so that curriculum impacts and wording for courses can be addressed.
Speakers stressed that schools move slowly because of accreditation and internal curriculum processes and that including them in drafting is important to minimize disruption. Board members recommended the group consider how to phrase education requirements so regulations remain flexible as accounting classes evolve — for example, to accommodate data analytics, AI-related coursework, and technological content that some programs now classify as accounting credits.
Staff also noted other legislative context discussed at the meeting: a proposed fee cap bill (Senate Bill 611) that would have capped occupational-license fees at $100 did not pass, leaving current Connecticut fees unchanged. Kat listed the present fees discussed in materials: a CPA licensing fee of $565, a registration fee of $40, a multi-member firm permit fee of $150 and no firm-permit fee for sole practitioners.
The board did not vote a formal regulation text at the meeting but agreed there is urgency to form a drafting group. Staff said DCP can help shepherd proposed regulations and, if the subgroup drafts proposed language, DCP will assist with scheduling the required public notices and meetings for formal adoption. Board members volunteered to participate and discussed pulling in university representatives and national guidance from NASBA and AICPA as reference material.
Moving forward, staff said they will follow up with Chairman John Skyler about appointing volunteers to the subgroup and contact education stakeholders. Board members also discussed using NASBA communications tools and the Connecticut accounting educators group to distribute guidance to schools and students during the transition.
