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CBA reports stable processing times, highlights CPA exam performance data and plans NASBA/AICPA briefing
Summary
CBA licensing staff reported processing times under 30 days, approved 2,598 first-time CPA exam applicants and 1,616 new licenses; staff will invite AICPA and NASBA to brief the board on CPA exam statistics and pass-rate drivers.
The Board received the licensing activity report and a NASBA-based CPA exam performance summary on Jan. 22. Patty Ritter, manager of the examination unit, said processing times for licensing remain under 30 days and highlighted exam and licensing volumes for the July–November 2025 period.
Key figures Ritter cited: the licensing division approved 2,598 first-time applicants to sit for the CPA exam (including 344 early-entry applicants), 1,616 new CPA and firm licenses and a current licensing population of 115,396 (including 66,619 active CPAs and 7,079 active firms). Table data show that 51.1% of sections taken in the reported period were passed, and California ranked 34th among jurisdictions with at least 15 applicants on overall pass rate tables provided to the board.
Executive Officer Dominic Franzella said staff are arranging presentations from NASBA and the AICPA to give the board a deeper, behind-the-scenes explanation of pass-rate statistics and trends. Ritter cautioned that the reported tables identify “what” but not “why,” and the planned presentations aim to help boards interpret candidate performance data.
A number of board members raised workforce and pipeline questions—median ages for new licensees, retirement effects and how to attract mid-career candidates—topics staff said are being tracked and will be covered in future trend reports.
Next steps: Staff will invite NASBA and the AICPA to present to the board and will provide multi-year trend analysis to support policy and outreach decisions.
