As summer wound down, I was reminded of the importance of pausing to reflect. I can look back and say it was a productive summer for both the Illinois CPA Society and the accounting and finance profession. I also have to recognize that the pace of change in our day-to-day work and lives often blurs our ability to focus on the road ahead. We’re navigating rapid technological change, evolving business models, increasingly complex stakeholder expectations and, in case you missed it, the final stages of a nationwide movement to overhaul certified public accountant (CPA) licensure.
Given the significance of that last point, and because this is my final opportunity to address it before the January 2027 effective date of our state’s new licensure framework, I want to revisit our role in reimagining CPA licensure in Illinois and beyond.
Beginning in 2027, Illinois, like many other states now and to come, will offer three pathways to CPA licensure. Two are new pathways, while the legacy route retains the long-standing 150-credit-hour pathway:
When this journey began, many believed it would take the better part of a decade for all 55 CPA licensing jurisdictions to advance through the process. Instead, new laws expanding access to CPA licensure are being implemented at a pace that’ll see all licensing jurisdictions introducing new frameworks by the end of 2027, just a few years after setting off on this endeavor, which is an unprecedented achievement for a licensed profession.
For years, our organization has strived to shine lights on the accounting profession’s pipeline and talent challenges. We’ve acted to reduce or eliminate various barriers to entry into the CPA profession. We’ve proposed solutions and facilitated discussions aimed at tackling the time, costs, and value proposition associated with CPA licensure. We’ve advocated for fostering and nurturing a profession that represents the people and communities it serves. And we’ve widely shared our insights and leveraged our influence to move others to do the same. It’s exciting to see so many new licensure laws advancing now, and having partook in many stakeholder conversations that shaped the frameworks being implemented nationally, I feel our voice has been validated in some ways.
I get the sense there’s a sense of urgency now to address the profession’s longstanding challenges as well as those awaiting on the horizon. Admittedly, reimagining licensure frameworks isn’t a silver bullet that ends a persistent talent shortage or the growing need for CPAs to serve the business community and protect the public interest, but it’s a step in the right direction— one that builds on the accounting workforce development initiatives enacted in recent years. This is evidenced by the positive results we’re seeing across the country:
Further, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% increase in employment of accountants and auditors from 2024 to 2034, reflecting faster growth than the average for all occupations. We’ve also heard anecdotal reports of professionals who didn’t meet legacy licensure requirements now renewing their pursuit of their CPA credentials under the new alternative pathways available to them. This shows that there’s so much opportunity on the horizon, and I hope we can maintain the renewed alignment and momentum that got us here.
I can assure you this organization remains committed to supporting students, educators, CPA candidates, and employers through the transitions ahead. We recognize that meaningful change takes time and thoughtful planning. With only a few months remaining before Illinois’ new CPA licensure pathways “officially” launch, and with other states’ pathways on the horizon, it’s essential we focus on informing newly eligible CPA candidates about the opportunities ahead, exploring how these pathways may expand career options, and growing the number of CPAs in Illinois and beyond.
