According to a report by Accounting Today, North Carolina is joining the growing list of states looking to ease the CPA shortage by modernizing the path to licensure.

A newly introduced bill, the Accounting Workforce Development Act (SB321), aims to offer CPA candidates an alternative route: a bachelor’s degree in accounting, two years of relevant work experience and successful completion of the CPA exam. 

Backed by the North Carolina Association of CPAs (NCACPA), the legislation seeks to balance educational achievements with practical experience. “This bill provides an alternative, not a replacement,” said Robert Broome, NCACPA’s vice president of advocacy and outreach. “It creates a licensure option that values both education and real-world experience, making the profession more accessible while upholding the rigorous standards that define CPAs.”

With a looming retirement wave—75% of CPAs in public accounting expected to retire in the next 15 years—the bill is designed to expand the pipeline of qualified accountants.

NCACPA CEO Mark Soticheck emphasized that the state’s business, government agencies and nonprofits rely on a steady supply of CPAs to ensure financial integrity. 

Relatedly, there are three states—Ohio, Virginia and Utah—that are in a more advanced stage of easing licensure requirements. Utah is the latest state among the three to pass legislation that expands "pathways for aspiring CPAs."

According to the Utah Association of CPAs, the newly passed legislation broadens access to CPA licensure by establishing an alternative route: candidates can now qualify with a bachelor’s degree, two years of professional experience and successfully passing the CPA exam.