JofA Article
written By Ken Tysiac
A newly proposed CPA licensure model developed by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the AICPA is designed to help newly licensed CPAs learn the skills and competencies they will need in the workplace of the future.
The draft licensure model, which is not considered final, is designed similarly to the professional engineer licensure model, which requires all professionals to develop strong core skills and then choose a discipline in which to demonstrate deeper knowledge and abilities.
For the CPA profession, the core of the proposed licensure model would require each candidate to exhibit skills in accounting, auditing, tax, and technology (see the graphic, “Proposed Model: Core Plus Disciplines”). Then, each candidate would choose to show more in-depth skills and knowledge in one of these three areas:
- Tax compliance and planning.
- Business reporting and analysis.
- Information systems and controls.
“The model we are proposing reflects the realities of practice today. When you look at the profession 20 or 30 years ago, it’s evident that the demands of CPAs have grown,” said Bill Reeb, CPA/CITP, CGMA, the chair of the AICPA. “… As our body of knowledge has expanded, we’ve stretched the exam and curriculum to cover more and more material, but that approach isn’t sustainable. We need a licensure model that is flexible enough to evolve with our profession.”