The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) have come together to analyze and update the ever-changing skills needed to be career ready in today’s—and tomorrow’s—accounting environment. Their goal with the evolution is to reexamine and improve the CPA licensure requirements to keep up with the competencies you’ll need to succeed in the field, ensuring more prepared candidates from day one.
Newly licensed CPAs need to have digital and data skills. More specifically, their jobs will demand that they:
These evolving skill requirements are exactly why the CPA exam is changing—and how you’ll need to prepare for it. Overall, there will be a continued and increased emphasis on analytical skills and problem solving. The new model is a core PLUS disciplines licensure model.
The model starts with a deep and strong core in accounting, auditing, tax and technology that all candidates will be required to complete. Then, each candidate will choose a discipline in which to demonstrate deeper skills and knowledge. Regardless of chosen discipline, this model leads to full CPA licensure, with rights and privileges consistent with any other CPA. A discipline selected for testing does not mean the CPA is limited to that practice area.
This model:
The new CPA exam will have 3 mandatory sections (Accounting, Auditing, Tax & Technology) and 3 optional sections (Tax Compliance & Planning, Business Reporting & Analysis, Information Systems & Controls). Each candidate will take the 3 mandatory sections plus 1 of the optional sections of their choice.
The AICPA Governing Council and the NASBA Board of Directors are moving forward with implementing the core + discipline licensure model with a goal date of January 1, 2024, so please keep this date in mind as you prepare your testing path and dates.
As always, Wiley will be here to remind you and keep you updated on the latest changes regarding the CPA Evolution so that you can focus on studying and not encounter any surprises along your journey.
Are you ready to take the CPA exam? See where you stand by taking Wiley’s Free CPA Practice Exam. It’ll help you understand the strengths you already have and where you can improve.