Maryland last week joined the growing band of states that have passed laws that effectively ease the educational requirements for becoming a certified public accountant. 

The tally now stands at about 39, with nearly all the remaining states actively working to follow suit, CFO Dive previously reported. The measure, which would go into effect Oct. 1 after being signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore, adds a new pathway to licensure but retains the existing 150-hour college credit model that already exists. 

The new “third pathway” that aspiring CPA candidates can take requires a bachelor’s degree plus two years of relevant professional experience and passing the exam. The existing paths that remain require 150 hours of college credit, either via a bachelor’s degree plus 30 credit hours or a master’s degree, plus one year of experience and passing the exam.  

As in many states, the initiative drew the support of many in the industry who are seeking to address a talent shortage by attracting more college students to major in accounting and enter the profession. Rebekah Olson, a CPA and CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs, shared her thoughts on the passage of the bill in an emailed response to questions from CFO Dive. 

CFO Dive: Why did the legislators pick October as the effective date?

Rebekah Olson: October 1 is the standard, default effective date for most Maryland legislation, including licensing changes. This timing provides the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy with sufficient lead time to prepare internally for implementation, including updating processes and systems to efficiently handle applications under the new pathway.

CFO Dive: What needs to happen by then? Is the MACPA working on outreach to educate people about the changes and if so are there any misunderstandings about next steps that you seek to clarify?

Rebekah Olson: We’ve actually been talking about this change for about 18 months. In Maryland, we took a thoughtful, two-step approach, starting with securing inbound mobility last session, knowing other states were moving quickly. Overall, the response has been very positive. But with any change, there’s a need for continued clarity. At MACPA, we’re actively focused on outreach, helping employers, educators, and candidates understand what’s changing, what’s not, and what it means in practice.

CFO Dive: Is there anything unusual in the Maryland bill that you think readers would want or need to know?

Rebekah Olson: There’s nothing unusual in the Maryland bill that would raise concerns for readers. In fact, one of the priorities throughout the process was clarity. In working closely with the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy, we made a deliberate effort to ensure the language is straightforward, easy to understand, and practical to implement. The goal was to avoid ambiguity for applicants, firms, and regulators alike. As a result, the bill clearly outlines the additional pathway requirements without creating unnecessary complexity or confusion.

CFO Dive: Did Maryland's bill face any opposition and if so how did supporters overcome it?

Rebekah Olson: There was no opposition.  It passed both chambers unanimously.

CFO Dive: Is there anything in particular you think CFOs and employers should know about the CPA licensing reform in Maryland and beyond?

Rebekah Olson: First, this is about modernizing CPA licensure while preserving the rigor and public trust our profession is built on. The one-size-fits-all model no longer reflects today’s professionals, this model allows for flexibility, opening up licensure to a more diverse population.

Second, it shifts more of the development journey into the workplace, creating both an opportunity and a responsibility for employers to invest in mentoring, training, and building the judgment our work requires. For CFOs, those who lean into that will be better positioned to attract and retain the next generation of CPAs.

Finally, mobility across states continues to be important. It is remarkable how much progress has already been made, but CFOs with multi-state operations should pay attention as changes are made across the country.

Keep up with CPA licensure changes by accessing CFO Dive’s tracker on the topic here.