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Modernizing CPA licensure: A major workforce shift in the profession

2/17/26

By: William R. Covino and Nancy Reimer

As tax season begins—and with practitioners already stretched thin—the Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed S.2946, An Act relative to modernizing the pathway to becoming a certified public accountant. This bill is aimed at modernizing the pathway to becoming a Certified Public Accountant.

If approved by the House, this bill would remove long‑standing, costly barriers to CPA licensure while preserving the rigorous professional standards the profession is known for. Given the well-known documented shortage of licensed CPAs in the Commonwealth, this is a significant development for firms, municipalities, and businesses who rely on timely financial reporting. Indeed, this change arrives at a critical moment.

Over the past several years, Massachusetts has watched its CPA workforce steadily decline. Firms, municipalities, and small businesses are reporting increasing hiring pressures—not because demand is falling, but because the supply of qualified talent is not keeping pace. This is more than an inconvenience; it is destabilizing. Businesses and families depend on competent accounting professionals, particularly in a year marked by major tax cuts and evolving financial regulations.

The Senate’s press release acknowledges what many practitioners already know: the traditional path to licensure—particularly the 150‑credit educational requirement—has become an outdated barrier that may be pushing otherwise qualified candidates into other fields.

The proposed bill seeks to modernize entry into the profession by allowing a more balanced combination of education and real-world experience. Specifically, the bill:

• Removes the requirement that CPA candidates earn more credit hours than a standard bachelor’s degree.

• Recognizes supervised work experience as a meaningful component of competency.

• Allows CPAs licensed in other states to practice in Massachusetts, provided they meet certain standards and pass the Uniform CPA Examination.

The President and CEO of MassCPAs has already publicly endorsed the bill as supporting the Commonwealth’s long-term economic competitiveness.

The bill will not solve the talent shortage overnight. But it represents a meaningful step toward removing structural barriers that have discouraged capable candidates from entering the profession. By aligning licensure requirements with modern workforce realities, Massachusetts is signally a renewed commitment to growing—and retaining—its future accounting profession.

For more information on this topic, please contact William R. Covino at william.covino@fmglaw.com, Nancy Reimer at nancy.reimer@fmglaw.com or your local FMG attorney.

Information conveyed herein should not be construed as legal advice or represent any specific or binding policy or procedure of any organization. Information provided is for educational purposes only. These materials are written in a general format and not intended to be advice applicable to any specific circumstance. Legal opinions may vary when based on subtle factual distinctions. All rights reserved. No part of this presentation may be reproduced, published or posted without the written permission of Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP.