Virginia Rewrites Education Rules to Ease Path to CPA Credential

Virginia became the second state to revise its licensing requirements for accountants, offering a faster path to the CPA credential and curbing education expenses for candidates.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Monday signed into law a pair of bills, HB 2042 and SB 1042, that allow college graduates to qualify for the certified public accountant license with a bachelor’s degree and two years of work experience. The new qualifications take effect in 2026.

Virginia follows Ohio in relaxing CPA licensing requirements, with Utah poised to join them. Ohio in January adopted reforms meant to reduce barriers to qualifying for ...