As the state of Mississippi faces a shortage in certified public accountants, the state’s CPA society decided to change the rules to open the doors for more people.
“For someone with a bachelor’s degree and 150 semester hours or a master’s degree, you need one year of work experience,” Dr. Blaise Sonnier, the director of the School of Accountancy at USM, said.
That experience is just to qualify for the exam.
“While students with a bachelor’s can sit for the exam, the concern of many academics is that students will not be as well prepared and will struggle to pass the exam,” said Sonnier.
Accounting senior Mariya Jaufre’ explains that she will most likely take a master’s program to prepare for the exam.
“I think that that’s more beneficial for me personally,” she said.
Jaufre’ feels that without a master’s program, she would not be equipped to take the CPA exam.
The Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants says that creating the alternate pathways to becoming a CPA will help solve the issues of the increasing demand for CPA services, a declining workforce, and “an impending wave of retirements in public accounting.”
The Alternate Pathways to Licensure Bill, HB1137, changes the qualifications to become a CPA to, “a bachelor’s degree with additional hours of education for a total of 150 or more semester hours, and one year of experience; or a master’s degree and one year of experience; or a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience.”
While a master’s degree may not be necessary for the CPA exam in Mississippi and many other states, Sonnier says, “many international CPA firms may still require a graduate degree for employment.”
He continues by saying that having a graduate degree could lead to greater opportunities for advancement and promotion over time.
Though the degree is the first part of becoming a CPA, the hours have to be approved by the CPA society and have to be worked under someone CPA certified, then they have to pass a four part exam consisting of auditing, taxation, financial reporting and business analysis.
Currently USM has a pending request for six credit hours to be added to the undergraduate accounting degree to better prepare them for the CPA exam. Though an added six hours is not equivalent to the year long master’s program, Sonnier says that it will “help provide students with gaining additional skills and knowledge to be successful on the CPA exam.”
The changes to the requirements will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
