CPA licensure has quietly become one of the most consequential talent issues facing CFOs, with ripple effects across hiring, audit readiness, internal controls and long-term succession planning.
What was once viewed as a professional gatekeeping debate has evolved into a strategic workforce question as states experiment with alternative pathways, governing bodies clash over standards and companies confront a shrinking pool of both skilled and credentialed accountants.
In 2025, attempted solutions to this problem were enacted. New York approved a new CPA pathway in an unprecedented move, Illinois reopened its requirements and roughly 20 states moved to introduce or formalize alternative pathways that allow candidates to pursue licensure with 120 credit hours paired with additional experience.
National accounting groups sent mixed signals about whether the 150-hour rule is a much-needed change to address the labor shortage or a standard-lowering solution that will impact CPA quality. At the same time, when data shows fewer than half of public company accounting staff hold CPA licenses, early career professionals and CFOs alike are questioning whether the credential is worth the cost. Private equity firms, too, have become increasingly vocal about licensure constraints as a business risk.
For CFOs planning for 2026, decisions around where to hire, how to structure accounting teams, what credentials to prioritize and how to engage with regulators will shape audit quality, finance transformation efforts and leadership pipelines for years to come. The stories below break down what is changing, what is not and what finance leaders should be paying attention to now.
