Certified Public Accountants - Licensure - Qualifications

HB 657 amends Maryland's requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure. It increases the minimum practical work experience needed from 1,000 to 2,000 hours for most applicants (previously 1,000 hours before October 1, 2000, but now standardized at 2,000 hours for all new applicants), and adds a 4,000-hour option for specific licensure paths. The bill also updates educational pathways, requiring either a master's degree in accounting plus one year experience, a bachelor's degree plus 30 additional accounting credits plus one year experience, or a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration plus two years experience. These changes apply to individuals seeking initial CPA licensure in Maryland and take effect October 1, 2026.