COCPA Responds to Proposed Changes to the Uniform Accountancy Act

On December 10, 2024, COCPA President and CEO Alicia Gelinas, CPA submitted a letter to the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) in response to the Exposure Draft of the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) issued earlier this fall.

The UAA serves as a foundational model for creating consistency in regulating the accounting profession across the United States, and the proposed updates could have far-reaching implications for licensure standards and CPA practice mobility.

Based on thorough discussion with members and the COCPA Board of Directors, Alicia Gelinas emphasized in the letter:

• Support for Alternative Pathways: COCPA supports the exploration of alternative licensure pathways, including a competency-based experience model, but highlights areas needing refinement in both the model itself and proposed language to support the pathway in the UAA.
• Concerns About Mobility: Considering current state-led legislative activity, the proposed changes do not properly protect the CPA practice privilege across state lines, which could create unnecessary barriers for professionals. The COCPA expressed concerns about the proposed introduction of a national licensee database to track mobility eligibility and instead promoted a more simplified approach with automatic mobility.
• Advocacy for State-Level Authority: COCPA underscores the importance of balancing uniformity with state autonomy to maintain public trust and effective regulation.

COCPA remains a steadfast advocate for thoughtful and practical updates that uphold the integrity of the CPA profession while addressing the urgent need for workforce development.

To read the full letter and learn more about COCPA’s recommendations, click here.

This follows COCPA's response letter in November to the AICPA and the NASBA in response to the CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway Exposure Draft released earlier this year. Read more about that here.