Vermont just made it easier to become a CPA

Gov. Phil Scott signed a new CPA licensure bill into law on June 11, 2026. The move gives candidates another way to become a CPA, and it makes Vermont one of the last states to update its licensure rules.

The new path is straightforward. A candidate can now get licensed with:

• a bachelor’s degree in accounting

• two years of experience

• a passing CPA exam score

The old options are still there. Candidates can still use the 150-credit-hour route. They can also qualify with a post-baccalaureate degree focused on accounting, one year of experience, and a passing CPA exam score.

But the new path removes a major choke point. For years, the extra education requirement has been one of accounting’s biggest friction points. It added time, cost, and hassle. For a lot of people, it made the profession feel like a locked restaurant door with the lights on inside.

Vermont’s law also protects practice mobility. That means CPAs from other states can serve Vermont clients without jumping through a bunch of Vermont-only hoops.

Sadie Fischesser, executive director of the Vermont Society of CPAs, told CFO Dive the change is designed to be quick and competitive. She said it avoids adding too many state-specific requirements.

That is the point.

Accounting has a talent problem. And over the last few years, the profession has been trying to make the path less painful. More than 40 states have now passed similar licensure changes.

Vermont’s move is small on paper. But it sends a clear signal.

The profession is done pretending the old ladder works for everyone.