PRIA Logo™
MarylandHB 06432026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Certified Public Accountants - Licensure - Qualifications

Sponsored By: Kriselda Valderrama (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Business Occupations and ProfessionsAccountantsApplicants and ApplicationsLicenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New license paths and hours for CPAs

Beginning October 1, 2026, you must have a bachelor’s degree or higher to sit for the Maryland CPA exam. For licensure, you can choose: a master’s with 1 year of work, or a bachelor’s plus 30 credits with 1 year, or a bachelor’s with 2 years of work. Paths with a master’s or bachelor’s plus 30 require 2,000 hours; the bachelor’s‑only path requires 4,000 hours. Experience must cover accounting, attest, advisory, finance, tax, or consulting work and be done under a licensed CPA or Board‑approved professional. You must complete the experience over at least 1 year and no more than 6 years, in government, industry, academia, or public practice.

Which schools and majors now qualify

Beginning October 1, 2026, your CPA degree must be an accounting major or clearly the same as one, as the Board decides. The degree must come from a school with AACSB or ACBSP membership, regional accreditation, or get Board approval. You can take required courses at any 2‑ or 4‑year regionally accredited school the Board accepts. The Board can use an outside evaluator to judge if a program equals an accounting major and accept that decision as final.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kriselda Valderrama

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Lily Qi

    Democratic • House

  • William J. Wivell

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 161 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 33 • No: 0 • Other: 14

House vote • 3/5/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 128 • No: 0 • Other: 11

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 174

    4/28/2026

  2. Returned Passed

    4/10/2026House

  3. Third Reading Passed (33-0)

    4/9/2026Senate

  4. Second Reading Passed

    4/8/2026Senate

  5. Favorable Adopted

    4/8/2026Senate

  6. Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

    4/8/2026Senate

  7. Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

    3/6/2026Senate

  8. Third Reading Passed (128-0)

    3/5/2026House

  9. Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

    3/4/2026House

  10. Favorable Report by Economic Matters

    3/3/2026House

  11. Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/3/2026House

  12. First Reading Economic Matters

    1/30/2026House

Bill Text

  • Third Reading

    3/4/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/30/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation