CPA

AB-298: California CPA Exam Education Changes

4 min read
Government building

Imagine you are just getting off work at your new accounting role and your coworkers are going out to relax and unwind. Instead of going out with your coworkers, you may be going home to begin a long night of studying to pass all four parts of the CPA Exam. However, this does not need to be your reality! If you plan on taking the CPA Exam in California, the bill AB-298 may make your exam timeline less strenuous.  While this bill was enacted in 2022, the California Board of Accountancy recently added additional language to eliminate confusion when it was initially passed. 

What is AB-298?

This bill allows candidates in California to sit for the CPA Exam 180 days (6 months) prior to completing their education requirements if you are enrolled in a degree-granting university, college, or other institution of learning. Within 240 days (8 months) of applying for the license, you must provide the California Board of Accountancy with satisfactory evidence that you have completed the educational requirements. Failure to comply may result in the loss of any credit received for passage of any part of the CPA Exam before the requirement was met.

Does AB-298 affect the current CPA Exam education requirements in California?

Prior to AB-298, CPA candidates had to have their bachelor's degree with a minimum of 120 semester hours, including 24 semester hours in both business and accounting subjects before applying to sit for the CPA Exam. With AB-298 in place, you can get a jump start on taking the CPA Exam as long you are within six months of graduation. 

Take a closer look: Learn about the California CPA Requirements
 

What is the timing of AB-298?

AB-298 was first introduced on January 25, 2021 and was signed into law on September 24, 2021. The provisions of AB-298 went into effect January 1, 2022.

Should you begin studying for the CPA Exam prior to graduation?

Although it may seem tempting to put off taking the CPA Exam until you’ve graduated, you may find yourself with a new career that may be overwhelming (especially during busy season) or other personal situation, and you may not have as much time as you planned to study for the exam. Becker’s best advice is to take the CPA Exam as soon as possible, to get it out of the way and have one less thing to worry about.

What next steps should California CPA Exam candidates take?
  1. Check to ensure that you will meet the set of education requirements upon graduation, as mentioned in above.
  2. Refer to the California Board of Accountancy website to apply to take the CPA Exam. 

We hope that eligible CPA candidates in California can take advantage of this update and pass their CPA Exam earlier in their careers. However, no matter when you take the CPA Exam, Becker is here to help prepare you to pass.

Get a 14-day free trial to Becker's leading CPA Exam Review

Ready to start studying for the CPA Exam? Becker has helped over 1 million CPAs pass the exam and earn their license! With our CPA Exam review course, you'll have access to over 8,000 practice questions, a team of expert instructors, and unlimited academic support. Try it for 14 days with our free trial and see how we can get you Exam Day Readysm!

 

Sources:

 

 

Try Becker's CPA Exam Review FREE for 14 days
FacebookLinkedinXEmail

About the author

Lauren Chin has almost twenty years of experience in accounting, having worked in audit and learning & development, and having earned her Certified Public Accountant license from the state of California.  After earning her bachelor’s degree in business administration and legal studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Lauren started her career in audit at a Big 4 firm, working on both public and private engagements across different industries.  After 7 years in audit, she transitioned within the firm to the learning and development group, where she began working on the technical audit and accounting training courses for all levels of accountants. Lauren started at Becker in May 2021.   

Featured

All you need to know about CPA Exam scores
All you need to know about CPA Exam scores
Read More
How to choose your CPA Exam discipline section
How to choose your CPA Exam discipline section
Read More
How to Request CPA Exam Accommodations
How to Request CPA Exam Accommodations
Read More

Now Leaving Becker.com

You are leaving the Becker.com website. Once you click “continue,” you will be brought to a third-party website. Please be aware, the privacy policy may differ on the third-party website. Adtalem Global Education is not responsible for the security, contents and accuracy of any information provided on the third-party website. Note that the website may still be a third-party website even the format is similar to the Becker.com website.

Continue