News

Pathways to CPA Licensure – Virginia Board of Accountancy

Join Virginia Board of Accountancy Chair Nadia Rogers and Manager of Licensing and Exams Nicholas Tazza for a webinar Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. ET on the expanded pathways to CPA licensure coming Jan. 1, 2026. Facilitated by Executive Director Nancy Glynn, the webinar will describe the changes, followed by time for Q&A. Please submit any general questions you have when you register, or bring them along to add to the chat during the webinar. Please note: We cannot answer any questions regarding individual situations during this seminar.

New legislation signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin will widen the current pathways to CPA licensure effective Jan. 1, 2026. Throughout the remainder of 2025, the VBOA is working to update policies and procedures, including documentation requirements, to support the change.

In general, to become a licensed CPA in Virginia, you will still need to meet the 3 E’s: education, exam and experience. However, beginning in 2026, CPA candidates can choose one of three pathways to licensure in Virginia, each combining education and experience differently.

All applicants must still pass the CPA Exam, receive a bachelor’s or higher degree and complete an accounting concentration or equivalent as defined by the board. The new legislation has removed the total semester credit hour requirements historically associated with earning a Bachelor’s degree (120 hours) or a Master’s degree (30 hours).

Virginia’s Pathways to CPA Licensure (effective Jan. 1, 2026)

We will update the website with more details as they become available.

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded the rules for how 529 education savings accounts can be used to include costs associated with CPA licensing such as exam fees and continuing professional education courses.

These expanded rules apply to funds withdrawn after July 4, 2025.

If you’re a CPA exam candidate, they can be used tax free for testing fees, tutoring, online courses and application fees associated with the CPA exam.

If you’re an active CPA, you can use 529 funds tax free for continuing professional education course fees.

Find more information at invest529.com.

The latest issue of Accrued Interest is now available. Inside you will find:

• A letter from Nadia A. Rogers, CPA, the VBOA’s new chair
• The 9th edition of the UAA, out now
• Highlights from the board meeting held at Virginia State University

Accrued Interest is published twice yearly in the winter and summer and is one of our primary sources for communicating to accounting professionals including individual licensees, firms and CPA exam candidates.

Share any questions or content ideas with Kelli Yoder, the Virginia Board of Accountancy communications coordinator: kelli.yoder@boa.virginia.gov or (804) 367-1586.

You can find all of the VBOA’s previous newsletters here >>.

The 2025 VBOA CPA license renewal season ended June 30.

If you missed the deadline, your license is now expired. To reinstate an individual license, you must demonstrate proof of 120 CPE hours and pay the $350 reinstatement fee. When your license is expired, you may not use the CPA title or provide attest or compilation services until your license has been reinstated and is shown as “Active” on the VBOA Licensee Search.

Please contact us by email at boa@boa.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 367-8505 with any questions regarding renewals.

The previous version of the VBOA Education Handbook, which provides the education requirements for taking the CPA exam and licensure, expired on June 30, 2025. As of July 1, candidates need to follow the latest version of the Education Handbook. The latest version went into effect July 1, 2023, and provides the new education requirements that are the sole requirements accepted as of July 1, 2025.

You can find a chart outlining the changes that took effect with the new version of the handbook on page 7 of the Summer 2023 newsletter.

VBOA has recently been made aware of a phishing scam targeting Virginia CPAs. The phishing scam presents a sense of urgency by demanding that the recipient take immediate action to prevent a disruption to their license status by clicking a hyperlink. Please be aware that this is a phishing scam and is not from the Board of Accountancy. DO NOT CLICK on the link. Your license information is handled through our secure portal.

If you are ever concerned about the legitimacy of a communication from the board, please contact us at 804-367-8505 or boa@boa.virginia.gov.

The latest issue of Accrued Interest is now available. Inside you will find:

• In Memoriam: William R. Brown, CPA, MBA
• Guy Davis, CPA, joins VBOA
• Highlights from the board meeting held at Virginia Tech

Accrued Interest is published twice yearly in the winter and summer and is one of our primary sources for communicating to accounting professionals including individual licensees, firms and CPA exam candidates.

Share any questions or content ideas with Kelli Yoder, the Virginia Board of Accountancy communications coordinator: kelli.yoder@boa.virginia.gov or (804) 367-1586.

You can find all of the VBOA’s previous newsletters here >>.

CPAs can begin meeting the annual ethics CPE requirement as of Feb. 1, 2025. VBOA-approved ethics courses can be found here:

At its Dec. 5 meeting, the Virginia Board of Accountancy approved a letter written in response to the two exposure drafts issued this year by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA):

• The Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) Exposure Draft.
• The CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway Exposure Draft.

You can download and read the letter from the board here.