25 nebraska society of cpas W W W . N E S C P A . O R G interested in technology, there has never been a better time to pursue CPA. Universities are changing their curricula to incorporate emerging topics. In another fall 2021 pulse survey, the AICPA and NASBA asked accounting faculty about their plans relative to CPA Evolution. Here’s what they heard: • 88% of respondents indicated their accounting program will be making curriculum changes based on CPA Evolution, and • 81% said they expect to make curricular changes by fall 2022. To inform hiring decisions, firms may want to reach out to the universities they recruit from to determine what, if any, curriculum changes are being made. Practitioners may also consider aiding the academic community in the transition, as nearly half of the faculty that won’t be making curriculum changes cited challenges in finding qualified personnel to teach emerging topics. Subject matter experts at your f irm might consider serving as guest lecturers or adjunct professors to ensure the next generation of CPAs has the skills and competencies they need to be successful. Many accounting program graduates will have different skillsets. As academic programs evolve, students are expected to pursue learning tracks aligned with their interests. In a 2020 AICPANASBA survey of students, • 54% of respondents indicated they plan to pursue the Business Analysis and Reporting discipline, • 24% plan to pursue Information Systems and Controls, and • 22% plan to take Tax Compliance and Planning. To pass these disciplines, students will need more knowledge and skills in the related subject matter, and firms will be the beneficiaries. In fact, in an April 2021 AICPA-NASBA survey of firm hiring directors, 83% of respondents from firms with 11 or more personnel indicated that if accounting programs were aligned with CPA Evolution, their hiring of new graduates from accounting programs would likely increase and/or accounting program graduates would be considered more valuable than they are today. Firm leaders may want to engage with the firm’s HR team to consider how CPA Evolution will impact their approach to talent acquisition moving forward. Next Steps The AICPA is currently conducting a practice analysis3 to determine the knowledge and skills required of newly licensed CPAs that should be assessed in the CPA Evolution-aligned exam. An associated CPA Exam Blueprint, which will detail content eligible for testing in each of the Core and Discipline sections, is expected to be issued for public comment in mid-2022 and published in final form in early 2023, with the launch of the new CPA Exam planned for January 2024. AsCPAEvolution continues toprogress, please check back for updates at EvolutionofCPA.org. If you have any questions, please reach out to the AICPA and NASBA at Feedback@EvolutionofCPA.org. CarlMayes, CPA is senior director of audit and accounting quality at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. You may contact him at carl.mayes@aicpa-cima.com. 1NASBA & AICPA, “CPA Evolution,” https://evolutionofcpa.org. 2AICPA, “This Way to CPA,” https://www.thiswaytocpa.com/why-cpa. 3AICPA, “Practice Analysis: Developing a CPA Evolution-aligned CPA Exam,” https://www.aicpa.org/resources/toolkit/cpa-exam-practice-analysis. To inform hiring decisions, firms may want to reach out to the universities they recruit from to determine what, if any, curriculum changes are being made.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU2Mjk4Mw==