The WICPA and many other state CPA societies are joining the AICPA in urging the U.S. Department of Education to recognize accounting programs as professional degree programs.
The organizations are calling on the Department of Education to explicitly include accounting programs in the regulatory definition of “professional degree programs.”
While higher education reforms were included in H.R. 1 — commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — the Department of Education only recently released proposed changes that would reclassify professional degree programs. Unfortunately, accounting is not currently listed among those programs.
“Recognizing accounting programs as professional degree programs is common sense,” said Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, the president and CEO of the AICPA. “It reflects the impact accountants make on the lives of individuals, the health of communities and the integrity of financial systems, as well as the rigorous path taken to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant.”
The definitions of professional degree programs help determine loan eligibility, which can be a critical differentiator for a student striving to complete an accounting degree program and become a CPA.
The WICPA, alongside the AICPA and other state CPA societies, will continue to advocate strongly for accounting to be recognized as a professional degree program. Learn more.