Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from many of you about our additional pathway to CPA licensure legislation, House Bill 4893. First, THANK YOU for the thoughtful questions, conversations and engagement. It’s energizing to see how deeply our members care about modernizing Michigan’s CPA licensure framework and positioning our profession for the future.
As many of you may recall from the article we shared with members a few months ago, HB 4893 creates a new, nationally aligned pathway to CPA licensure. The bill allows candidates to qualify with a bachelor’s degree that includes substantial accounting and business coursework, two years of qualifying professional experience, and successful passage of the Uniform CPA Exam. Importantly, this pathway does not replace Michigan’s existing 150-hour route but instead adds another option for CPA candidates to choose from.
So where does the bill stand today?
After introduction in the House last fall and testimony from MICPA and member leaders, HB 4893 passed the Michigan House with strong bipartisan support. That was an exciting milestone and a great example of what can happen when our profession speaks with a unified voice.
The bill then moved to the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee, where it is currently awaiting a hearing.
I want to be candid with you. Like many of you, we’re eager to see this bill continue moving forward. The current delay is not related to the merits of the legislation itself. Instead, it reflects the broader political gridlock currently affecting the legislature and slowing the movement of many bills in Lansing.
While we would certainly like to see quicker progress, our advocacy work continues. We continue to be in regular communication with lawmakers and legislative leadership to ensure HB 4893 remains a priority and is positioned to move forward when the Senate schedule allows.
At this moment, we are not asking members to take action, but that could change. If and when your voices can make the greatest impact, we will absolutely let you know.
In the meantime, if you have questions about the bill or simply want to talk through how it could impact the profession, I encourage you to reach out to me directly at bdoyle@micpa.org or 248.267.3700. I always enjoy hearing from you.
If you’d like to support our broader advocacy efforts- including work like HB 4893- you can also contribute to the MICPA Political Action Committee (PAC). PAC support helps ensure the CPA profession has a strong, respected voice in Lansing as we advocate for policies that strengthen the pipeline and modernize Michigan’s regulatory framework.
Thank you for your continued engagement, support and commitment to the future of the profession. We’ll keep you updated as HB 4893 progresses and will share the next steps as soon as we have them.
All the best,
Bob