The ELE program is ending – our support for affordability in education remains strong

Note: Coffey is CEO–Public Accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Solving the profession’s talent shortage is an effort that demands ingenuity, collaboration, and perseverance. We need many hands, a commitment to new ideas, and the exercise of the informed judgment that CPAs bring to their jobs every day to determine what works and what doesn’t. Our goals in supporting the profession’s efforts have been to:

• Find solutions that can gain critical mass
• Innovate – don’t stick to business as usual
• Move fast, be guided by data, and don’t be afraid of failure

The accounting profession is seeing encouraging signs from collaborative efforts to expand the pipeline. Accounting enrollments have been rising, an additional pathway to CPA licensure is being enacted in many states, and we’re seeing a renewed commitment to cooperation among practitioners, professional bodies, and academic partners. That said, it’s more important than ever that we remain clear about our priorities and focused on programs and activities that will have the greatest impact.

In that vein, the AICPA and National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) will sunset our Experience, Learn & Earn (ELE) pilot program at the end of the fall 2025 semester. ELE was launched as a pilot program in early 2024 to provide an opportunity for CPA candidates to earn up to 30 credit hours of the 150 hours needed for licensure at a reduced cost. The program, run through Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement, received enthusiastic feedback from participants and represents the kind of innovative solutions that deserve a road test.

Market conditions have changed since the pilot began, and the program is unlikely to achieve the scale it needs to be sustainable. Many state CPA societies have collaborated with local colleges and universities to offer affordable credits for those CPA candidates who wish to pursue the 150 credit-hour path to licensure. The new pathway to licensure, based on a bachelor’s degree with additional required experience, reduces education costs, and allows accounting graduates to begin earning a full-time paycheck faster while requiring an additional year of supervised work experience. From our research, we know that affordability and early earning potential are key factors for students choosing educational paths for a career.

We’re proud of the innovative nature of the work done through ELE, and the CPA candidates, employers, and educators involved in the pilot. Some of the best practices developed for the program can still be implemented and offered to younger professionals, including those involving mentoring, tuition reimbursement, and workload flexibility. Applications for the fall semester program will be accepted through Aug. 1, and current and past students will receive additional details from Tulane soon.

Not every good idea leads to a lasting solution. We need to continue to think outside the box, take chances, and make smart assessments to ensure our work force remains vibrant and ready to fill its vital role for clients, employers, and the public interest.

— Susan S. Coffey, CPA, CGMA, is CEO–Public Accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. She leads the Association’s strategy to advance the practice of public accounting, including strengthening the talent pipeline and competencies of U.S. licensed CPAs. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Jeff Drew at Jeff.Drew@aicpa-cima.com.