AICPA backs bill that would add accounting to STEM program

A bipartisan House of Representatives bill that would add accounting to the STEM education program has strong support from the AICPA.

The Accounting STEM Pursuit Act of 2025, introduced Monday by Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., and Haley Stevens, D-Mich., would allow STEM’s K-12 grant funding to be used for accounting education, with a focus on improving access for underrepresented students.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs. Accounting would be represented in the technology portion.

“For years, STEM curriculum has been a driving force in our education system, providing students with the education needed to develop critical skills that will allow them to compete in a global economy. Accounting has always embodied the values of STEM education, and we believe now is the time to recognize accounting as a STEM curriculum,” Sue Coffey, CPA, CGMA, AICPA & CIMA CEO–Public Accounting, said in a news release. “STEM recognition for accounting will help expose students from all backgrounds to the profession, strengthen the accounting pipeline, and provide increased opportunities for students in various communities. We thank Representatives Kim and Stevens for their leadership and dedication on this issue and urge members of Congress to support this legislation.”

According to the AICPA release, STEM recognition for accounting would affirm that the profession is qualified to assess the technological world that businesses are in today and help grow the accounting pipeline by exposing a greater cross-section of students to potential careers in the profession.

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Bryan Strickland at Bryan.Strickland@aicpa-cima.com.