FAQs – New Certification Program

The New Certification Program is expected to be available no earlier than early 2027.

Currently, the New Certification Program is expected to include four modules with four post-module assessments:

1. Fundamentals
2. Public Trust
3. Application and Integration
4. Professional Readiness

Candidates may be required to complete a knowledge assessment before entering the program. Assessments may include objective style questions, short cases, and comprehensive cases. Candidates will also be required to complete the necessary practical experience requirements. We have outlined more details in our blog posting here.

The New Certification Program is expected to include a three-day summative examination to test the competencies of candidates. More information will be forthcoming on the timing and structure of the parts of this examination.

The current certification program for CPAs will continue to be offered until the New Certification Program is available. There will be a transition period to offer the CFE beyond 2027 to allow candidates close to completion to finish under the current program. There will also be ways to transition progress in the current program to the New Certification Program. More details will be available closer to the program start date.

CPA is encouraging all candidates to continue in their current learning pathway. Candidates will be supported through transition plans and/or exemptions based on modules and/or exams successfully completed.

Yes. The New Certification Program will continue to have practical experience requirements that must be met prior to program completion. The practical experience requirement is expected to be a period of 24 months, net of leave. The experience requirements will require 8 months at a foundational level and 16 months of professional experience with the proficiency increasing in line with the competency map.

Yes, there will be the option to complete the educational and practical experience requirements for public accounting licensure as part of the New Certification Program. The educational requirements will be embedded into the Public Trust module and assessment as additional optional components. For those who are not able to complete the educational requirements as part of the New Certification Program, the Post-Designation Public Accounting (PDPA) program will continue to be available as part of the New Certification Program.

CPA will post information on the New Certification Program on their CPA Leads the Way site as it becomes available. You can download the new Competency Map 2.0 on this site as well.