ABSTRACT:
In this paper we reflect on two streams of research on CPA examination candidacy and accounting enrollments that include studies by Allen and Woodland (2006), Gramling and Rosman (2009), and Allen and Woodland (2012). In our response to the more recent Allen and Woodland (2012) article, we observe that the literature is split on causes for declines in accounting enrollments and CPA exam candidacy. The reversal of both of these declines in a relatively short period provides further evidence to question whether the 150-hour education requirement was actually the cause of decreases in accounting enrollments and CPA exam candidacy.
With the adoption of 150-hour requirement in virtually all jurisdictions, we recommend that research refocus the questions to address how to structure the additional education to maximize the benefits of the increased education to the public, academe, students, and the profession. The continuing need for research into the content and the implications of the 150-hour requirement for members of the CPA profession is discussed and we call for additional research in a number of areas, including a concerted examination of the effects of changing delivery of accounting education on performance on the CPA exam and in practice.
