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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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*hb0643*
HOUSE BILL 643
C3 6lr1522
CF SB 34
By: Delegates Valderrama, Qi, and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 23, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Certified Public Accountants – Licensure – Qualifications 2
FOR the purpose of altering certain educational and experiential qualifications for a license 3
to practice certified public accountancy; and generally relating to licensure 4
qualifications for certified public accountants. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 7
Section 2–302 and 2–303 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 13
2–302. 14
(a) To qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the 15
requirements of this section. 16
(b) The applicant shall be of good character and reputation. 17
(c) The applicant shall be at least 18 years old. 18
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(d) The applicant shall meet the educational requirements under § 2 –303 of this 1
subtitle. 2
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the applicant shall pass an 3
examination given by the Board under this subtitle. 4
(f) The applicant for an initial license shall complete practical work experience 5
that is approved by the Board and that: 6
(1) is obtained over a period of: 7
(i) not more than [3] 6 years; and 8
(ii) [1. not less than 6 months if the applicant applies before 9
October 1, 2000; or 10
2.] not less than 1 year [if the applicant applies on or after 11
October 1, 2000]; 12
(2) includes providing any type of service or advice involving the use of 13
accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills; 14
(3) is performed under the direction of: 15
(i) a licensed certified public accountant; or 16
(ii) an appropriately qualified professional as determined by the 17
Board; 18
(4) is obtained through employment in government, industry, academia, or 19
public practice; and 20
(5) amounts to: 21
(i) [1,000 hours if the applicant applies before October 1, 2000; or 22
(ii)] 2,000 hours if the applicant [applies on or after October 1, 2000.] 23
SEEKS TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE UNDER § 2–303(A)(2)(I) OR (II) OF THIS 24
SUBTITLE; OR 25
(II) 4,000 HOURS IF THE APPLICA NT SEEKS TO QUALIFY FOR A 26
LICENSE UNDER § 2–303(A)(2)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 27
2–303. 28
HOUSE BILL 643 3
(a) (1) In order to take the examination, an applicant shall [have satisfactorily 1
completed 120 semester hours or their equivalent, and ] hold a baccalaureate or higher 2
degree that meets the requirements of this section. 3
(2) In order to become licensed, in addition to the other qualifications for a 4
license set forth in this subtitle, an applicant shall have satisfactorily completed [150 5
semester hours or their equivalent, including the attainment of a baccalaureate or higher 6
degree that meets the requirements of this section]: 7
(I) 1. A MASTER ’S DEGREE WITH A CONC ENTRATION IN 8
ACCOUNTING OR AN EQUIVALENT OF A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING; AND 9
2. NOT LESS THAN 1 YEAR OF PRACTICAL WO RK 10
EXPERIENCE AS DESCRIBED IN § 2–302(F)(5)(I) OF THIS SUBTITLE; 11
(II) 1. A BACCALAUREATE DEGR EE AND AN ADDITIONAL 30 12
SEMESTER CREDIT HOUR S WITH A CONCENTRATI ON IN ACCOUNTING OR AN 13
EQUIVALENT OF A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING; AND 14
2. NOT LESS THAN 1 YEAR OF PRACTICAL WO RK 15
EXPERIENCE AS DESCRIBED IN § 2–302(F)(5)(I) OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR 16
(III) 1. A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE WITH A CONCENTRATION 17
IN ACCOUNTING OR AN EQUIVALENT OF A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING; AND 18
2. NOT LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF PRACTICAL W ORK 19
EXPERIENCE AS DESCRIBED IN § 2–302(F)(5)(II) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 20
(b) The applicant shall have completed for the BACCALAUREATE OR MASTER’S 21
degree REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION , a curriculum that the 22
Board considers to constitute: 23
(1) a major in accounting; or 24
(2) a substantial equivalent to a major in accounting, of which required 25
credits or courses may be taken at any 2 – or 4–year regionally accredited institution of 26
higher education. 27
(c) The degree required under this section shall be awarded by a school, college, 28
university, or other institution that: 29
(1) is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of 30
Business; 31
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(2) is a member of the Accreditation C ouncil for Business Schools and 1
Programs; 2
(3) is accredited by or is a constituent unit of an institution accredited by: 3
(i) the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; or 4
(ii) the equivalent regional accrediting association for other regional 5
areas; or 6
(4) is recognized and approved by the Board. 7
(d) (1) The Board may use the services of any institution that it considers 8
appropriate to determine what constitutes a substantial equivalent to a major in accounting 9
under subsection (b)(2) of this section. 10
(2) If the Board uses an institution to determine curriculum equivalencies, 11
the Board may accept as final the determination of that institution. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 13
October 1, 2026. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.