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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0657*
HOUSE BILL 657
C3 6lr3075
By: Delegates Stonko, Chang, and Hinebaugh
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
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
(d) The applicant shall meet the educational requirements under § 2 –303 of this 19
subtitle. 20
(e) Except as ot herwise provided in this subtitle, the applicant shall pass an 21
examination given by the Board under this subtitle. 22
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(f) The applicant for an initial license shall complete practical work experience 1
that is approved by the Board and that: 2
(1) is obtained over a period of: 3
(i) not more than [3] 6 years; and 4
(ii) [1. not less than 6 months if the applicant applies before 5
October 1, 2000; or 6
2.] not less than 1 year [if the applicant applies on or after 7
October 1, 2000]; 8
(2) includes providing any type of service or advice involving the use of 9
accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills; 10
(3) is performed under the direction of: 11
(i) a licensed certified public accountant; or 12
(ii) an appropriately qualified professional as determined by the 13
Board; 14
(4) is obtained through employment in government, industry, academia, or 15
public practice; and 16
(5) amounts to: 17
(i) [1,000 hours if the applicant applies before October 1, 2000; or 18
(ii)] 2,000 hours if the applicant [applies on or after October 1, 2000.] 19
SEEKS TO QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE UNDER § 2–303(A)(2)(I) OR (II) OF THIS 20
SUBTITLE; OR 21
(II) 4,000 HOURS IF THE APPLICA NT SEEKS TO QUALIFY FOR A 22
LICENSE UNDER § 2–303(A)(2)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 23
2–303. 24
(a) (1) In order to take the examination, an applicant shall [have satisfactorily 25
completed 120 semester hours or their equivalent, and ] hold a baccalaureate or higher 26
degree that meets the requirements of this section. 27
(2) In order to become licensed, in addition to the other qualifications for a 28
license set forth in this subtitle, an applicant shall have satisfactorily completed [150 29
HOUSE BILL 657 3
semester hours or their equivalent, including the attainment of a baccalaureate or higher 1
degree that meets the requirements of this section]: 2
(I) 1. A MASTER ’S DEGREE WITH A CONC ENTRATION IN 3
ACCOUNTING OR AN EQUIVALENT OF A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING; AND 4
2. NOT LESS THAN 1 YEAR OF PRACTICAL WO RK 5
EXPERIENCE AS DESCRIBED IN § 2–302(F)(5)(I) OF THIS SUBTITLE; 6
(II) 1. A BACCALAUREATE DEGR EE AND AN ADDITIONAL 30 7
SEMESTER CREDIT HOUR S WITH A CONCENTRATI ON IN ACCOUNTING OR AN 8
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; OR 11
(III) 1. A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE WITH A CONCENTRATION 12
IN ACCOUNTING OR AN EQUIVALENT OF A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING; AND 13
2. NOT LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF PRACTICAL W ORK 14
EXPERIENCE AS DESCRIBED IN § 2–302(F)(5)(II) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
(b) The applicant shall have completed for the BACCALAUREATE OR MASTER’S 16
degree REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION , a curriculum that the 17
Board considers to constitute: 18
(1) a major in accounting; or 19
(2) a substantial equivalent to a major in accounting, of which required 20
credits or courses may be taken at any 2 – or 4–year regionally accredited institution of 21
higher education. 22
(c) The degree required under this section shall be awarded by a school, colleg e, 23
university, or other institution that: 24
(1) is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of 25
Business; 26
(2) is a member of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and 27
Programs; 28
(3) is accredited by or is a constituent unit of an institution accredited by: 29
(i) the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; or 30
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(ii) the equivalent regional accrediting association for other regional 1
areas; or 2
(4) is recognized and approved by the Board. 3
(d) (1) The Board may use the services of any institution that it considers 4
appropriate to determine what constitutes a substantial equivalent to a major in accounting 5
under subsection (b)(2) of this section. 6
(2) If the Board uses an institution to determine curriculum equivalencies, 7
the Board may accept as final the determination of that institution. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10