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CAMPUS TO CLIENTS
Integrating technology into
accounting curriculum as
CPA Exam evolves
Editor: Employers continue to emphasize a Accreditation requirements
Annette Nellen, Esq., CPA, CGMA need for accounting graduates with an and CPA Evolution
expert-level ability to analyze and inter- In 2013, the Association to Advance
Authors: pret large amounts of data using current Collegiate Schools of Business
Erin Nickell, CPA, Ph.D. and emerging technologies. With the (AACSB) started requiring all sepa-
Valrie Chambers, CPA, Ph.D. automation of many more menial tasks, rately accredited accounting programs
such as rolling over prior years’ files and to incorporate information technology
importing financial information, new tax into their curriculum. Then, in 2018,
practitioners are now asked to hit the the AACSB upped the ante by adding
ground running — completing a greater a requirement that both faculty and
variety of more complex returns than students master current technology and
previous generations. learn emerging technologies and that
Current technologies can also be used technology be incorporated across the
in new ways. For example, recent gradu- entire accounting curriculum (see the
ates might use visualization software AACSB’s 2018 Standards for Account-
Accounting education to sort prior tax returns and explore ing Accreditation, Standard A5, p. 21).
The CPA Evolution Initiative — a
how proposed tax policies might affect
programs must taxpayers with different filing statuses joint effort of the National Associa-
evolve to incorporate or from different states. Technology is tion of State Boards of Accountancy
technology ubiquitous in their job, and employers (NASBA) and the AICPA — recently
expect near-immediate technologi-
released planned updates to the CPA
requirements in cal proficiency. licensure model, which will roll out
To meet these expectations, a few
alignment with the professional accounting organiza- in 2024. The “evolved” CPA Exam
is intended to reflect the realities of
revised CPA Exam tions took action by implementing practice today and involves a “core +
and the New Model new requirements and rolling out new discipline” approach to licensure, offer-
for Licensure. programs, all of which serve to reiterate ing candidates an opportunity to elect
a specialization (see the AICPA’s 2021
the message that accounting curriculum
must incorporate technology — not just New Model for Licensure).
some of it, but all of it. Under the new model, three parts
This column considers these chal- of the Exam will cover core concepts
lenges and proposes strategies to related to accounting and data analytics
comprehensively integrate technology (ACCT), audit and accounting infor-
into the curriculum in a way that simul- mation systems (AUDIT), and taxation PHOTO BY NANCY BARR-RAPER/ISTOCK
taneously meets employer demands and (TAX). A fourth, discipline-specific
academic accreditation requirements section will cover material related to
and aligns with the structure of the new the candidate’s chosen specialization.
CPA Exam. Candidates may choose one of three
50 February 2022 The Tax Adviser
