State Updates
Vermont H.588 Would Add a 120-Credit CPA Pathway, Awaiting the Governor
Vermont H.588 passed the House and Senate on May 19, 2026 and was delivered to Governor Phil Scott on June 2. The bill would let candidates earn a CPA license with a bachelor's degree and two years of experience. It awaits the governor's action as of June 7, 2026.
Published June 7, 20264 min readVerified as of June 7, 2026
What Happened
Vermont's H.588 passed the House and Senate on May 19, 2026 and was delivered to Governor Phil Scott on June 2. As of June 7, 2026, it is awaiting his action. The bill eases Vermont's education requirement for CPA licensure by letting candidates substitute a second year of work experience for the extra coursework that the 150-hour rule requires. Sadie Fischesser, Executive Director of the Vermont Society of CPAs, testified in support during committee review, and the society backed the bill as a workforce measure.
What the Bill Would Require
H.588 would let a candidate qualify with a bachelor's degree (120 credits), two years of supervised experience, and a passing score on the Uniform CPA Exam. This is the "bachelor's plus two" model that the AICPA and NASBA built into the Uniform Accountancy Act in 2025 and that most states adopting new pathways have used. The existing 150-hour route would remain available for candidates who prefer to meet the education requirement with additional coursework or a graduate degree.
How the Pathways Would Compare
The decision would turn on how a candidate spends the year that separates the two routes. The 150-hour path pairs more education with one year of supervised experience. The 120-credit path pairs a standard bachelor's degree with two years of experience. Vermont requires 42 semester hours in accounting, auditing, and related subjects for licensure, which is on the higher end nationally, and that coursework expectation would still apply to candidates using either route.
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What Would Not Change
Vermont already lets candidates sit for the exam with 120 credits, so H.588 affects the licensure side rather than exam eligibility. The initial license fee would stay at $100, renewal at $220 every two years, and the CPE requirement at 80 hours per two-year period. Vermont also does not require a Social Security number to apply, a policy that draws international candidates. Because the bill is not yet law, the effective date is not set, and candidates should confirm it with the Vermont Board of Public Accountancy once the governor acts.
Where Vermont Fits Nationally
Vermont is one of three states, along with Louisiana and Missouri, that pushed CPA pathway bills to the governor's desk in late May and early June 2026. As of June 2026, roughly 43 states have enacted a 120-credit pathway or revised their certification rules, according to the Minnesota Society of CPAs tracker. Vermont's bachelor's-plus-two-years design matches the approach used across New England and most of the country, which keeps the experience standard consistent for candidates who move between states early in their careers. Our 120-credit pathway tracker and interactive pathway map show the full state-by-state status.
What Vermont Candidates Should Do
Candidates should treat the new route as likely but not final until the governor signs. Those finishing a bachelor's degree can plan around the 120-credit option, which would trade a fifth year of school for a second year of supervised work. The Vermont Board of Public Accountancy handles licensure and can answer questions at (802) 828-2373 or sec.bpr.sos@vermont.gov. We track the bill on our Vermont CPA requirements page, and the LIFTS assessment helps match a review course to how you study.
Sources
- 1.Vermont Legislature — H.588 Bill Status (2026)(accessed Jun 7, 2026)
- 2.Office of Governor Phil Scott — Action on Legislation (2026 Session)(accessed Jun 7, 2026)
- 3.CFO Dive — 3 More States Pass CPA Pathways Legislation(accessed Jun 7, 2026)
- 4.MNCPA — Broadening Pathways to CPA Licensure (National Tracker)(accessed Jun 7, 2026)
- 5.Vermont Board of Public Accountancy(accessed Jun 7, 2026)
Brennan Kolar
Founder, Atlas CPA Index
Brennan Kolar is the founder of Atlas CPA Index, an independent CPA review comparison platform covering all 55 U.S. jurisdictions. With over 10 years of experience with CPA review, he built Atlas to help candidates find the right review course based on how they actually learn, not which provider has the biggest ad budget.
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