The Pennsylvania CPA Foundation was established to meet the needs of the accounting profession, students, and educators. We'd like to share some of our incredible strides in the past 12 months.
The Pennsylvania CPA Foundation has done a lot of meaningful work and made incredible strides in the past 12 months. Everyone who has supported the Foundation’s mission to inspire future CPAs should be very proud. Your involvement and commitment are invaluable.
The Pennsylvania CPA Foundation was established to meet the changing needs of the profession, students, educators, and the talent pipeline. We emphasize forward-looking and accessible programming that has engaged with thousands of students through both virtual and in-person initiatives. During the past year, the Foundation hosted four Career Day events, reaching more than 1,400 high school students across Pennsylvania. In addition, during CPA Awareness Month last fall, PICPA members connected with more than 400 high school students in classrooms throughout Pennsylvania. At the same time, the Student Ambassador Program continues to thrive with 50 ambassadors representing 45 colleges and universities. These students help promote accounting as a career choice and highlight the value of PICPA membership for students. Our scholarship program also made a significant impact, with $138,000 awarded to 91 students and CPA candidates.
In 2025-2026, the Foundation also launched new initiatives, including Educator Roundtables and Accounting Advisory Board Roundtables, creating additional opportunities for stakeholders to exchange ideas that are important to the profession. In addition, the Foundation developed a plan to engage with college students through evening sessions held on campus and expanded its outreach by connecting with 300 undeclared majors.
Beyond these accomplishments, the Foundation was a leader among the many advocates seeking changes to Pennsylvania’s CPA licensure laws. Last June, we had great success in passing Act 27, which created a new pathway to CPA licensure. The importance of this milestone is evident in the hundreds of new CPAs who have since been licensed under the new provision that permits a bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience to become certified. Another notable step taken by the Foundation was the inclusion of college students in its formal activities. This took place during last June’s advocacy efforts in Harrisburg and again at the December board meeting in Hershey. In both settings, students offered valuable perspectives that helped guide discussion and inspired them to become more engaged in shaping the future of their profession.
CPAs will have to continue to navigate evolving industry challenges. Know that the Foundation’s staff and board of directors – led in 2026-2027 by James Tomak – remain steadfast in our commitment to securing a strong future for Pennsylvania CPAs. We are dedicated to this mission by strengthening the talent pipeline, elevating the visibility of accounting among students, and providing unwavering support to those preparing for licensure.
The Pennsylvania CPA Foundation annual report offers a comprehensive look at these achievements, providing a deeper dive into the numbers, real-life success stories, and the strategic impact the Foundation has made in Pennsylvania. Explore the full 2025-2026 report and see how we’re continuing to drive real change for the profession.
Keith B. Bittel, CPA, is assistant professor of accounting and economics in the School of Business at Westminster College and the 2025-2026 chair of the Pennsylvania CPA Foundation board. He can be reached at bittelkb@westminster.edu.
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Statements of fact and opinion are the author's responsibility alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the PICPA's officers or members. The information contained herein does not constitute accounting, legal, or professional advice. For actionable advice, you must engage or consult with a qualified professional.
