Couldn't Make It to PICPA’s 129th Annual Meeting? Here's What You Missed

CPAs from across Pennsylvania came together at PICPA's 129th Annual Meeting for a packed agenda of updates and celebration. Learn more about some of this year's highlights.

CPAs from across Pennsylvania came together at PICPA's 129th Annual Meeting for a packed agenda of updates, celebration, and a candid look at where our profession is headed. If you weren't able to join us, you missed one great collection of accounting professionals. Here are a few key takeaways from this year’s meeting.

The CPA Superpower: Trust

There has never been a better time to be part of the CPA profession. I truly believe that. Whether you're helping families around the kitchen table with complex financial decisions, supporting small businesses on Main Street, or bringing confidence to the capital markets, what CPAs ultimately deliver is trust. Tools and methods may change, but when we anchor on trust, the future of the profession is exciting.

Fighting for on Your Behalf

The PICPA exists to solve problems and create opportunities for CPAs. Part of that effort is building solutions our members will need tomorrow while also serving the needs that exist today. By 2029, the PICPA aims to deliver value through advocacy, thought leadership, and skills acceleration across Pennsylvania. CPA Crossings, PICPA’s online continuing education provider, brings products and solutions to the national market that position CPAs and organizations to succeed.

A significant portion of the annual meeting focused on the legislative, regulatory, and market forces shaping the profession and how the PICPA is responding. Here's a snapshot of where we’re actively engaged, what we’re watching, and where we’ve recently delivered.

Actively Engaged

• False Claims Act (House Bill 1697): This bill would make Pennsylvania the first state in the nation to extend its False Claims Act to tax preparation. If enacted, CPAs could face personal liability when a client misrepresents information on a return. The PICPA is leading a coalition of more than 24 organizations to oppose the bill. We are in contact with the governor's office and need your support. Visit PICPA’s Professional Issues Tracker and ask your state senator to add a tax exclusion.
• AICPA Independence Standards: The PICPA submitted a comment letter on proposed independence rules for firms with private equity and other alternative ownership structures.
• PCAOB Strategy Input: We're pushing back on misleading inspection-result framing and advocating for due process for small firms.
• State Tax Blueprint: A member-driven effort is identifying the tax issues that are hitting Pennsylvania firms hardest. The blueprint’s release is being timed to coincide with the governor's 2027 budget address.

Watching Closely

• AI & the Profession: We're tracking how AI-driven consolidation, new tools, and changing audit standards are reshaping firms of every size.
• SEC Reporting Changes: The SEC is considering making quarterly financial reporting optional. The PICPA is gathering member perspectives on the impact this might have on your practice.
• Competency & Upskilling: A national AICPA/NASBA task force is expected to deliver recommendations by year-end on how CPAs maintain competency as the profession evolves.

Wins Delivered

• Act 55: The Pennsylvania Department of Education adopted PICPA's proposed language change to protect practitioners from unsupportable reporting requirements.
• CPA Talent Pipeline: College accounting enrollments, CPA Exam pass rates, and exam takers are all up. These are all signs that the pipeline efforts led by state societies are starting to pay off.

A Landmark Achievement: Act 27 of 2025

One of the annual meeting's proudest moments was the celebration of Act 27 of 2025 – a bipartisan legislative win that modernizes Pennsylvania's CPA licensure requirements and enhances workforce mobility.

Since June 30, 2025, when Act 27 was signed into law, 340 candidates have been licensed on the new bachelor's degree pathway. Through this new alternative pathway, prospective CPAs may now get their credential by having a bachelor’s degree, passing the CPA Exam, and exhibiting two years of professional experience. Beforehand, the only paths entailed 150 college credit hours or a master’s degree, passing the exam, and having one year of work experience. The third pathway is a win for the profession, the pipeline, and Pennsylvania's future.

Growing and Strengthening the Pipeline

The Pennsylvania CPA Foundation shared some impressive results from all their work over the past year:

• It achieved 8,000+ student and educator engagements.
• $138,000 in scholarships were awarded to college and high school students as well as CPA Exam takers.
• They set up 45 student ambassadors across 40 colleges.
• 1,000+ high school students were reached through career days.
• 84 high school students earned college credit through dual enrollment.
• Made 2,000+ high school and college student connections.

The pipeline is getting stronger thanks to PICPA members, donors, and partners who make this work possible.

Events, Connections, and Resources

This was a banner year for engagement, with 24.6% growth in member involvement through alliances and committees. Highlights included the IMPACT Summit, which brought forward-looking insights, leadership development, and networking to early career CPAs, and the ever-popular Volleyball Tournament.

CPA Crossings delivered over 50,000 courses to CPAs in more than 40 states and Canadian provinces, taught by expert instructors across 18 NASBA-approved fields of study. And there's more on the horizon! CPAx Academy is coming soon, which will bring personalized, role-based learning with simplified firm management tools, all in one unified platform.

In 2025, the PICPA invested in XcelLabs with the long-range goal to help members thrive in an AI-driven profession. The partnership introduced Navi, an AI-powered performance coach that analyzes real client conversations and delivers personalized feedback. Navi helps accountants communicate better, lead more effectively, and turn everyday interactions into growth opportunities.

More on the Way!

Your voice matters! Be sure to join us for PICPA’s first-ever Advocacy Day on Sept. 16, 2026, in Harrisburg. Decisions made in the state capital directly impact your clients, your firm, and the future of the profession. Join fellow members to hear from policymakers, understand PICPA's legislative priorities, and build your advocacy skills.

Even as I share what a great and informative few days we had at this year’s Annual Meeting, we’re already looking forward to next year. The 130th PICPA Annual Meeting will be held June 7–9 at The Hotel Hershey. Mark your calendars! New next year, you'll be able to choose from in-person conferences focused on Employee Benefit Plans or Not-for-Profit & Government Accounting. More ways to learn, more ways to connect, more value than ever.

The 129th Annual Meeting made one thing clear: the CPA profession is evolving fast. Be confident that the PICPA is working every day to make sure Pennsylvania CPAs are ready. Stay connected, get involved, and make your voice heard.

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