CPAs, licensing, and the cost-benefit of the 150-Hour Rule with Dr. Edward Timmons of West Virginia University

About this Episode

Over the past several years, the debate around the 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure has centered on the need to streamline the accounting talent pipeline. But behind that discussion lies a broader, more ideological narrative—one that has been building over the past two decades—about the role of occupational licensing in general, and the CPA license in particular.

In this episode of the FEI Weekly Podcast, we speak with Dr. Edward Timmons, Associate Professor of Economics and Founding Director of the Knee Regulatory Research Center at West Virginia University. As you’ll hear, Dr. Timmons offers a unique perspective on the CPA licensure debate and breaks down the costs, consequences, and possible alternatives to the 150-hour rule—along with what reforms could mean for the future of accounting talent.