TXCPA, AICPA, and State CPA Societies Urge ED to Include Accounting in Professional Degrees

Published: Dec 5, 2025

TXCPA is urging the Department of Education to include accounting in its definition of professional degree programs under new federal loan rules. A joint AICPA and state society letter calls for recognizing CPA licensure as a true profession.

TXCPA is concerned by the Department of Education’s (ED) proposal to exclude accounting from its definition of “professional degree” programs under upcoming federal loan rules. CPA licensure requires extensive education, supervised experience, the completion of a rigorous examination and ongoing continuing education—standards consistent with recognized professions. We continue to work with the AICPA and state society partners to urge the ED to strongly consider stakeholder input and revise its definition to explicitly include accounting.

As follow-up to a press release issued on Nov. 24 on the proposal for defining “professional degrees,” we’ve issued a joint AICPA/State CPA Society letter that strongly urges the ED to include accounting programs leading to CPA licensure within its definition of a “professional degree” under the new lending limits established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Stay tuned to TXCPA member communications for updates and opportunities to advocate on this important issue.

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