CBA licensing report: modest population growth; new cohort tracking and rising retired status

Patty Ritter, supervisor in the licensing division, presented the CBA’s FY2016–2025 licensing data trends. She noted an overall increase in the registered CPA population and that 53% of active licenses carry attest authority; the slides recorded a population increase of “0.6% in 2526.”

Ritter introduced new cohort tracking for applicants who applied in FY2024–25 and explained the milestones the board will monitor (exam application, approval, passage, licensure application and licensure approval). The licensing team also highlighted new graphs that display core and discipline section volumes and initial application spikes tied to CPA Evolution and credit‑extension windows.

Why it matters: The cohort tracking is intended to give the CBA actionable data to assess how changes to education pathways and law (including AB175) affect progression to licensure. Board members requested continued monitoring and asked staff to share the new cohort visuals in upcoming materials.

Next steps: Licensing staff said they would expand the cohort analysis in future reports and provide the slides and supporting data to members ahead of the November meeting.