July 1, 2024 — The California Board of Accountancy (CBA) has implemented a change that no longer requires applicants to complete the PETH Exam for issuance of a CPA license. Instead, applicants will need to complete a CBA-approved Regulatory Review Course for their first license renewal.

If you are someone who has purchased PETH but not yet passed PETH, here’s what you need to know:

• Anyone licensed AFTER July 1, 2024, will not need to pass the PETH Exam but must complete a CBA-approved Regulatory Review course for their first license renewal.

• An applicant licensed after July 1, 2024, who has passed the PETH Exam may use the passing score at their first renewal to meet the new Regulatory Review Course requirement or to satisfy two hours of technical CE.

Keep in mind, as illustrated in the visual below, the date a license is issued, NOT when you applied, is the key to whether an applicant will be subject to the current rule (PETH Exam required to be licensed) or the new rule (Regulatory Review Course due for first license renewal).

The CBA and CalCPA remain committed to ensuring that consumers receive quality accounting services from professionals they can trust. Stay informed of the latest updates on this developing topic, such as when the effective date becomes official, by adding the CBA website to your favorites and following the CBA on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

CalCPA has created a new CBA-approved regulatory review course—California Rules and Regulations for New CPAs: What to Know to Stay in Practice—specifically designed for new licensees that will meet the requirements of your first license renewal period.

There's no better place than CalCPA to fulfill your ongoing CPE license renewal requirements! View all of our CPE courses.