The Broken CPA Exam: Why Pass Rates Are Collapsing and How to Fix It

Mar 17, 2025

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Is the CPA exam fundamentally flawed? With FAR section pass rates plummeting to a 15-year low of 36% and a staggering 40-point gap between discipline section pass rates, something isn't adding up. Dr. Josh McGowan of Troy University joins Blake Oliver to dissect these troubling statistics and explore how the 2024 CPA Evolution model may be inadvertently pushing candidates toward "easier" disciplines. They tackle the growing movement to drop the 150-hour requirement and propose a provocative solution: splitting the credential into specialized tax and financial/audit pathways. Whether you're preparing for the exam or leading a firm, this conversation reveals how accounting's licensing system might finally evolve beyond its one-size-fits-all approach.

Meet Our Guest, Dr. Josh McGowan, CPA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-josh-mcgowan-cpa-503846b7/
X: https://x.com/Jmcgowan3838

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