Are 150-hour accounting programs meeting their intended objectives?

In this study, the authors assessed the effects of the 150-hour education requirement on accounting curricula by surveying administrators at AACSB-accredited business schools. Their results indicate that most accounting programs have responded to the 5-year requirement by simply encouraging CPA candidates to obtain a master's degree in accounting or a master's in business administration (MBA). The authors argue that this approach is inconsistent with the stated objectives of the 150-hour mandate. They suggest that the current implementation of the 5-year programs is not a viable long-term solution because its primary effect has been to increase the costs of accounting education, with questionable benefits.