I'm in California trying to earn my CPA license and I work in a public accounting firm. One of my senior co-workers yesterday told me that he was taking online classes to earn pathway two credit. When I asked him why since he already has over two years of experience, he told me that PW2 is more "prestigious" than PW1.

He also told me that you cannot go to other states and practice with a license earned from PW1 because you don't have 5 years of education.

I was under the impression that they were the same.

Is he correct?

I plan on doing my masters some time in the future and I have no intention of going to another state to work... but I have thought about working internationally

I called this morning and the Board rep told me that once you have a Pathway 1 you cannot switch it to Pathway 2 later. I don't understand why it would be like this but this is what he told me.

If it has international affects, I will consider Pathway 2. I am already registering for online classes actually because if I can pass my CPA exams by the end of this year, I can have my license early next year through Pathway 2, which is what I would prefer to do because I would like to have my license before my next yearly evaluations at my office for the pay bump!