Members of the chapter of Beta Alpha Psi at Fresno State recently gained national recognition in an industry challenge program. Photo via CalCPA

Fresno State’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter is gaining national recognition at a time when certified public accountants are needed more than ever.

The California Society of CPAs continues to push to build its future accounting workforce through campus partnerships, scholarships and modernizing licensure.

The Fresno State Gamma Omicron Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi was named a winner of the 2025 KPMG Platinum Challenge, placing it among the top 5% of Beta Alpha Psi chapters worldwide. The honor was presented at the Beta Alpha Psi Annual Conference held in August in San Antonio where chapters were recognized for innovation, community engagement and professional impact.

Beta Alpha Psi is an organization for financial information students and professionals. KPMG, which hosts the challenge, is one of the top four accounting firms in the U.S.

For Brian Henderson, the president of the CalCPA Fresno Chapter and a Fresno State alum, the recognition reflects years of rebuilding and growth within the student organizations after some struggles and disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This award really recognizes the significant growth and change that Beta Alpha Psi has had, specifically at Fresno State,” Henderson said. “Coming out of COVID, the leadership that they’ve had over the last few years has really generated a lot of increase in membership.”

Henderson, a partner at Henderson CPA’s, said the chapter has expanded its activities to include community outreach, volunteering, firm tours and professional networking which would help students better understand career opportunities within the accounting industry.

The Platinum Challenge recognizes chapters that apply accounting, finance and information system skills to create measurable community impact. Fresno State earned the award with a five-minute video highlighting its service initiatives and partnerships. The chapter will receive $3,000 to support future programming and a local celebration was held in November.

“It brings national attention to us and really lets Fresno State and the Craig School of Business be highlighted,” Henderson said of the recognition. “It further cements in the Central Valley that Fresno State should be one of the highly recognized schools in the state.”

He also said that the honor shows the quality of accounting education student leadership coming out of the Central Valley.

“Fresno State and the accounting department specifically, generates super high-quality students that become accounting leaders in our industry,” he said. “Sometimes you just need the door open, and I think it will help open doors for them.”

CalCPA is continuing to grow its CPA pipeline across the state, which is helped by recent changes to licensure requirements under AB 1175, which took effect at the start of the new year.

AB 1175 will modernize California CPA licensure by removing the 150-unit requirement and instead focus on degree-based education and expanding pathways.

“That law is definitely going to be beneficial because it helps eliminate what some viewed as a barrier,” Henderson said. “Accounting was often viewed as a five- or six-year program. Now it’s just a degree, and it helps feed the pipeline.”

He added that licensure modernization also improves interstate mobility for CPAs, which will allow professionals who are licensed in California to more easily be able to work in other states.

Through partnerships with student organizations like Beta Alpha Psi, CalCPA supports mentorship, scholarships and professional development opportunities while introducing students to a variety of careers.

“Beta Alpha Psi opens the door to the entire accounting industry,” Henderson said. “A lot of students pick accounting as a major, but they don’t necessarily know what that means for their career. This helps open those windows.”

Looking ahead, Henderson said success for CalCPA will be determined by seeing an increasing number of licensed CPAs and being able to retain young professionals.

“We’re trying to show students that accounting is not the boring, sit-there number cruncher profession,” he said. “We really are trusted advisors, business leaders, and that CPA line can lead you anywhere.”