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WSCPA Cohorts

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Introducing WSCPA Cohorts

Immersive, peer-based learning built for how professionals actually grow.

Traditional professional development gives you information. 
A cohort gives you people, perspective, accountability, and real-world application.

WSCPA Cohorts are designed for professionals who want more than passive webinars or one-time networking events. These programs combine facilitated learning, structured peer discussion, and practical leadership development in a trusted community of professionals navigating similar challenges.

Participants learn alongside a consistent group over time, creating deeper conversations, stronger professional relationships, and learning that sticks.

Whether you are early in your career or leading inside an organization, cohorts create space to think bigger, ask better questions, and build momentum alongside peers who understand the realities of the profession.

What Makes a Cohort Different?

Peer-Based Learning
Some of the best professional insight comes from hearing how others are solving similar challenges in real time. Cohorts are intentionally discussion-driven, not lecture-heavy.

Consistency Creates Connection
You return to the same group throughout the year. That continuity builds trust, accountability, and stronger professional relationships.

Real-World Application
Sessions focus on practical leadership, communication, career navigation, decision-making, and operational challenges professionals are actively facing.

Designed for Participation
Expect facilitated discussion, breakout conversations, collaborative problem-solving, and opportunities to apply ideas immediately.

A Professional Community Beyond the Session
Each cohort includes an online community space where conversations, resources, and peer support continue between sessions.

Why Attend a WSCPA Cohort?

WSCPA Cohorts are built for professionals who want:

  • A trusted peer network
  • Leadership development beyond technical training
  • Honest conversations about career growth and workplace challenges
  • Structured accountability and reflection
  • Exposure to perspectives outside their own organization
  • A more immersive learning experience than traditional CPE alone

This is professional development designed around conversation, community, and long-term growth — not just content delivery.

Industry Cohort

Leadership development for CPAs navigating complex organizational roles. 

Industry CPAs are increasingly leading far beyond the numbers. Today's professionals are balancing finance leadership with operations, technology, recruiting, strategy, communication, and organizational change — often without a built-in peer group to compare notes with.

The Industry Cohort creates space for experienced professionals to step back from daily execution and engage in meaningful conversation with peers facing similar realities.

Topics include:

  • Executive communication and presentation skills
  • Leadership and people development
  • Building credibility and professional presence
  • Managing expanded responsibilities beyond accounting
  • Organizational influence and strategic communication
  • Capacity management and avoiding burnout in high-demand environments

Sessions intentionally blend leadership development with peer exchange, allowing participants to pressure-test ideas, compare approaches, and learn from professionals across industries and experience levels. CliftonStrengths is incorporated throughout the program as a framework for communication, leadership, and professional development.

Ideal For

  • Controllers
  • Finance and accounting leaders
  • Industry CPAs managing cross-functional responsibilities
  • Professionals transitioning into leadership roles
  • CPAs seeking peer connection outside their organization
  • Professionals who recently transitioned from public accounting into private industry

What Participants Gain

  • A trusted network of industry peers
  • Practical leadership insight
  • Greater confidence communicating with executives and boards
  • New approaches to team development and operational challenges
  • Space to think strategically, not just react tactically
  • Exposure to how peers across organizations are navigating similar challenges
Industry Cohort FAQs

How was this program developed?

The Industry Cohort was developed with direct input from industry CPAs and finance leaders navigating the same challenges the program addresses. Over months of research and member feedback, WSCPA identified the gaps that experienced professionals felt most acutely — leadership beyond the numbers, peer connection, and space to think strategically. The result is a program built by members, for members.

Is this program eligible for CPE?

Yes. The Industry Cohort includes approximately 6 hours of CPE across the full series. Sessions are intentionally designed to balance meaningful peer discussion with practical professional education.

Do I have to be a WSCPA member?

Yes. Active WSCPA membership is required to participate in the Industry Cohort.

What is the program cost?

The full Industry Cohort series is $349 and includes:

  • Approximately 6 hours of CPE
  • CliftonStrengths integration
  • In-person and virtual sessions
  • Access to the dedicated online cohort community
  • Cohort resources and discussion materials

Individual sessions are also available a la carte for professionals who want to participate in select topics only.

Do I have to attend the full series?

No — all sessions are available individually a la carte. However, the cohort experience is intentionally designed around ongoing participation, peer connection, and cumulative conversation over time. Participants who engage across the full series will receive the greatest value from the relationships, discussions, and shared learning experience.

What is the format for sessions?

Most sessions are designed to balance structured professional education with peer discussion and practical application. Sessions generally include:

  • Approximately 50 minutes of CPE-focused instruction and facilitated discussion
  • A combination of presenter-led content and mixed-group breakout conversations
  • Interactive participation and peer exchange throughout

Following the formal CPE portion, participants transition into smaller breakout groups organized by experience level and/or role title for an additional 30 minutes of open peer facilitation, discussion, knowledge-sharing, and resource exchange.

Note: Breakout participation is required for CPE credit, as discussion and engagement are built directly into the instructional format.

Is there an online community component?

Yes. Participants registered for the full Industry Cohort series receive access to a dedicated WSCPA online community space where they can:

  • Continue conversations between sessions
  • Access resources and materials
  • Share ideas and workplace challenges
  • Connect with peers across organizations and industries
  • Continue building relationships beyond the formal sessions

Access to the online community is included with full-series registration only and is not available for individual a la carte session registrations.

What is CliftonStrengths and why is it included?

CliftonStrengths is a strengths-based development framework used to help participants better understand how they naturally lead, communicate, problem-solve, and contribute within teams and organizations. The Industry Cohort uses CliftonStrengths as a shared framework throughout the program to support:

  • Leadership development
  • Team communication
  • Executive presence
  • Professional self-awareness
  • Cross-functional collaboration

No prior CliftonStrengths experience is required.CliftonStrengths Top 5 Report will be available to all full cohort attendees.

Who facilitates the cohort?

The cohort is moderated by WSCPA leadership and includes a mix of facilitators, guest speakers, panelists, and experienced professionals from across the accounting and finance profession. Rather than a traditional classroom model, the cohort experience is designed around facilitated dialogue, shared learning, and practical discussion grounded in real workplace experience.

New Professionals Cohort

Build confidence, community, and career momentum early.

This cohort is designed to give new and aspiring CPAs a trusted community to build professional skills, navigate early career challenges and practice showing up with confidence together.

Starting a career in accounting can feel like learning the rules while already in the game. The New Professional Cohort is designed to close the gap between technical ability and professional confidence.

Over the course of the year, participants explore the skills and conversations that often go untaught:

  • Personal branding and professional presence
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Mentorship and sponsorship
  • Career strategy and transitions
  • Office dynamics and workplace communication
  • Goal setting and intentional growth
  • Productivity, AI, and sustainable performance
  • Decision-making under pressure

The experience blends in-person connection with virtual learning, creating a supportive peer network that grows alongside the content. CliftonStrengths is used as a foundational framework throughout the program to help participants better understand how they work, communicate, and lead.

The New Professionials Cohort is Ideal For

  • Students transitioning into the profession
  • Early-career CPAs
  • Professionals within their first several years in accounting
  • Emerging leaders looking for community and direction

What Participants Gain

  • Stronger professional confidence
  • A clearer understanding of career pathways
  • Meaningful peer relationships and networking
  • Leadership and communication skills early in their career
  • A professional network that extends beyond their organization
New Professionals Cohort FAQs

How was this program developed?

The New Professional Cohort was built with direct input from the people it was designed to serve. Over months of listening and research, WSCPA gathered feedback from students, early-career professionals, and firm leaders to understand what is actually missing in the transition into the profession — and what support would have made the biggest difference early on. The result is a program shaped by the people closest to the experience, not built from the outside looking in.

How is the program structured?

The cohort includes a combination of:

  • In-person sessions
  • Virtual sessions
  • Facilitated peer discussion
  • Community-building activities
  • Online community engagement between sessions on the WSCPA Circle

Several in-person sessions are intentionally designed to deepen relationships and strengthen peer connection throughout the year.

How long does the cohort last?

The cohort runs across the program year, beginning in August and concluding in May. Participants stay with the same cohort group throughout the experience to encourage stronger relationships and more meaningful discussion over time.

Will I earn CPE?

No. The New Professional Cohort is intentionally designed as a professional development and community experience rather than a traditional CPE program. By not structuring the program around CPE requirements, sessions are more interactive, discussion-driven, and relationship-focused.

What if I miss a session?

While participants are encouraged to attend consistently to get the full value of the cohort experience, occasional conflicts happen. The strongest benefit comes from staying engaged with the group over time.

What is CliftonStrengths and why is it included?

CliftonStrengths is a strengths-based development framework used to help participants better understand how they naturally work, communicate, contribute, and lead. The cohort uses CliftonStrengths as a shared language throughout the year to support:

  • Self-awareness
  • Team communication
  • Leadership development
  • Career growth
  • Relationship-building

No prior experience with CliftonStrengths is required. CliftonStrengths Top 5 Report will be provided to all attendees.

Is there an online community component?

Yes. Participants will have access to a dedicated WSCPA online community space where they can:

  • Continue conversations between sessions
  • Access resources and materials
  • Ask questions
  • Stay connected with cohort peers
  • Share ideas and challenges throughout the year

Do I have to be a WSCPA member?

Yes. WSCPA membership is required to participate in the New Professional Cohort. CPA memberships start at $350 annually. Students and CPA candidates qualify for a discounted membership at $40 annually — this applies to anyone currently enrolled in college pursuing accounting, or actively studying for and taking the CPA exam post graduation.

Who facilitates the cohort?

The cohort is moderated by WSCPA leadership and includes a mix of facilitators, guest speakers, panelists, and experienced professionals from across the accounting profession. Sessions are intentionally designed to balance expert insight with peer discussion and real-world conversation.

What is the program cost?

The cohort registration fee is $99 for the full program year (active WSCPA membership required). This pricing is intentional — making immersive professional development accessible for emerging professionals while still supporting in-person lunches and hosted components during half-day cohort sessions.

Why do I need to provide my supervisor's name during registration?

The New Professional Cohort works best with active participation and consistent engagement throughout the year. Providing a supervisor's name confirms they are aware of the participant's enrollment, helping ensure participants have the support and flexibility needed to fully engage in the cohort experience.

Have Questions? 

Send us an email at memberservices@wscpa.org.