John M. Breiner of Palmerton was named an Outstanding Senior by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Breiner was recommended for the award by Susan Logorda, an accounting professor at Lehigh Carbon, for his success in the classroom and potential for a promising career in accounting. The award is given to one senior accounting major at each of the 80 participating Pennsylvania colleges and universities. Recipients are given a certificate and medal along with a complimentary one-year affiliate membership with PICPA for access to programs that will help them pursue their CPA license.A degree in accounting is the first step toward receiving a CPA license and the requirements are changing Jan. 1, 2012. Currently, to earn the CPA license in Pennsylvania, accounting graduates must pass a rigorous exam and complete one to two years of auditing experience, depending upon graduate or undergraduate course completion. If candidates do not pass at least one part of the exam prior to Dec. 31, 2011, they will be required to complete 150 college credit hours. More information on the new requirements can be found at

www.picpa.org/150. CPA licenses are administered by the State Board of Accountancy.