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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
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HB 2476: certified public accountants; certification; alternative.
Sponsor: Representative Livingston, LD 28
Committee on Commerce
Overview
Makes revisions to Certified Public Accountants (CPA) statutes.
History
The Arizona State Board of Accountancy (Board) protects the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified or unprofessional certified public accountants through certification, regulation and rehabilitation.
Provisions
State Board of Accountancy
1. Alters Board responsibilities, which include:
a. investigating complaints to determine whether a registrant or limited reciprocity privilege individual or firm, rather than a certified public accountant, has committed a violation; and
b. delegate to the executive director the authority to approve a request for inactive status and approve reinstatement from canceled or expired status. (Sec. 2)
Certified Public Accountant
2. Revises the requirements for applicants who have never been certified, registered or licensed in this state or another jurisdiction by:
a. removing language relating to the requirement to have at least 2,000 hours of experience in the practice of accounting and completion of 150 semester hours of specified accounting courses; and
b. requiring applicants to present satisfactory evidence of obtaining either a:
i. baccalaureate degree and has at least two years of experience;
ii. baccalaureate degree, 30 additional semester hours and has at least one year of experience; or
iii. postbaccalaureate degree and at least one year of experience. (Sec. 3)
3. Removes the alternative certification requirement for applicants who have a certificate, registration or license in another jurisdiction relating to having a baccalaureate degree and employment history with specified semester hours of accounting courses. (Sec. 3)
4. Adds as an alternative certification requirement for applicants who have a certificate, registration or license to practice as a CPA in another jurisdiction that the applicant has been employed as a CPA in the practice of accounting for at least:
a. three years and has obtained either:
i. a postbaccalaureate degree; or
ii. a baccalaureate degree and 30 additional semester hours; or
b. five of the ten preceding years and has obtained a baccalaureate degree. (Sec. 3)
5. Instructs the Board to adopt rules regarding the required number of semester hours of accounting courses. (Sec. 3)
6. Define experience. (Sec. 3)
7. Restates that a person is allowed to take the uniform CPA examination provided the person has either a baccalaureate degree or a postbaccalaureate degree that includes the required number of semesters hours of accounting courses as determined by the Board. (Sec. 4)
Miscellaneous
8. Revises the requirements to qualify to exercise the limited reciprocity privilege for individuals who hold a valid registration certification or license issued by another jurisdiction by:
a. Deleting language outlining current requirements; and
b. Including the requirement that the individual:
i. meets statutory qualification requirements for CPAs or out-of-state applicants; or
ii. holds a valid active registration, certificate or license as a CPA from any jurisdiction as of December 31, 2024. (Sec. 5)
9. Adds the uniform registration fee applied to registrants for less than two years be charged on a pro rata basis for the remainder of the registration period. (Sec. 6)
10. Specifies the uniform registration fee applied to retired status registration is due during the month of the anniversary of the registrant's birth and be charged on a pro rata basis for registrants of less than two years. (Sec. 6)
11. Allows the Board to reduced or waive certain registration fees before the due date of any registration fee, rather than any renewal fee. (Sec. 7)
12. Prohibits a registrant who is under investigation by the Board from canceling the certificate or registration. (Sec. 8)
13. Authorizes the Board to offer to a registrant relinquishment of a certificate or registration. (Sec. 9)
14. Clarifies that a registrant, in order to complete the relinquishment, must acknowledge that an investigation or disciplinary proceeding has been initiated. (Sec. 9)
15. Revises the requirement relating to certificate reinstatement by removing references of required semester hours and adding that the individual obtains a baccalaureate degree or postbaccalaureate degree. (Sec. 11)
16. Clarifies continuing professional education audits are presumed to be public records. (Sec. 17)
17. Defines pertinent terms. (Sec. 1)
18. Contains a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. (Sec. 18)
19. Cites the act as the Certified Public Accounting Act of 2026. (Sec. 19)
20. Makes clarifying and technical changes. (Sec 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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24. Initials PB HB 2476
25. 1/30/2026 Page 0 Commerce
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