Virginia Regulatory Town Hall

Final Text

highlight

Action:
Amend Regulations Following Periodic Review
Stage: Final
 
18VAC5-22-20 Fees

A. The board shall charge the following fees for services it provides:

Processing an initial application to take one or more sections of the CPA examination

$120

Processing additional applications to take one or more sections of the CPA examination

$20

Processing an application for issuance of a Virginia license to a person

$75

Processing an application for issuance of a Virginia license to a firm

$100

Processing an application for the timely renewal of a person's Virginia license except as provided in subsection B of 18VAC5-22-180

$60

Processing an application for the timely renewal of a firm's Virginia license except as provided in subsection B of 18VAC5-22-180

$75

Additional fee for processing an application for the renewal of a person's Virginia license that is not timely

$100

Additional fee for processing an application for the renewal of a firm's Virginia license that is not timely

$100

Processing an application for reinstatement of a person's Virginia license

$350

Processing an application for reinstatement of a firm's Virginia license

$500

Processing an application for lifting the suspension of the privilege of using the CPA title in Virginia

$350

Processing an application for lifting the suspension of the privilege of providing attest services, compilation services, or financial statement preparation services for persons or entities located in Virginia

$500

Providing or obtaining information about a person's grades on sections of the CPA examination

$25

Processing requests for verification that a person or firm holds a Virginia license:

1. Online request

$25

2. Manual request

$50

Providing an additional CPA wall certificate

$25

Additional fee for not responding within 30 calendar days to any request for information by the board under subsection A of 18VAC5-22-170

$100

Additional fee for not using the online payment option for any service provided by the board

$25

B. All fees for services the board provides are due when the service is requested and are nonrefundable.

C. Any original application for a CPA license in Virginia will expire six years from the original application date, and a new application with the corresponding fees and requirements will need to be submitted.

18VAC5-22-40 Determining whether a person who holds a Virginia license is providing services to the public using the CPA title or to or on behalf of an employer using the CPA title

For the purpose of determining whether a person who holds a Virginia license is providing services to the public or to or on behalf of an employer, those terms are to be defined in accordance with § 54.1-4400 of the Code of Virginia.

18VAC5-22-50 Determining whether the principal place of business of a person or of a firm is in Virginia

Complying with subdivision A 1 of § 54.1-4409.1, subsection B of § 54.1-4411, or subsection B of § 54.1-4412.1 of the Code of Virginia requires the person or firm to use reasonable judgment in determining whether Virginia is the principal place of business in which:

1. The person provides services to the public; or

2. The firm provides attest services or, compilation services, or financial statement preparation services.

The determination shall be reasonable considering the facts and circumstances and can be based on quantitative or qualitative assessments. The determination shall be reconsidered for changes in facts and circumstances that are not temporary.

18VAC5-22-70 Education

A. In order for a person to take the CPA examination through Virginia, he must have obtained from one or more accredited institutions at least 120 semester hours of education, a baccalaureate or higher degree, and an accounting concentration or equivalent prior to taking any part of the CPA examination.

B. For the purpose of complying with subsection A of this section and with subdivision A 1 a of § 54.1-4409.2 of the Code of Virginia, obtaining an accounting concentration or equivalent requires obtaining at a minimum:

1. 24 semester hours of accounting courses, including that must include courses in auditing, financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation; and

2. 24 semester hours of business courses, no more than six semester hours of which could be considered accounting courses.

Principles or introductory accounting courses cannot be considered in determining whether a person has obtained the 48 minimum number of semester hours required for an accounting concentration or equivalent.

18VAC5-22-90 Continuing professional education

A. If during the current calendar year a person holds a Virginia license and has not been granted an exemption from meeting continuing professional education requirements by the board pursuant to subsection C of this section, he shall have obtained at least 120 hours of continuing professional education during the three-calendar-year period ending with the current calendar year. For each of the calendar years in that period, he shall have obtained at least 20 hours of continuing professional education, including an ethics course of at least two hours., which conforms to the requirements prescribed by the board. If a person holds an active license in another state and his principal place of business is not located in Virginia and:

1. If the person also holds the license of another state and Virginia is not his principal place of business, the ethics course taken to comply with this subsection either shall conform with the requirements prescribed by the board or shall be an ethics course acceptable to the board of accountancy of another state in which the person holds a license. The other state has a continuing professional education requirement for ethics, he is eligible for an exemption from meeting the continuing professional education requirements of Virginia if he meets the continuing professional education requirements in the other state in which he holds an active license, or

2. Otherwise, the ethics course shall conform to the requirements The other state does not have a continuing professional education requirement for ethics, he is eligible for an exemption from meeting the continuing professional education requirements of Virginia if he meets the continuing professional education requirements in the other state in which he holds an active license and in addition he meets the continuing professional education requirement for ethics in Virginia as prescribed by the board.

B. If during the current calendar year a person who holds a Virginia license provided services to the public or to or on behalf of an employer, has not been granted an exemption by the board pursuant to subsection C of this section, and did not hold a Virginia license or the license of another state during one or both of the two preceding calendar years, he shall determine whether he has complied with the requirements of subsection A of this section as follows:

1. If the person became licensed during the current calendar year, he shall be considered to have met the requirements of subsection A of this section for the three-calendar-year period ending with the current calendar year.

2. If the person became licensed during the preceding calendar year, he shall be considered to have met the requirements of the subsection for the three-calendar-year period ending with the current calendar year if during the current calendar year he obtained at least the minimum number of hours of continuing professional education required by subsection A of this section for the current calendar year, including an ethics course of at least two hours.

3. If the person became licensed during the calendar year prior to the preceding calendar year, he shall be considered to have met the requirements of the subsection for the three-calendar-year period ending with the current calendar year if during the current calendar year and the preceding calendar year he obtained at least the minimum number of hours of continuing professional education required by subsection A of this section for each of the years, including for each year an ethics course of at least two hours.

C. If during the current calendar year a person who holds a Virginia license did not provide services to the public or to or on behalf of an employer, including on a volunteer basis, and has demonstrated to the board that he does not provide those services been granted an exemption from continuing professional education requirements in writing by the board, he is not required to have obtained meet the continuing professional education requirements during the three-calendar-year period ending with the current calendar year for which the exemption was granted. Any person who holds a Virginia license to whom an exemption has been granted shall annually affirm and certify to the board his continued eligibility for the exemption in that he does not provide services to the public or to or on behalf of an employer. However, in order to begin providing those services to the public or to or on behalf of an employer, including on a volunteer basis:

1. He is required to have obtained at least 120 hours of continuing professional education prior to providing the services, including an ethics course of at least two hours.

2. The ethics course shall conform to the requirements prescribed by the board for the calendar year in which the person begins providing the services.

Continuing professional education obtained during the three calendar years prior to the current calendar year and from the start of the current calendar year to when he begins providing the services shall be considered in determining whether the person has complied with the requirements of this subsection.

D. If a person who has not held the license of any state applies for a Virginia license within the same calendar year in which he passes the CPA examination, he does not need to obtain continuing professional education for that calendar year. If a person who has not held the license of any state applies for a Virginia license after the end of the calendar year in which he passes the CPA examination, he shall obtain continuing professional education prior to applying for the license, including an ethics course of at least two hours.

1. The required minimum number of hours of continuing professional education shall be 40, 80, or 120 depending on whether he applies for the Virginia license by the end of the first calendar year after the calendar year in which he passes the CPA examination, by the end of the second calendar year, or later.

2. The ethics course shall conform to the requirements prescribed by the board for the calendar year in which the person applies for the license.

Continuing professional education obtained subsequent to passing the CPA examination but during the three calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the person applies for the license and from the start of that calendar year to when he applies for the license shall be considered in determining whether he has complied with this requirement.

E. Continuing professional education acceptable to the board may be obtained through a variety of forums, provided there is a means of demonstrating that the education was obtained. The acceptable forums are:

1. Attending seminars and educational conferences, provided that the instructors have appropriate knowledge of the subject matter and use appropriate teaching materials and that attendance is monitored in a manner that can be verified by the board;

2. Taking courses at an accredited institution for credit;

3. Completing self-study courses, provided there is a method for determining that the person met the learning objectives;

4. Making a presentation at a professional seminar, educational conference, or in a classroom setting, provided the person has appropriate knowledge of the subject matter and uses appropriate teaching materials;

5. Writing material that is relevant to providing services to or on behalf of an employer or to the public that is formally reviewed by an independent party and that is published in a book, magazine, or similar publication; and

6. Passing examinations and obtaining certifications that have been approved by the board.

Whether other forums are acceptable shall be determined by the board on a case-by-case basis.

F. In determining whether a person has obtained the required number of hours of continuing professional education:

1. Repeat presentations shall not be considered.

2. No more than 30 hours from preparing for and making presentations shall be considered during each three-calendar-year period.

3. One semester-hour of credit for courses at an accredited institution constitutes 15 hours of continuing professional education, and one quarter-hour of credit constitutes 10 hours of continuing professional education.

4. Credit for examination and certification shall be awarded for the calendar year in which the examination was passed and certification was received. If passage of the examination and certification occur in different calendar years, credit shall be awarded for the calendar year in which the examination was passed. The board shall determine how many hours are credited per certification.

5. No more than 60 hours from examination and certification shall be considered during each three-calendar-year period.

G. Depending on the facts and circumstances, the board may waive all or part of the continuing professional education requirement for one or more calendar years or grant additional time for complying with the continuing professional education requirement, provided that the waiver or deferral is in the public interest.

18VAC5-22-91 Documentation of continuing professional education

A. Continuing professional education acceptable to the board may be obtained through a variety of forums, provided there is a means of demonstrating that the education was obtained. The acceptable forums are:

1. Attending seminars and educational conferences, provided that the instructors have appropriate knowledge of the subject matter and use appropriate teaching materials and that attendance is monitored in a manner that can be verified by the board;

2. Completing courses at an accredited institution for credit;

3. Completing self-study courses, provided there is a method for determining that the person met the learning objectives;

4. Making a presentation at a professional seminar, educational conference, or in a classroom setting, provided the person has appropriate knowledge of the subject matter and uses appropriate teaching materials;

5. Writing material that is relevant to providing services to the public or to or on behalf of an employer that is formally reviewed by an independent party and that is published in a book, magazine, or similar publication; and

6. Passing examinations and obtaining certifications that have been approved by the board.

Whether other forums are acceptable shall be determined by the board on a case-by-case basis.

B. In determining whether a person has obtained the required number of hours of continuing professional education:

1. Repeat presentations, examinations, and courses shall not be considered.

2. No more than 30 hours from preparing for and making presentations shall be considered during each three-calendar-year period.

3. One semester-hour of credit for courses at an accredited institution constitutes 15 hours of continuing professional education, and one quarter-hour of credit constitutes 10 hours of continuing professional education.

4. Credit for examination and certification shall be awarded for the calendar year in which the examination was passed and certification was received. If passage of the examination and certification occur in different calendar years, credit shall be awarded for the calendar year in which the examination was passed. The board shall determine how many hours are credited per certification.

5. No more than 60 hours from examination and certification shall be considered during each three-calendar-year period.

C. Depending on the facts and circumstances, the board may waive all or part of the continuing professional education requirement for one or more calendar years or grant additional time for complying with the continuing professional education requirement, provided that the waiver or deferral is in the public interest.

D. Evidence of satisfactory completion of the continuing professional education requirements shall include:

1. Certificates of completion or some other form of documentation from the continuing professional education sponsor, including the sponsor's name, participant's name, course or content name, date taken, and hours of continuing professional education earned;

2. Official transcripts of the college or university for earning course credit at an accredited college or university;

3. A syllabus or agenda and a signed statement from the sponsoring individual or sponsoring organization indicating the length of the presentation for making a presentation;

4. A copy of the published article, book, written material, or other proof of publication for producing written material relevant to CPAs who provide services to the public or to or on behalf of an employer; or

5. In the case of exams and certifications that have been approved by the board, a letter from the administering organization that identifies the passage of the exam or the certification, the participant's name, and the date of passage or certification;

The board shall not accept receipts, registration confirmations, canceled checks, outlines, presentation slides, or sign-in sheets as valid evidence of satisfactory completion of the continuing professional education requirements. Whether other documentation is acceptable shall be determined by the board on a case-by-case basis.

E. A person who holds a Virginia license shall retain evidence of his satisfactory completion of the continuing professional education requirements for a period of four years preceding the current calendar year.

F. One continuing professional education hour is satisfied by 50 minutes of participation in a program of continuing professional education.

18VAC5-22-120 Supervision of firm personnel

To comply with subdivision C 2 of § 54.1-4412.1 of the Code of Virginia, a person's work must be planned, supervised, and reviewed by a person who either (i) holds a an active Virginia license or (ii) holds the active license of another state and complies with the substantial equivalency provisions of § 54.1-4411 of the Code of Virginia.

18VAC5-22-170 Communication with the board

A. Pursuant to § 54.1-4425 of the Code of Virginia, each licensee or applicant shall respond within 30 calendar days to any board request for information regarding compliance with any statutes or regulations pertaining to the board or any of the programs that may be in another title of the Code of Virginia for which the board has regulatory responsibility. When the requested response is not produced by the licensee or applicant within 30 calendar days, this nonproduction shall be deemed a violation of this rule, unless otherwise determined by the board.

B. Each holder of a Virginia license shall notify the board in writing within 30 calendar days of any:

1. Any change in the holder's legal name or in the postal and electronic addresses where the person or firm may be reached;

2. Any administrative disciplinary action that the holder is the subject of or party to before any court, agency of the state or federal government, branch of the armed forces of the United States of America, or before the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, or their successors;

3. Any conviction concerning a felony or misdemeanor, regardless of whether sentence is imposed, suspended, or executed;

4. Any guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere;

5. Any final judgment rendered against the holder in a civil court of law; or

6. Any receipt of a peer review report or a PCAOB firm inspection report containing criticisms of or identifying potential defects in the firm's quality control systems.

C. The board shall transmit license renewal notices electronically unless a person or firm is unable to communicate electronically. The responsibility for renewing a Virginia license is on its holder, and that responsibility is not affected by whether the holder receives a license renewal notice Upon the renewal, reinstatement of, or the application for a Virginia license each person or entity shall notify the board in writing if any of the sanctions in subsection B of this section have occurred.

18VAC5-22-180 Issuance, renewal, and reinstatement of licenses

A. Any Virginia license issued, renewed, or reinstated on or after February 26, 2018, and on or before June 30, 2018, shall expire on June 30, 2019, and its holder shall pay the fee prescribed in 18VAC5-22-20 upon submission of a completed license application.

B. Any Virginia license expiring between July 31, 2018, and on or before March 31, 2019, that is renewed pursuant to this subsection shall expire on June 30, 2019. Any Virginia license expiring between April 30, 2019, and on or before May 31, 2019, that is renewed pursuant to this subsection shall expire on June 30, 2020.

1. A person who holds a Virginia license that expires between July 31, 2018, and May 31, 2019, shall pay a prorated renewal fee as prescribed in this subdivision upon submission of a completed license renewal application.

Current Expiration Date

Renewal Fee

Expiration Date Following Renewal

July 31, 2018

$55

June 30, 2019

August 31, 2018

$50

June 30, 2019

September 30, 2018

$45

June 30, 2019

October 31, 2018

$40

June 30, 2019

November 30, 2018

$35

June 30, 2019

December 31, 2018

$30

June 30, 2019

January 31, 2019

$25

June 30, 2019

February 28, 2019

$20

June 30, 2019

March 31, 2019

$15

June 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

$60

June 30, 2020

May 31, 2019

$60

June 30, 2020

2. A firm that holds a Virginia license that expires between July 31, 2018, and May 31, 2019, shall pay a prorated renewal fee as prescribed in this subdivision upon submission of a completed license renewal application.

Current Expiration Date

Renewal Fee

Expiration Date Following Renewal

July 31, 2018

$68

June 30, 2019

August 31, 2018

$62

June 30, 2019

September 30, 2018

$56

June 30, 2019

October 31, 2018

$50

June 30, 2019

November 30, 2018

$43

June 30, 2019

December 31, 2018

$37

June 30, 2019

January 31, 2019

$31

June 30, 2019

February 28, 2019

$25

June 30, 2019

March 31, 2019

$18

June 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

$75

June 30, 2020

May 31, 2019

$75

June 30, 2020

C. Any Virginia license issued or reinstated from July 1, 2018, to on or before March 31, 2019, shall expire on June 30, 2019, and its holder shall pay the fee prescribed in 18VAC5-22-20 upon submission of a completed license application. Beginning April 1, 2019, any Virginia license issued or reinstated during the months of April, May, or June shall expire on June 30 of the succeeding calendar year, and its holder shall pay the fee prescribed in 18VAC5-22-20 upon submission of a completed license application.

D. A. For Virginia licenses expiring on June 30, 2019, or later, the holder of a Virginia license shall annually renew his license on or before June 30 of each calendar year by submitting a completed license renewal application and paying to the board a renewal fee as prescribed in 18VAC5-22-20.

B. If a person or entity applies for an initial license or reinstatement on or after March 1 of a calendar year, the license will not expire until June 30 of the following calendar year.

C. The board shall transmit license renewal notices electronically unless a person or firm is unable to communicate electronically. The responsibility for renewing a Virginia license is on its holder, and that responsibility is not affected by whether the holder receives a license renewal notice.