§75. Qualifications for a certificate as a certified public accountant

A. A certificate of certified public accountant shall be granted to persons of good moral character who have attained the age of eighteen years and meet the education, experience, and examination requirements of this Section and who make application to the board.

B.(1) The board may refuse to grant a certificate on the grounds of failure to satisfy the requirement of good moral character only if there exists a substantial connection between the lack of good moral character of the applicant and the professional responsibilities of a licensee and if the findings of the board are supported by clear and convincing evidence.

(2) When an applicant is found to be unqualified for a certificate because of lack of good moral character, the board shall furnish the applicant with a statement containing the findings of the board, records of evidence upon which the determination is made, and a notice of the applicant's right of appeal.

C.(1) An applicant is eligible to apply for the examination provided for in this Section upon meeting the educational requirement of a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by the board to be appropriate. In addition, the applicant shall have maintained continuous residence in this state for a period of not less than one hundred twenty days preceding the date of his application to sit for the examination.

(2) Any applicant who has attained a baccalaureate degree prior to January 1, 1992, shall not be subject to any of the requirements of this Subsection, except that such degree shall have been conferred by a Louisiana college or university approved by the board and shall have such adequate concentration in the area of accounting as the board may prescribe. If the required baccalaureate degree received by the applicant prior to January 1, 1992, does not reflect concentration in the area of accounting sufficient to satisfy the educational standards and regulations prescribed by the board, the board may require an applicant to successfully complete additional course work as prescribed by the board.

D.(1) The examination required to be passed as a condition for the granting of a certificate shall be held regularly throughout the year and shall test the applicant's knowledge of the subjects of accounting and auditing and such other related subjects as the board may specify including but not limited to business law and taxation.

(2) The board shall prescribe the methods for applying for and conducting the examination including methods for grading examinations and determining a passing grade required of an applicant for a certificate. However, the board shall to the extent possible see to it that the examination itself, grading of the examination, and the passing grades are uniform with those applicable in all other states.

(3) The board may make use of all or any part of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and Advisory Grading Service of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and may contract with third parties to perform such administrative services with respect to the examination as it deems appropriate to assist it in performing its duties.

E. An applicant shall be given credit for any and all sections of the Uniform CPA examination passed in another state, provided that, at such time, he was a bona fide candidate of such state as determined by the board.

F. The board may charge, or provide for a third party administering the examination to charge, each applicant a fee in an amount prescribed by the board for each section of the examination or reexamination taken by the applicant.

G.(1) An applicant for initial issuance of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall show that he has completed at least one hundred fifty semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by the board to be appropriate. The applicant shall meet all education requirements by December thirty-first of the fifth calendar year following successful completion of the examination, or the examination scores will be voided. The board may grant additional time to complete the requirements as provided in this Section when an applicant can demonstrate circumstances of extreme hardship.

(2) An applicant for initial issuance of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall show that he has completed one year of experience. Such experience shall include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills. All such experience shall be obtained within the four-year period preceding the board's receipt of the application and be verified by a licensee. Experience gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice is acceptable.

H. All persons having held or holding a valid license as a licensed certified public accountant issued or renewed by the board on or after January 1, 1998, shall be deemed to have met the requirements of this Section, provided that the license has not been revoked or suspended by the board.

I. All persons, who on June 17, 1999, have met the then-existing requirements to become certified public accountants, but who have not met the then-existing requirements to be licensed as a certified public accountant, shall be presumed to have met all of the requirements for obtaining a certificate under this Part except for the experience requirements set forth in Subsection G of this Section. Upon furnishing satisfactory evidence to the board that the experience requirements in Subsection G of this Section have been satisfied, any such person shall be granted a certificate. Prior to obtaining a certificate under this Part, all such persons shall be entitled to use the designation "CPA inactive".

Acts 1979, No. 510, §1; Acts 1984, No. 747, §1, eff. July 13, 1984; Acts 1987, No. 116, §1; Acts 1989, No. 154, §1; Acts 1989, No. 155, §1; Acts 1995, No. 190, §2; Acts 1997, No. 75, §1; Acts 1999, No. 473, §1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 2006, No. 214, §1; Acts 2013, No. 188, §1; Acts 2016, No. 553, §1.