§ 5-3.1-8. Permits for accountants licensed by foreign countries. (a) An annual limited permit to engage in the practice of public accounting in this state may be issued by the board, upon application for the permit and payment of the required fee, to any person who is the holder of a certificate, license, or degree from a foreign country constituting a recognized qualification for the practice of public accounting in that country, provided that: (1) The board determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate, license, or degree are substantially equivalent to those prescribed under this chapter for obtaining a certificate in this state; (2) The certificate, license, or degree at the time of application is then in full force and effect; and (3) The applicant meets all other requirements under this section. In the event the board determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate, license, or degree are not substantially equivalent to those prescribed in this chapter for obtaining a certificate in this state, the board may require, as a condition to granting a permit under this section, that the applicant pass the written examinations required of candidates for a certificate under § 5-3.1-5(a)(4). Any permit issued under this section shall be issued in the name of the applicant followed by the recognized accounting designation by which he or she is known in the country where licensed, translated into the English language, followed by the name of the country. Annual limited permits to engage in the practice of public accounting qualify the holder to practice public accounting in this state solely as to matters concerning residents, governments, and corporations or other business entities, including the divisions, subsidiaries, or any affiliates of the business entity, of the foreign country in which the holder is licensed to practice public accounting. A person who is issued a permit under this section, when engaging in the practice of public accounting in this state, shall only use the title under which he or she is generally known in his or her own country, translated into the English language and indicating after the title the name of the country from which he or she received his or her certificate, license, or degree.

(b) All annual limited permits issued under this section shall expire on the last day of June of each year and may be renewed for a period of one year in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. Submission of the application for original issuance or renewal of an annual limited permit constitutes the appointment of the secretary of state as an agent for the applicant for service of process in any action or proceeding arising out of any transaction or operation connected with or incidental to the practice of public accounting in this state by the applicant.

(c) Applications for renewal of an annual limited permit are submitted to the board by February 15 of each year and shall be accompanied by evidence of satisfaction of the continuing professional education requirements promulgated by board regulation. The evidence shall be in any form that the board requires. Failure to furnish the evidence constitutes grounds for refusal to renew the permit unless the board in its discretion determines that the failure was due to reasonable cause or excusable neglect. Notwithstanding the preceding, the board, in its discretion, may waive the above continuing education requirements if:

(1) The licensing authority of the foreign country in which the holder of the annual limited permit is licensed has established requirements for continuing education for practitioners of public accounting;

(2) The applicant has filed with the board an affidavit stating that he or she is in compliance with those continuing education requirements at the time of the application for renewal; and

(3) The board determines that the continuing education requirements are substantially equivalent to those promulgated by the board under this chapter.

(d) An application for a permit under this section shall list all other jurisdictions in which the applicant has applied for or holds a certificate, license, or degree to practice public accountancy or a permit to practice. Each applicant for or holder of a permit under this section shall, within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of the event, notify the board in writing:

(1) Of the issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of the certificate, license, degree, or permit; or

(2) Of the commencement of any disciplinary or enforcement action against the applicant or holder by any jurisdiction.

(e) An applicant under this section shall also list in the application the address of every office established or maintained in this state for the limited practice of public accounting. All of those offices shall be under the direct supervision of an accountant licensed either by this state or by a foreign country who holds an annual limited permit to practice issued under this section, and shall be designated by the name and title of the accountant. If applicable, the title is translated into the English language and followed by the name of the foreign country where the accountant is licensed. All applicants for or holders of a permit under this section shall notify the board, in writing, within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of the event:

(1) Of any change in the number or location of offices within this state required to be listed in the application; and

(2) Of any change in the identities of the persons supervising those offices.

(f) The board shall charge a fee to each person who makes application for original issuance or renewal of a permit under this section. The fee shall be paid in U.S. currency at the time the application is made. Fees charged under this section shall be established by the board.

History of Section. (P.L. 1995, ch. 159, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 336, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 308, art. 1, § 3.)