THE BILL ITSELF
HB 333
Public Accountancy
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to public accountancy; amending s.
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473.301, F.S.; making a technical change regarding the
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purpose of ch. 473, F.S.; amending s. 473.302, F.S.;
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deleting the definition of the term "Uniform
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Accountancy Act"; amending s. 473.3035, F.S.;
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authorizing the Board of Accountancy to competitively
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procure contracted services with certain corporations
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not for profit for the performance of certain duties
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assigned to the Division of Certified Public
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Accounting of the Department of Business and
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Professional Regulation; authorizing the board to
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rescind such contracted services at any time by a
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majority vote; amending s. 473.306, F.S.; conforming a
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cross-reference; making a technical change; amending
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s. 473.308, F.S.; revising the education and work
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experience requirements for a certified public
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accountant license; directing the board to prescribe
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specified coursework for licensure; revising
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requirements for licensure by endorsement; revising
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requirements for licensure of international
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applicants; deleting obsolete language; amending s.
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473.312, F.S.; revising requirements for the approval
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of providers who administer continuing education on
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ethics for certified public accountants; requiring the
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board to give preference to certain providers;
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amending s. 473.3141, F.S.; revising requirements for
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certified public accountants licensed in another state
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or a territory of the United States to practice in
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this state without obtaining a license; reenacting s.
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473.311(1)(b), F.S., relating to renewal of license,
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to incorporate the amendment made to s. 473.312, F.S.,
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in references thereto; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 473.301, Florida Statutes, is amended
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to read:
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473.301 Purpose.—The Legislature recognizes that there is
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a public need for independent and objective certified public
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accountants and that it is necessary to regulate the practice of
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public accounting to assure the minimum competence of
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practitioners and the accuracy of audit statements upon which
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the public relies and to protect the public from dishonest
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practitioners and, therefore, deems it necessary in the interest
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of public welfare to regulate the practice of public accountancy
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in this state.
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Section 2. Subsection (9) of section 473.302, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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473.302 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
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(9) "Uniform Accountancy Act" means the Uniform
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Accountancy Act, Eighth Edition, dated January 2018 and
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published by the American Institute of Certified Public
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Accountants and the National Association of State Boards of
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Accountancy.
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However, these terms shall not include services provided by the
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American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or the
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Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or any full
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service association of certified public accounting firms whose
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plans of administration have been approved by the board, to
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their members or services performed by these entities in
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reviewing the services provided to the public by members of
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these entities. Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 473.3035, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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473.3035 Division of Certified Public Accounting.—
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(1) All services concerning this chapter, including, but
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not limited to, recordkeeping services, examination services,
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legal services, and investigative services, and those services
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in chapter 455 necessary to perform the duties of this chapter
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are shall be provided by the Division of Certified Public
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Accounting. The board may, by majority vote, delegate a duty or
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duties to the appropriate division within the department or
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competitively procure contracted services pursuant to part I of
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chapter 287 for the performance of such duties, except for
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investigative services. All such contracted services must be
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fulfilled by corporations organized under chapter 617. The board
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may, by majority vote, rescind any such delegation of duties or
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contracted services at any time.
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Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 473.306, Florida
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Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) of that section is
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republished, to read:
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473.306 Examinations.—
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(3) An applicant is entitled to take the licensure
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examination to practice in this state as a certified public
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accountant if:
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(a) The applicant has completed 120 semester hours or 180
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quarter hours from an accredited college or university with a
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concentration in accounting and business courses as prescribed
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specified by the board by rule; and
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(b) The applicant shows that she or he has good moral
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character. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "good moral
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character" has the same meaning as provided in s. 473.308(6)(a)
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s. 473.308(7)(a). The board may refuse to allow an applicant to
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take the licensure examination for failure to satisfy this
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requirement if:
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1. The board finds a reasonable relationship between the
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lack of good moral character of the applicant and the
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professional responsibilities of a certified public accountant;
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and
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2. The finding by the board of lack of good moral
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character is supported by competent substantial evidence.
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If an applicant is found pursuant to this paragraph to be
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unqualified to take the licensure examination because of a lack
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of good moral character, the board must shall furnish to the
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applicant a statement containing the findings of the board, a
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complete record of the evidence upon which the determination was
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based, and a notice of the rights of the applicant to a
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rehearing and appeal.
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(4) The board shall have the authority to establish the
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standards for determining and shall determine:
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(a) What constitutes a passing grade for each subject or
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part of the licensure examination;
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(b) Which educational institutions, in addition to the
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universities in the State University System of Florida, shall be
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deemed to be accredited colleges or universities;
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(c) What courses and number of hours constitute a major in
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accounting; and
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(d) What courses and number of hours constitute additional
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accounting courses acceptable under s. 473.308(4).
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Section 5. Subsections (4) through (10) of section
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473.308, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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473.308 Licensure.—
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(4)(a) An applicant for licensure must do at least one of
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the following:
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1. Complete have at least 150 semester hours of college
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education, including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred
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by an accredited college or university, with a concentration in
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accounting and business as prescribed by the board in the total
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educational program to the extent specified by the board.
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2. Hold a master's degree in accounting or finance
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conferred by an accredited college or university with a
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concentration in accounting and business as prescribed by the
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board.
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3. Hold a baccalaureate degree in accounting or finance
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conferred by an accredited college or university with a
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concentration in accounting and business as prescribed by the
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board.
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4. Hold a baccalaureate degree in any major course of
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study conferred by an accredited college or university and have
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completed coursework required for a concentration in accounting
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and business as prescribed by the board.
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(b) The board shall prescribe the coursework required for
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a concentration in accounting and business. The board may deem
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an applicant to have satisfied requirements for such coursework
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if the applicant receives a baccalaureate or higher degree in
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accounting or finance conferred by an accredited college or
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university in a state or territory of the United States. An
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applicant receiving a baccalaureate or higher degree with a
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major course of study other than accounting or finance must
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complete the coursework required for a concentration in
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accounting and business as prescribed by the board.
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(5)(a) An applicant for licensure who completes the
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education requirements under subparagraph (4)(a)1. or
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subparagraph (4)(a)2. after December 31, 2008, must show that he
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or she has had 1 year of work experience. An applicant who
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completes the education requirements under subparagraph (4)(a)3.
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or subparagraph (4)(a)4. must show 2 years of work experience.
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(b) Such work This experience includes shall include
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providing any type of service or advice involving the use of
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accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial
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advisory, tax, or consulting skills, all of which must be
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verified by a certified public accountant who is licensed by a
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state or territory of the United States. This experience is
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acceptable if it was gained through employment in government,
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industry, academia, or public practice; constituted a
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substantial part of the applicant's duties; and was verified by
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a certified public accountant licensed by a state or territory
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of the United States. The board shall adopt rules specifying
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standards and providing for the review and approval of the work
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experience required by this subsection section.
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(b) However, an applicant who completed the requirements
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of subsection (4) on or before December 31, 2008, and who passes
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the licensure examination on or before June 30, 2010, is exempt
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from the requirements of this subsection.
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(6)(a) An applicant for licensure must shall show that he
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or she the applicant has good moral character. For purposes of
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this paragraph, the term
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(7)(a) "good moral character" means a personal history of
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honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of others and for
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the laws of this state and nation.
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(b) The board may refuse to certify an applicant for
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failure to satisfy this requirement if:
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1. The board finds a reasonable relationship between the
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lack of good moral character of the applicant and the
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professional responsibilities of a certified public accountant;
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and
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2. The finding by the board of lack of good moral
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character is supported by competent substantial evidence.
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(c) When an applicant is found to be unqualified for a
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license because of a lack of good moral character, the board
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shall furnish to the applicant a statement containing the
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findings of the board, a complete record of the evidence upon
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which the determination was based, and a notice of the rights of
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the applicant to a rehearing and appeal.
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(7)(8) The board shall certify as qualified for a license
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by endorsement an applicant who:
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(a) Is not licensed and has not been licensed in any state
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or territory and who has met the requirements of this section
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for education, work experience, and good moral character and has
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passed a national, regional, state, or territorial licensing
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examination that is substantially equivalent to the examination
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required by s. 473.306; or
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(b)1. holds an active a valid license in good standing to
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practice public accounting issued by another state or a
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territory of the United States, if the applicant has maintained
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good moral character and, at the time of licensure by such other
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state or territory, the applicant was required to show evidence
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of having obtained at least a baccalaureate degree from an
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accredited college or university and having passed the Uniform
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CPA Examination criteria for issuance of such license were
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substantially equivalent to the licensure criteria that existed
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in this state at the time the license was issued;
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2. Holds a valid license to practice public accounting
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issued by another state or territory of the United States but
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the criteria for issuance of such license did not meet the
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requirements of subparagraph 1.; has met the requirements of
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this section for education, work experience, and good moral
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character; and has passed a national, regional, state, or
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territorial licensing examination that is substantially
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equivalent to the examination required by s. 473.306; or
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3. Holds a valid license to practice public accounting
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issued by another state or territory of the United States for at
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least 10 years before the date of application; has passed a
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national, regional, state, or territorial licensing examination
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that is substantially equivalent to the examination required by
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s. 473.306; and has met the requirements of this section for
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good moral character.
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(8)(9) An international applicant who seeks licensure as a
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certified public accountant in this state must do at least one
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of the following:
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(a) Hold an active license in good standing to If the
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applicant has at least 5 years of experience in the practice of
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public accountancy in the United States or in the practice of
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public accountancy or its equivalent in a foreign country that
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the International Qualifications Appraisal Board of the National
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Association of State Boards of Accountancy has determined has
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licensure standards that are substantially equivalent to those
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in the United States, or has at least 5 years of work experience
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that meets the requirements of subsection (5), the board must
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waive the requirements of subsection (4) which are in excess of
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a baccalaureate degree. All experience that is used as a basis
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for waiving the requirements of subsection (4) must be while
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licensed as a certified public accountant by another state or
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territory of the United States or while licensed in the practice
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of public accounting, accountancy or its equivalent, in a
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foreign country that the International Qualifications Appraisal
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Board of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
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has determined has licensure standards equal that are
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substantially equivalent to those in the United States and has
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passed an exam pursuant to s. 473.306(5).
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(b) Hold an active license in good standing to practice
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public accounting, or its equivalent, in a foreign country that
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the International Qualifications Appraisal Board of the National
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Association of State Boards of Accountancy has not determined
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has licensure standards equal to those in the United States and
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has met the requirements for education, work experience, and
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good moral character under subsections (4), (5), and (6) and has
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passed the Uniform CPA exam. The board shall have the authority
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to establish the standards for experience that meet this
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requirement.
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(9)(10) The board may refuse to certify for licensure any
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applicant who is under investigation in another state for any
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act that would constitute a violation of this act or chapter
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455, until such time as the investigation is complete and
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disciplinary proceedings are have been terminated.
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Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
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473.312, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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473.312 Continuing education.—
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(1)
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(c) At least Not less than 5 percent of the total hours
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required by the board must shall be in ethics applicable to the
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practice of public accounting. This requirement shall be
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administered by providers approved by the board, and a majority
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of the hours must shall include a review of the provisions of
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chapter 455 and this chapter and the related administrative
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rules. Such requirement must be administered by reputable
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providers determined by the board. The board shall give
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preference to corporations not for profit organized under
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chapter 617 who are exempt from taxation under s. 501(c)(6) of
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the Internal Revenue Code and who demonstrate their experience,
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integrity, knowledge, practice, professional responsibility, and
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representation of the largest numbers of certified public
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accountants in this state.
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Section 7. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 473.3141,
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Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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473.3141 Certified public accountants licensed in other
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states.—
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, An
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individual who holds an active license in good standing to
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practice public accounting in another state or a territory of
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the United States and who does not have an office in this state
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has the privileges of Florida certified public accountants and
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may provide public accounting services in this state without
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obtaining a license under this chapter or notifying or
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registering with the board or paying a fee if, at the time of
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licensure by such other state or territory, the individual was
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required to show evidence of having obtained at least a
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baccalaureate degree and having passed the Uniform CPA
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Examination:
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(a) Holds a valid license as a certified public accountant
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from a state that the board or its designee has determined by
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rule to have adopted standards that are substantially equivalent
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to the certificate requirements in s. 5 of the Uniform
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Accountancy Act in the issuance of licenses; or
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(b) Holds a valid license as a certified public accountant
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from a state that has not been approved by the board as having
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adopted standards in substantial equivalence with s. 5 of the
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Uniform Accountancy Act, but obtains verification from the
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board, or its designee, as determined by rule, that the
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individual's certified public accountant qualifications are
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substantially equivalent to the certificate requirements in s. 5
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of the Uniform Accountancy Act.
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The board shall define by rule what constitutes an office.
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(3) An individual certified public accountant from another
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state or a territory of the United States who practices pursuant
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to this section, and the firm that employs that individual, must
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shall both consent, as a condition of the privilege of
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practicing in this state:
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(a) To the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and
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disciplinary authority of the board;
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(b) To comply with this chapter and the applicable board
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rules;
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(c) That if the individual's license as a certified public
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accountant from another the state or a territory of the United
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States becomes invalid of the individual's principal place of
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business is no longer valid, the individual must will cease
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offering or rendering public accounting services in this state,
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individually and on behalf of a firm; and
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(d) To the appointment of the state board that issued the
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individual's license as the agent upon whom process may be
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served in any action or proceeding by the board or department
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against the individual or firm.
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Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
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made by this act to section 473.312, Florida Statutes, in
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references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 473.311, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
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473.311 Renewal of license.—
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(1)
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(b) A nonresident licensee seeking renewal of a license in
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this state shall be determined to have met the continuing
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education requirements in s. 473.312, except for the
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requirements in s. 473.312(1)(c), if the licensee has complied
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with the continuing education requirements applicable in the
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state in which his or her office is located. If the state in
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which the nonresident licensee's office is located has no
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continuing education requirements for license renewals, the
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nonresident licensee must comply with the continuing education
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requirements in s. 473.312.
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Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.