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THE BILL ITSELF

CS/SB 364

Public Accountancy

VERSION S 364 c1 · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 364 By the Committee on Regulated Industries; and Senators Gruters, Rodriguez, and Boyd 580-01754-26 2026364c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public accountancy; amending s.
3 473.301, F.S.; making a technical change regarding the
4 purpose of ch. 473, F.S.; amending s. 473.302, F.S.;
5 deleting the definition of the term “Uniform
6 Accountancy Act”; amending s. 473.3035, F.S.;
7 authorizing the Board of Accountancy to competitively
8 procure contracted services with certain corporations
9 not for profit for the performance of certain duties
10 assigned to the Division of Certified Public
11 Accounting of the Department of Business and
12 Professional Regulation; authorizing the board to
13 rescind such contracted services at any time by a
14 majority vote; amending s. 473.306, F.S.; conforming a
15 cross-reference; making a technical change; amending
16 s. 473.308, F.S.; revising the education and work
17 experience requirements for a certified public
18 accountant license; directing the board to prescribe
19 specified coursework for licensure; revising
20 requirements for licensure by endorsement; revising
21 requirements for licensure of international
22 applicants; deleting obsolete language; amending s.
23 473.312, F.S.; revising requirements for the approval
24 of providers who administer continuing education on
25 ethics for certified public accountants; requiring the
26 board to give preference to certain providers;
27 amending s. 473.3141, F.S.; revising requirements for
28 certified public accountants licensed in another state
29 or a territory of the United States to practice in
30 this state without obtaining a license; amending s.
31 473.309, F.S.; conforming cross-references; reenacting
32 s. 473.311(1)(b), F.S., relating to renewal of
33 license, to incorporate the amendment made to s.
34 473.312, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an
35 effective date.
37 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
39 Section 1. Section 473.301, Florida Statutes, is amended to
40 read:
41 473.301 Purpose.—The Legislature recognizes that there is a
42 public need for independent and objective certified public
43 accountants and that it is necessary to regulate the practice of
44 public accounting to assure the minimum competence of
45 practitioners and the accuracy of audit statements upon which
46 the public relies and to protect the public from dishonest
47 practitioners and, therefore, deems it necessary in the interest
48 of public welfare to regulate the practice of public accountancy
49 in this state.
50 Section 2. Subsection (9) of section 473.302, Florida
51 Statutes, is amended to read:
52 473.302 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
53 (9) “Uniform Accountancy Act” means the Uniform Accountancy
54 Act, Eighth Edition, dated January 2018 and published by the
55 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the
56 National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.
58 However, these terms shall not include services provided by the
59 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or the
60 Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or any full
61 service association of certified public accounting firms whose
62 plans of administration have been approved by the board, to
63 their members or services performed by these entities in
64 reviewing the services provided to the public by members of
65 these entities.
66 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 473.3035, Florida
67 Statutes, is amended to read:
68 473.3035 Division of Certified Public Accounting.—
69 (1) All services concerning this chapter, including, but
70 not limited to, recordkeeping services, examination services,
71 legal services, and investigative services, and those services
72 in chapter 455 necessary to perform the duties of this chapter
73 are shall be provided by the Division of Certified Public
74 Accounting. The board may, by majority vote, delegate a duty or
75 duties to the appropriate division within the department or
76 competitively procure contracted services pursuant to part I of
77 chapter 287 for the performance of such duties, except for
78 investigative services. All such contracted services must be
79 fulfilled by corporations organized under chapter 617 . The board
80 may, by majority vote, rescind any such delegation of duties or
81 contracted services at any time.
82 Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 473.306, Florida
83 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) of that section is
84 republished, to read:
85 473.306 Examinations.—
86 (3) An applicant is entitled to take the licensure
87 examination to practice in this state as a certified public
88 accountant if:
89 (a) The applicant has completed 120 semester hours or 180
90 quarter hours from an accredited college or university with a
91 concentration in accounting and business courses as prescribed
92 specified by the board by rule; and
93 (b) The applicant shows that she or he has good moral
94 character. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “good moral
95 character” has the same meaning as provided in s. 473.308(6)(a)
96 s. 473.308(7)(a) . The board may refuse to allow an applicant to
97 take the licensure examination for failure to satisfy this
98 requirement if:
99 1. The board finds a reasonable relationship between the
100 lack of good moral character of the applicant and the
101 professional responsibilities of a certified public accountant;
102 and
103 2. The finding by the board of lack of good moral character
104 is supported by competent substantial evidence.
106 If an applicant is found pursuant to this paragraph to be
107 unqualified to take the licensure examination because of a lack
108 of good moral character, the board must shall furnish to the
109 applicant a statement containing the findings of the board, a
110 complete record of the evidence upon which the determination was
111 based, and a notice of the rights of the applicant to a
112 rehearing and appeal.
113 (4) The board shall have the authority to establish the
114 standards for determining and shall determine:
115 (a) What constitutes a passing grade for each subject or
116 part of the licensure examination;
117 (b) Which educational institutions, in addition to the
118 universities in the State University System of Florida, shall be
119 deemed to be accredited colleges or universities;
120 (c) What courses and number of hours constitute a major in
121 accounting; and
122 (d) What courses and number of hours constitute additional
123 accounting courses acceptable under s. 473.308(4).
124 Section 5. Subsections (4) through (10) of section 473.308,
125 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
126 473.308 Licensure.—
127 (4) (a) An applicant for licensure must meet at least one of
128 the following requirements:
129 1. Complete have at least 150 semester hours of college
130 education, including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred
131 by an accredited college or university, with a concentration in
132 accounting and business as prescribed in the total educational
133 program to the extent specified by the board.
134 2. Hold a master’s degree in accounting or finance
135 conferred by an accredited college or university with a
136 concentration in accounting and business as prescribed by the
137 board.
138 3. Hold a baccalaureate degree in accounting or finance
139 conferred by an accredited college or university with a
140 concentration in accounting and business as prescribed by the
141 board.
142 4. Hold a baccalaureate degree in any major course of study
143 conferred by an accredited college or university and have
144 completed coursework required for a concentration in accounting
145 and business as prescribed by the board.
146 (b) The board shall prescribe the coursework required for a
147 concentration in accounting and business. The board may deem an
148 applicant to have satisfied requirements for such coursework if
149 the applicant receives a baccalaureate or higher degree in
150 accounting or finance conferred by an accredited college or
151 university in a state or territory of the United States. An
152 applicant receiving a baccalaureate or higher degree with a
153 major course of study other than accounting or finance must
154 complete the coursework required for a concentration in
155 accounting and business as prescribed by the board.
156 (5)(a) An applicant for licensure who completes the
157 education requirements under subparagraph (4)(a)1. or
158 subparagraph (4)(a)2. after December 31, 2008, must show that he
159 or she has had 1 year of work experience. An applicant who
160 completes the education requirements under subparagraph (4)(a)3.
161 or subparagraph (4)(a)4. must show 2 years of work experience.
162 (b) Such work This experience includes shall include
163 providing any type of service or advice involving the use of
164 accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial
165 advisory, tax, or consulting skills, all of which must be
166 verified by a certified public accountant who is licensed by a
167 state or territory of the United States. This experience is
168 acceptable if it was gained through employment in government,
169 industry, academia, or public practice; constituted a
170 substantial part of the applicant’s duties; and was verified by
171 a certified public accountant licensed by a state or territory
172 of the United States. The board shall adopt rules specifying
173 standards and providing for the review and approval of the work
174 experience required by this subsection section .
175 (b) However, an applicant who completed the requirements of
176 subsection (4) on or before December 31, 2008, and who passes
177 the licensure examination on or before June 30, 2010, is exempt
178 from the requirements of this subsection.
179 (6) (a) An applicant for licensure must shall show that he
180 or she the applicant has good moral character. For purposes of
181 this paragraph, the term:
182 (7)(a) “good moral character” means a personal history of
183 honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of others and for
184 the laws of this state and nation.
185 (b) The board may refuse to certify an applicant for
186 failure to satisfy this requirement if:
187 1. The board finds a reasonable relationship between the
188 lack of good moral character of the applicant and the
189 professional responsibilities of a certified public accountant;
190 and
191 2. The finding by the board of lack of good moral character
192 is supported by competent substantial evidence.
193 (c) When an applicant is found to be unqualified for a
194 license because of a lack of good moral character, the board
195 shall furnish to the applicant a statement containing the
196 findings of the board, a complete record of the evidence upon
197 which the determination was based, and a notice of the rights of
198 the applicant to a rehearing and appeal.
199 (7) (8) The board shall certify as qualified for a license
200 by endorsement an applicant who :
201 (a) Is not licensed and has not been licensed in any state
202 or territory and who has met the requirements of this section
203 for education, work experience, and good moral character and has
204 passed a national, regional, state, or territorial licensing
205 examination that is substantially equivalent to the examination
206 required by s. 473.306; or
207 (b)1. holds an active a valid license in good standing to
208 practice public accounting issued by another state or a
209 territory of the United States, if the applicant has maintained
210 good moral character and, at the time of licensure by such other
211 state or territory, the applicant was required to show evidence
212 of having obtained at least a baccalaureate degree from an
213 accredited college or university and having passed the Uniform
214 CPA Examination criteria for issuance of such license were
215 substantially equivalent to the licensure criteria that existed
216 in this state at the time the license was issued;
217 2. Holds a valid license to practice public accounting
218 issued by another state or territory of the United States but
219 the criteria for issuance of such license did not meet the
220 requirements of subparagraph 1.; has met the requirements of
221 this section for education, work experience, and good moral
222 character; and has passed a national, regional, state, or
223 territorial licensing examination that is substantially
224 equivalent to the examination required by s. 473.306; or
225 3. Holds a valid license to practice public accounting
226 issued by another state or territory of the United States for at
227 least 10 years before the date of application; has passed a
228 national, regional, state, or territorial licensing examination
229 that is substantially equivalent to the examination required by
230 s. 473.306; and has met the requirements of this section for
231 good moral character .
232 (8) (9) An international applicant who seeks licensure as a
233 certified public accountant in this state must meet at least one
234 of the following requirements:
235 (a) Hold an active license in good standing to If the
236 applicant has at least 5 years of experience in the practice of
237 public accountancy in the United States or in the practice of
238 public accountancy or its equivalent in a foreign country that
239 the International Qualifications Appraisal Board of the National
240 Association of State Boards of Accountancy has determined has
241 licensure standards that are substantially equivalent to those
242 in the United States, or has at least 5 years of work experience
243 that meets the requirements of subsection (5), the board must
244 waive the requirements of subsection (4) which are in excess of
245 a baccalaureate degree. All experience that is used as a basis
246 for waiving the requirements of subsection (4) must be while
247 licensed as a certified public accountant by another state or
248 territory of the United States or while licensed in the practice
249 of public accounting, accountancy or its equivalent , in a
250 foreign country that the International Qualifications Appraisal
251 Board of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
252 has determined has licensure standards equal that are
253 substantially equivalent to those in the United States , and the
254 international applicant has passed an exam pursuant to s.
255 473.306(5).
256 (b) Hold an active license in good standing to practice
257 public accounting, or its equivalent, in a foreign country that
258 the International Qualifications Appraisal Board of the National
259 Association of State Boards of Accountancy has not determined
260 has licensure standards equal to those in the United States, and
261 the international applicant has met the requirements for
262 education, work experience, and good moral character under
263 subsections (4), (5), and (6) and has passed the Uniform CPA
264 Examination . The board shall have the authority to establish the
265 standards for experience that meet this requirement.
266 (9) (10) The board may refuse to certify for licensure any
267 applicant who is under investigation in another state for any
268 act that would constitute a violation of this act or chapter
269 455, until such time as the investigation is complete and
270 disciplinary proceedings are have been terminated.
271 Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
272 473.312, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
273 473.312 Continuing education.—
274 (1)
275 (c) At least Not less than 5 percent of the total hours
276 required by the board must shall be in ethics applicable to the
277 practice of public accounting . This requirement shall be
278 administered by providers approved by the board , and a majority
279 of the hours must shall include a review of the provisions of
280 chapter 455 and this chapter , chapter 455, and the related
281 administrative rules. Such requirement must be administered by
282 reputable providers approved by the board. The board shall give
283 preference to corporations not for profit organized under
284 chapter 617 which are exempt from taxation under s. 501(c)(6) of
285 the Internal Revenue Code and which demonstrate their
286 experience, integrity, knowledge, practice, professional
287 responsibility, and representation of the largest numbers of
288 certified public accountants in this state.
289 Section 7. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 473.3141,
290 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
291 473.3141 Certified public accountants licensed in other
292 states.—
293 (1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, An
294 individual who holds an active license in good standing to
295 practice public accounting in another state or a territory of
296 the United States and who does not have an office in this state
297 has the privileges of Florida certified public accountants and
298 may provide public accounting services in this state without
299 obtaining a license under this chapter or notifying or
300 registering with the board or paying a fee if , at the time of
301 licensure by such other state or territory, the individual was
302 required to show evidence of having obtained at least a
303 baccalaureate degree and having passed the Uniform CPA
304 Examination :
305 (a) Holds a valid license as a certified public accountant
306 from a state that the board or its designee has determined by
307 rule to have adopted standards that are substantially equivalent
308 to the certificate requirements in s. 5 of the Uniform
309 Accountancy Act in the issuance of licenses; or
310 (b) Holds a valid license as a certified public accountant
311 from a state that has not been approved by the board as having
312 adopted standards in substantial equivalence with s. 5 of the
313 Uniform Accountancy Act, but obtains verification from the
314 board, or its designee, as determined by rule, that the
315 individual’s certified public accountant qualifications are
316 substantially equivalent to the certificate requirements in s. 5
317 of the Uniform Accountancy Act . The board shall define by rule
318 what constitutes an office.
319 (3) An individual certified public accountant from another
320 state or a territory of the United States who practices pursuant
321 to this section, and the firm that employs that individual, must
322 shall both consent, as a condition of the privilege of
323 practicing in this state:
324 (a) To the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and
325 disciplinary authority of the board;
326 (b) To comply with this chapter and the applicable board
327 rules;
328 (c) That if the individual’s license as a certified public
329 accountant from another the state or a territory of the United
330 States becomes invalid of the individual’s principal place of
331 business is no longer valid , the individual must will cease
332 offering or rendering public accounting services in this state,
333 individually and on behalf of a firm; and
334 (d) To the appointment of the state board that issued the
335 individual’s license as the agent upon whom process may be
336 served in any action or proceeding by the board or department
337 against the individual or firm.
338 Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1), paragraph (d)
339 of subsection (2), and paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of
340 section 473.309, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
341 473.309 Practice requirements for partnerships,
342 corporations, and limited liability companies; business entities
343 practicing public accounting.—
344 (1) A partnership may not engage in the practice of public
345 accounting, as defined in s. 473.302(8)(a), or meet the
346 requirements of s. 473.3101(1)(b), unless:
347 (c) At least one general partner is a certified public
348 accountant of this state and holds an active license or, in the
349 case of a firm that must have a license pursuant to s.
350 473.3101(1)(c), at least one general partner is a certified
351 public accountant in some state and meets the requirements of s.
352 473.3141 s. 473.3141(1)(a) or (b) .
353 (2) A corporation may not engage in the practice of public
354 accounting, as defined in s. 473.302(8)(a), or meet the
355 requirements of s. 473.3101(1)(b), unless:
356 (d) At least one shareholder of the corporation is a
357 certified public accountant and holds an active license in this
358 state or, in the case of a firm that must have a license
359 pursuant to s. 473.3101(1)(c), at least one shareholder is a
360 certified public accountant in some state and meets the
361 requirements of s. 473.3141 s. 473.3141(1)(a) or (b) .
362 (3) A limited liability company may not engage in the
363 practice of public accounting, as defined in s. 473.302(8)(a),
364 or meet the requirements of s. 473.3101(1)(b), unless:
365 (c) At least one member of the limited liability company is
366 a certified public accountant and holds an active license in
367 this state or, in the case of a firm that must have a license
368 pursuant to s. 473.3101(1)(c), at least one member is a
369 certified public accountant in some state and meets the
370 requirements of s. 473.3141 s. 473.3141(1)(a) or (b) .
371 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
372 made by this act to section 473.312, Florida Statutes, in a
373 reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
374 473.311, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
375 473.311 Renewal of license.—
376 (1)
377 (b) A nonresident licensee seeking renewal of a license in
378 this state shall be determined to have met the continuing
379 education requirements in s. 473.312, except for the
380 requirements in s. 473.312(1)(c), if the licensee has complied
381 with the continuing education requirements applicable in the
382 state in which his or her office is located. If the state in
383 which the nonresident licensee’s office is located has no
384 continuing education requirements for license renewals, the
385 nonresident licensee must comply with the continuing education
386 requirements in s. 473.312.
387 Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.