An Act relative to modernizing the pathway to becoming a certified public accountant
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J17 | Redraft | — |
Section 87A1/2 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (e) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- (e) The educational and experience requirement for a certificate shall be one of the following: (i) a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university approved by the board and two years of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board; or (ii) a bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours of additional education from a college or university approved by the board and one year of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board; or (iii) a master’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university approved by the board, and one year of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board. The educational requirements to take the examination required to be passed as a condition for the granting of a certificate shall be set forth in regulations promulgated by the board.
Subsection (d)(2) of section 87B of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clauses (A) and (B), in lines 35-43, and inserting in place thereof the following clauses:- (A) is certified or licensed in the other state and is in good standing in the other state; (B) has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and has completed the education requirements listed in subsection (e) of section 87A1/2; or
Said section 87B is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (h)(2), and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- (h)(2) A person whose principal place of business is outside the commonwealth shall be deemed to have qualifications substantially equivalent to the commonwealth's requirements for the practice of public accountancy and shall be authorized to engage in the practice of certified public accountancy in the commonwealth, including offering and rendering professional services, whether in person or by mail, telephone or electronic means, if such person holds: (i) a valid license as a certified public accountant issued by any other state: provided that the individual has met the education and experience requirements listed in subsection (e) of 87A1/2 and has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination or exceed the licensure requirements of this chapter or approved by the board. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no notice or other submission shall be required by any individual who offers or renders professional services under this section, whether in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means. An individual who practices in this state pursuant to this section consents, as a condition of the grant of such practice privilege: to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority of the board; to comply with this section and the board’s rules; that in the event the individual’s license from the other state is no longer valid, the individual will cease offering or rendering professional services in the commonwealth individually or on behalf of a firm; provided, however, that any person who has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and holds a valid certified public accountant certificate issued by any other state prior to December 31, 2024 shall be deemed exempt from the education requirements in subsection (e) of section 87A1/2. Any person who qualifies for the practice privilege pursuant to this subsection may exercise such privilege in the commonwealth, without limitation on the period of time within which such person may so practice in the commonwealth as long as such person remains qualified pursuant to this subsection, and shall not be required to obtain a certificate or license pursuant to this section, except as provided in this subsection, submit any other notice to the board or obtain a temporary practice permit from, or pay any fee to the board.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on January 1, 2026.
Except as otherwise specified, this act shall take effect upon its passage.
SECTION 1. Section 87A1/2 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (e) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- (e) The educational and experience requirement for a certificate shall be one of the following: (i) a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university approved by the board and two years of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board; or (ii) a bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours of additional education from a college or university approved by the board and one year of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board; or (iii) a master’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university approved by the board, and one year of full-time experience, or the equivalent approved by the board. The educational requirements to take the examination required to be passed as a condition for the granting of a certificate shall be set forth in regulations promulgated by the board. SECTION 2. Subsection (d)(2) of section 87B of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clauses (A) and (B), in lines 35-43, and inserting in place thereof the following clauses:- (A) is certified or licensed in the other state and is in good standing in the other state; (B) has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and has completed the education requirements listed in subsection (e) of section 87A1/2; or SECTION 3. Said section 87B is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (h)(2), and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- (h)(2) A person whose principal place of business is outside the commonwealth shall be deemed to have qualifications substantially equivalent to the commonwealth's requirements for the practice of public accountancy and shall be authorized to engage in the practice of certified public accountancy in the commonwealth, including offering and rendering professional services, whether in person or by mail, telephone or electronic means, if such person holds: (i) a valid license as a certified public accountant issued by any other state: provided that the individual has met the education and experience requirements listed in subsection (e) of 87A1/2 and has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination or exceed the licensure requirements of this chapter or approved by the board. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no notice or other submission shall be required by any individual who offers or renders professional services under this section, whether in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means. An individual who practices in this state pursuant to this section consents, as a condition of the grant of such practice privilege: to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority of the board; to comply with this section and the board’s rules; that in the event the individual’s license from the other state is no longer valid, the individual will cease offering or rendering professional services in the commonwealth individually or on behalf of a firm; provided, however, that any person who has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and holds a valid certified public accountant certificate issued by any other state prior to December 31, 2024 shall be deemed exempt from the education requirements in subsection (e) of section 87A1/2. Any person who qualifies for the practice privilege pursuant to this subsection may exercise such privilege in the commonwealth, without limitation on the period of time within which such person may so practice in the commonwealth as long as such person remains qualified pursuant to this subsection, and shall not be required to obtain a certificate or license pursuant to this section, except as provided in this subsection, submit any other notice to the board or obtain a temporary practice permit from, or pay any fee to the board. SECTION 4. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on January 1, 2026. SECTION 5. Except as otherwise specified, this act shall take effect upon its passage.