CPA Profession Monitoring State Occupational Licensing Reform

The Governors of Arizona, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming are considering creating an 18-month temporary occupational license for individuals waiting for permanent licensure.  Should the proposal pass, boards of accountancy will have to grant temporary licenses to whomever is eligible.   

However, the AICPA’s State Regulation and Legislation Team is working with state societies, boards of accountancy and NASBA to prevent the temporary licensing proposal from conflicting with existing reciprocity and mobility statutes that cover CPAs. 

The six states are also considering entering an interstate compact whereby each state will grant temporary licenses to individuals with active occupational licenses from one of the other compacting states.  This month, South Dakota’s Governor’s office hosted a conference call to review proposed language.  The Governor’s staff stated that the temporary license program is not intended to conflict with existing and effective reciprocity and mobility statutes.  

Additionally, Utah introduced legislation granting the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, which oversees the state’s board of accountancy, the discretion to grant reciprocal licensure to qualified licensees from other states.