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| Accounting Board Info |
Board Staff:
Executive Officer, Toni Bright
(515) 281-7468
Licensing Specialist, Jill Simbro
(515) 281-5910 |
Fax: (515)281-7411
Address: 1920 S.E. Hulsizer Road
Ankeny, IA 50021-3941 |
Purpose
The purpose of the
Accountancy Board is to administer and enforce the provisions of Chapter 542C, Code of
Iowa, with regard to the practice of accountancy in the State of Iowa. This includes the
examination of certified public accountant and accounting practitioner candidates, issuing
of certificates and licenses, granting permits to practice, investigating violations and
infractions of the accountancy law and rules, revoking, suspending or refusing to renew
certificates, licenses or permits.
The Board consists of eight
members, five of whom shall be practicing certified public accountants, two members
representing the general public and one accounting practitioner. All Board members are
appointed to three-year staggered terms by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Basic
Facts About the State Boards of Accountancy
In the recent Congressional
discussions of the regulation of Certified Public Accountants, the role of the state
boards of accountancy has been given little attention. Since many state boards are
prohibited from lobbying, legislators have not been given much information about what
their own states are doing to ensure competence of their licensees. Here are some basic
facts:
No one can practice public
accountancy in the United States unless licensed by a state board of accountancy. The
state board is the only body that can revoke a license to practice. While the Securities
and Exchange Commission can prohibit a CPA from providing services for SEC registrants,
the boards can revoke the ability to provide reserved services to any party.
State boards are not
affiliated with any trade association. Board members, both drawn from the accounting
profession and others, are appointed to serve by the Governor.
State boards of accountancy
have disciplinary and enforcement powers over licensees and operate on a complaint-based
system. The SEC and other government agencies have been encouraged to refer problems with
licensees to the state boards. Typically, complaints brought to a board's attention are
sent to its probable cause panel and a copy sent to the licensee. Once probable cause is
determined, a hearing date is set and a notice of hearing sent to the licensee.
To become licensed, an
individual must meet education, examination and experience requirements. To maintain a CPA
license, continuing education requirements also must be fulfilled. In more than half the
states a quality review is mandated for renewal of a firm's permit to practice.
Revocation of a license, or
in a firm's case the revocation of a permit to practice, is only one possible outcome of
the discipline process. There can be suspension for a set period of time, restriction on
practice, required review prior to issuance of reports, additional required education,
and/or fines.
There are approximately
577,000 licensees of the state boards (this includes the 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands and Guam). The Texas Board alone estimates it investigates and prosecutes
approximately 300 alleged violations of the rules of professional conduct and the
Accountancy Act per year.
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