[Anonymous]

Question: My CFO let his license expire in the State of Maryland.Our offices are in Georgia. I cannot get my experience signed off because he is not an active CPA. We are trying to find the best way to get him active again with the least amount of time. I found out that in order to get the Maryland license active that he would need to complete 80 CPE hours first. This will cost over $5k and take some time. I was thinking that he should just apply for a initial license with the State of Georgia and forget about the Maryland license as he does not care about it. Can he do that? Or does it matter that he had a license in Maryland and need it reinstated first?

[mla1169]

$5k for 80 CPE? Check out CPETHINK.com, I think I paid $349 for UNLIMITED CPE, and it should say right on that website if MD accepts their CPE units.

Time it will take, though. No way around that. Its jup to your CFO how long, can knock it out in a few weeks or drag it out a long time.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Not to scare you…but some states require that the CPA have been active during the time you were gaining your experience *and* when s/he signs off. So, if your CFO lapsed a couple years ago and you got the experience during the time he was lapsed, then you may be in trouble. 😐

That being said, though, like mla said, look up some unlimited places. I've seen a range of prices, but all under $500 (want to say I saw one for $249 but that could be wrong). Just Google “Unlimited CPA CPE”. Most of these little CPE courses are pretty quick, too – like an hour of CPE credit may not require a full hour if you're already familiar with the material, since a lot of it is written so self-paced. I used APlusCPE when I was an RTRP and was pleased with their courses, but am not up-to-date on their pricing (I have some time before I have to do my CPA CPE and was planning to get a 1-year unlimited subscription close to the end of my first reporting period so I could use 6 months for first one and 6 months for second one, and get it all for the price of one unlimited subscription 🙂 ).

EDITED TO ADD: Here's one for $139 from a quick Google search: https://www.cpecredit.com/scripts/prodview.asp?idProduct=434 You'd want to verify that they're truly valid etc. etc. but just from Googling quickly, this looks worth investigating.

[Anonymous]

what Lilla said about CPA have been active during the time you were gaining your experience *and* when s/he signs off.

Although, I think some states may require them just being active while gaining your experience, but NOT when s/he signs off.

Your best bet would be to contact the state for specifics, because we aren't the final authority by any means.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses but the CPE credits is not the question that I am needing input on. Here it is again:

I was thinking that he should just apply for a initial license with the State of Georgia and forget about the Maryland license as he does not care about it. Can he do that? Or does it matter that he had a license in Maryland and need it reinstated first?

[Anonymous]

Ok.

You're probably beat. He most likely would have had to have been licensed during the entire timeframe that covers your experience.

You are best off contacting whatever state you're seeking licensure in.

[Anonymous]

I think we were all figuring that the CPE route would be quicker, if it was affordable, hence the advice on CPE.

As for applying for a GA license, I would assume he would have to transfer his scores from MD, and likely his scores were long enough ago that they may be considered expired. Furthermore, MD may be unwilling to cooperate in a transfer since he's no longer active. I would call the MD board and the GA board to ask these questions, as I'm pretty sure this is a thing that would vary state-to-state. I don't know the MD specifics, but know that several New England states have scores expire after 7 years or so.

[Kimboroni]

To add to the above, some states require that your supervising CPA be licensed in the state you want to be licensed in.

It does seem like getting the CPE would be the better route.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

I will reach out to the State. My thinking was that he does need the CPE credits to get reinstated in MD but why not just apply for a license in GA and forget about MD since it requires CPE credit for reinstatement. Ga is the ultimate state that he wants a license.

[Kimboroni]

Ah, interesting. What state do you want to be licensed in?

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Ga

[CPA soon]

I believe signatures can only be made by a CPA that has been active for 5 years. At least that's what I remember seeing for Michigan once.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[Kimboroni]

It's looking to me like if your CFO were to apply in GA, then once he has the active license, your experience clock would start then.

https://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/20/3/08.pdf

see item 1. around the middle of page 2

“1. For qualifying experience in industry or business the candidate must (a) …; and (b) have been supervised by a person who holds a current permit or registration to practice public accounting as a certified public accountant or registered public accountant licensed by this State or by the duly constituted laws of any other sovereign state or by the equivalent licensed by another country.”

It reads to me like when you did the work he needed to have an active license, not just when you apply. And it could be active in any state. But calling and asking is always the best way.

As for your CFO getting licensed in GA, there are the complicating factors about the exam transfer already mentioned, plus the education requirements and timing in the above webpage at (1)(c), and is there anyone to sign off on his experience?

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

What you are quoting from the site is for newbies like me. He passed the CPA prior to 1998 which has a different set of experience requirements. It says nothing about being under a licensed CPA. These is only if you passed after 1998. The section is below. This is all too confusing. I got a call into the State to help me out. Thanks for all your help!!!

“Two years’ continuous experience in public accountancy immediately preceding the

date of application for the certificate or within a reasonable time prior to the date of such

application as provided herein by rule, or evidence satisfactory to the Board of five years’

continuous employment in the accounting field in industry, business, government, or

college teaching; any combination of the above; or any combination of the above and

practice in public accountancy immediately preceding the date of application for the

certificate or what the Board determines to be the equivalent thereof”.

[Kimboroni]

Yes, what I quoted was for you as far as when he needed to have an active license in order to sign off on your experience. We had no idea when he passed the exam, which is why I mentioned the timing at (1)(c).

I'm glad you were able to get help!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Java230]

Most states don't require you to be supervised by an active cpa. Maybe you should move your score to another state, get your Cpa and move it back. Also I think you can only transfer active licenses or you will have to comply with the cpe requirements of the new state,which would be similar.

Like Washington only requires that an active cpa signs off on your final experience but your never required to have worked under them. But in Washington only cpa that have held licenses for five years can sign off, not consecutive.

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[Author]

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