[LedgerL0ver]

Hi all,

I was wondering if any of you who had already gone through the process could help with a few issues I am wondering about. I know I should contact my state board, but I have a few different questions and the last time I emailed them with more than one question, they didn’t seem to want to be too helpful sooooo looking to pare it down before I email them haha.

Anyway, I was just wondering about the Moral character references by 3 licensed CPAs. I know a CPA in another state so I am wondering if it would be OK for her to send it to me via PDF or do you think they require the original copy?

I also noticed that the form indicates that my direct supervisor needs to be licensed in the state of NC in order to sign off on the form. What in the hell is this?!?! Just found out she is actually licensed in SC so does this really have the potential to hold me back from getting my license?

It also indicates I can get my license W/O a CPA supervisor sign-off as long as I have 4 years in accounting which I do, but I can’t find this particular form. Would I still just use the normal form and have my supervisor sign off without her license information? I worry about this because then wouldn’t they assume my application is incomplete?

Thanks for any advice!

FAR 4/24/16 --85--
AUD 7/5/16 --84--
BEC 8/30/16 --?--
REG

[Anonymous]

If you're looking to pare down your questions….

PDF or original: 98% chance it requires the original, there's stories all over this forum of applications being returned after they're sat on for 6 weeks because something was a copy/scan/etc., so better to wait the extra 3 days for the USPS to deliver the original, instead of wasting 6 weeks to find out that you needed to wait the 3 days. So, I'd just go with the original.

NC vs SC license for supervisor: Yep, that can hold you back from getting your license. I don't really get the point of states requiring that the supervisor be licensed in the same state, but states that have this requirements are usually extremely strict on it. So, since you have the 4 years, I'd go the 4 year route.

So…that gets you down to 1 question for the NC board, which I don't know the answer to, but at least can get you down to just 1 question to email them. 🙂 And that question is:

“My supervisor a CPA licensed in SC. I have over 4 years of accounting experience, so from my understanding, am not required to have a NC CPA to sign off on my experience. What form(s) should I use to submit my verification of 4 years of experience?”

Hopefully they can answer that one last question and you'll be in good shape to get licensed. 🙂 Glad you had the 4 year option available and already meet it!

[LedgerL0ver]

Lilla, wow thanks so much for the advice- you're the best!! =-)

FAR 4/24/16 --85--
AUD 7/5/16 --84--
BEC 8/30/16 --?--
REG

[LedgerL0ver]

So as expected, I received the most vague, non-helpful response from the person I emailed. I asked about whether I could still use my CFO who is a SC CPA as a moral character reference and also about which form I should use and this is the reply I got.

“You may submit moral character forms from SC CPAs if they are not living and/or working in North Carolina. You should use the experience affidavit available online to document the accounting experience. Thank you.”

Like seriously NO HELP WHATSOEVER. UUUUIUGHHHHHHHHHHGHGHGHGH

FAR 4/24/16 --85--
AUD 7/5/16 --84--
BEC 8/30/16 --?--
REG

[Anonymous]

OK so for the experience form, I pulled it up, and for the CPA information, it looks like your boss can mark “North Carolina” or “Other” and fill in the state, so I'd have your boss do that.

For the moral references, though, that part would be rough. I've been a CPA for 2, going on 3 years now, and I don't know enough CPAs – counting myself – to get that part. We have 1 that is a Consultant here, and I work with him for 2 weeks over the summer (which is our FYE) and see him 3 or 4 times through the year, and we have our auditor who is a CPA, and that's the only CPAs I really know. And…I don't think I know either of them well enough to ask them to fill out that form. They're not people that see me multiple days per week or month, or that know me outside of work at all.

Maybe now you know why your boss is a SC CPA lol.

Seriously though, sorry you're having all these issues. 🙁 Maybe get licensed elsewhere then try to transfer your license back, and if not, remain a SC CPA like your boss? 😛 If you're in industry anyway (which I'm assuming since your boss is a SC CPA…).

[LedgerL0ver]

Thanks again for the advice Lilla. I will try and go that route and just check the “4 years experience in accounting” box and hope for the best.

It is SERIOUSLY ROUGH that I have to know 3 CPAs for moral character!!!! I have 2 definites: a CPA friend and a CPA co-worker but my last moral character (which was GOING to be my CFO) reference is going to have to be the girl who has audited us yearly for the past 4 years. I have been in contact with her throughout the year asking advice about certain things, but it sure is going to be awkward asking her to do this for me. She is a very “by the books” person and I dont know her well enough to know if she would definitely say yes.

So it may come to me having to try and figure out how to get certified in another state unfortunately….

FAR 4/24/16 --85--
AUD 7/5/16 --84--
BEC 8/30/16 --?--
REG

[Author]

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