[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks for helping me get through these exams!

I have officially passed all four parts of the exam and in the process of applying for a non-reporting CPA license though Massachusetts (https://www.mass.gov/ocabr/docs/dpl/boards/pa/apnonrep.pdf). I am opting for the non-reporting designation due to the fact that I am not working at an accounting firm, but in a corporate role (accounting/finance). Since I have my Masters in Accounting I am able to bypass the 1000 hour requirement. The non-reporting license works for me as I don’t ever intend on issuing reports on financial statements in my career.

I am currently applying in MA, but my job will be relocating me to Indiana in the next 3-4 months. Has anyone had any luck transferring a non-reporting license to a state that does not offer a non-reporting license? It would be a shame if I put in all this hard work and I wasn’t able to transfer the license.

Thanks in advance.

[neika822]

Thanks, @mla. Volunteering might be a good idea if I can figure out how to do that while keeping my other job! I'll keep it in mind 🙂

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[HighMileageDude]

Is a non-reporting license considered a “license to practice?”

[HighMileageDude]

Update – Again, I called a NASBA licensing specialist – said it's OK to apply for reciprocity with a non-reporting CPA license. I wanted to make absolutely sure because a non-reporting license is restricted

[HighMileageDude]

UPDATE: With a non-reporting license in Massachusetts, I was able to obtain a CPA license in the state of Colorado via reciprocity. As noted above, I checked with Colorado, who referred me to NASBA (I believe they handle all of Colorado's licensing), and NASBA indicated to me that as long as:

1) the non-reporting CPA license in Massachusetts is active

2) completed 80 CPE credits within the past 2 years

3) completed the AICPA ethics exam with a score of 90%+

4) & completed the Colorado Rules & Regulations CPE course

I'm good to go.

I almost couldn't believe it, because it seemed as though a Massachusetts non-reporting license, given with a non-reporting license that one cannot sign off on financial reports, is RESTRICTED (e.g. Cpamobility.org seem to support this – my non-reporting license would be immobile if I cross state lines with the message “Individual mobility is available (with no further filing or fee) if you hold an active unrestricted CPA license in your principal place of business. “CPA license” means a CPA license granted by the state board after all education, exam and experience requirements have been met.” So I figured, given I do not have MA's required 1000hours of attest experience, that I would first have to obtain 1000hrs to upgrade the MA license to full-reporting before being allowed to go the reciprocity route….(or just apply as a new applicant in Colorado altogether).

You will need to check with the state board and/or NASBA for specifics but reciprocity (at least in Colorado) is possible. Hopefully, this will be helpful to anyone else out there with a non-reporting (restricted) Massachusetts license seeking reciprocity.

[mla1169]

I've got to be honest, I'm shocked. I figured that if I ever left MA I'd have to meet the experience requirement which isn't ever going to happen at my age 🙂

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[neika822]

Good job!!

And I'm shocked, too! I really was expecting it to not go through. At least I'll have Colorado as an option, should I move 🙂

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[Anonymous]

You guys should definitely move. Denver is incredible!

[mayleecpa]

HI All,

Could you guys please help me to figure out my question? I will appreciate it.

I want to apply non-reporting license in MA.

I don't have a Master degree but I meet 150 hour education requirement.

I have six years accounting experience in non-public firm in my country (Taiwan) from 1999-2005. And I have two and half years accounting experience (2009-2012) in MA (also non-public firm) . Both of my jobs were not supervised under a CPA.

My questions is do I meet the experience requirement to apply non-reporting license in MA?

A-77

B-65,82

F-81

R-88

Becker self-study

[mla1169]

Sorry there is no experience requirement for a non reporting license, and 150 credits won't allow you the non reporting license unless you have a masters degree.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mayleecpa]

Thank you very much mla1169 !

[M. Carlos]

HighMileageDude (or anyone that can help),

Congrats on your new Colorado CPA.

Could you please help me clarify? I've read a couple conflicting posts…

To qualify for CO's “education in lieu of experience”, can I take all 150 hours at an undergrad level? Or must I complete the additional 30 hours at the graduate level?

The published rules seem a bit vague to me, and I'd like to complete all the courses at an undergrad level (less expensive), but I'd hate to find out after the fact that I needed graduate courses, or a master's degree.

Specifically, I already have an undergrad degree in Finance, and am hoping to tack on (via online undergrad credits) the additional hours in accounting to qualify for CO's “education in lieu of experience”.

Thank you very much for your help!

[shf8]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I know this post is quite old but I'm in a similar situation. I'm trying to find out the difference between a non-reporting license and a reporting license as I am a Massachusetts CPA candidate. From what I can see, a non reporting license does not let you sign off on an audit. However, I will be doing tax at a Big 4 and have just received my Master's in Accounting. Tax services are not a function of attestation, correct? So I wouldn't be able to qualify for a reporting license. However, if I were to switch to audit within my company, would I then be able to receive a reporting license once I have completed the 1000 hours? Is there a time restriction for the 1000 hours completion? I'm just out of college and want to make sure that a non-reporting license won't hold me back from anything in the future. Any insight would be extremely helpful, thanks!

AUD: 81!
BEC: 75!
FAR: 54, 74, 89!
REG: 67, 86!

[mla1169]

At any time you can complete the 1000 hours and receive a reporting license (as long as your non reporting license is in good standing).

The only difference is that you may not sign off on any attest services until you have a full license, theres not even a need to disclose your license is non reporting unless you are asked to provide an attest service. I disclose it up front because I've never worked in public and get asked how I got my license on interviews.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[pinkerton7384]

Here is a FAQ from the MA board website:

“How can I receive full license privileges to allow me to sign off on financial statements once issued the non reporting license?

You will qualify for an upgrade to full license privileges after you comply with the provisions of 252 CMR 3.02(5), which remains unchanged in the current regulations as of November 3, 2006. Non reporting candidates should review this regulation carefully. It would only be relevant if the non reporting licensee wished to accept a report engagement after becoming licensed. Many licensees practice public accountancy and do not issue reports on financial statements.

If you wish to upgrade to a full license, the purpose of the regulation is to ensure that you take the 80 hours of report CPE within six months of accepting the report engagement to gain the knowledge of reporting before taking a report engagement. Then, you can sign up for the peer review of this report with a report acceptance body and they will give you a list of peer reviewers to comply with the provisions of the rule within nine months of issuing the report. They will also schedule subsequent peer reviews as required by 252 CMR 2.15.”

In summary, if you want a full reporting license from the get go, you need the 1000 hours in the report function on full disclosure statements. If you get a non-reporting license, you need to get the 80 hours of CPE in the attest function within 6 months prior to accepting a report engagement.

If you can switch to attest work and get the hours to begin with, I'd suggest doing that and getting the full reporting license. Then you don't have to worry about it in the future.

BEC - 75
AUD - 88
REG - 85
FAR - 75

DONE!!!

[pedrocerrano]

I wonder how MA non-reporting CPAs beginning their career in public accounting tax get their 1000hours of attest? Do they have to do a rotation through audit?

[Author]

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