[joyflying]

Hi,

I recently heard that only external auditing counts as “public accounting” working experience, which I feel very limited for most of the accounting professionals. Anyone who knows what “public accounting working experiences” really include? Does working in corporate count? And do taxes, internal audit, and/or accounting count? Does internship count? And does the working experience abroad count?

Sorry, I just have so many questions! Anyone can help me out here? Thanks a bunch!!

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Anonymous]

The experience needed will vary by state. I am in WV and it requires 1 year in any business type but a CPA must verify the work. It does not mean that you have to work under the CPA, it can be an auditor, etc as long as they can verify the experience. Again, this varies betweeen states and you can visit the Board of Accountancy website for your state to review their rules.

[Missy]

In MA the experience has to be in attest unless you have a masters and get a “non reporting” license.

What state are you in?

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[joyflying]

@mla11692 I am in MA too. I have a masters in accounting and have some internship experiences in the accounting department but less than a year. What is “non-reporting” license? I only heard of the “inactive license” and one of my professors said that one can only obtain “inactive license” after getting an active one (which I am not sure whether it is true). I did look at the State Board of Accountancy of different states, which get me really dizzy and that's why I am here.

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Missy]

A non reporting license prohibits you from doing any attest (audit) services just because you haven't met the experience. If you ever do go into audit you can upgrade to a full license at any time.

You can just call yourself a CPA, there is no need to call yourself a non reporting CPA. If someone asks you to do an audit of course you have to decline it and say you're not authorized for attest services. No big deal really.

I've been a non reporting CPA in MA since 2012. I work in industry as a finance manager so as far as anybody knows I'm just a CPA 🙂

With a MS in accounting you should be able to apply as soon as you get your REG score. The graduate level degree eliminates the need for experience of any type/time period,. Let me know if you have any questions,I'm always around here.

https://www.mass.gov/ocabr/docs/dpl/boards/pa/apnonrep.pdf

Your professor is correct that the only way to have an inactive license is to have been active in the first place.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[joyflying]

@mla11692 I just took a look at it — it seems to meet my needs! The only thing is that I took the exam in NH board of Accountancy and might have to do an extra academic evaluation :'(

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[joyflying]

@mla11692 I just took a look at it — it seems to meet my needs! The only thing is that I took the exam in NH board of Accountancy and might have to do an extra academic evaluation :'( (Why don't they just use the same evaluation system?! — I have already forgot which evaluation system I used for sitting for the tests!)

Another question is that the reference letters. It says that it requires 3 reference letters from my employers. Can all three letters come from my colleagues in the same company? Or it has to be from colleagues in different companies? Can I ask my professors to write it as I am currently working at school as graduate assistant.

And does it only require for one employment letter?

It looks like there are still lots of work to do!!

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Missy]

I think I had my boss write my employer letter, and three other people I worked with write the character reference letters. I also think I wrote the letter for each of them and had them sign it LOL Just a basic “I have worked with MLA11692 since March 2008 and find her to be of excellent moral character”.

Its really more a formality and I'm not convinced anybody actually READS them.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[joyflying]

@mla11692 Haha that would work! Now I am just dying to have my score released! Fingers crossed.

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[joyflying]

@mla11692 Hi mla, I have a follow-up question: Do I have to take the ethics exam before I apply for the non-reporting license? Or I take that after I apply for it?

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Tncincy]

@joyflying , did you pass on your first try? impressive scores.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Missy]

Unless something has drastically changed in the last 3 years, you don't need to take an ethics exam to get your first license in MA. You will need to take it as part of your CPE requirement every time you renew though.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[joyflying]

@mla11692 Ah thanks. I did not see any specific requirement on MA State Board of Accountancy regarding the ethics exams requirements, so maybe not.

@tncincy I am still waiting for my REG score to pop next week. But yeah, I passed all the other ones on my first try.

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[joyflying]

@mla11692 Ah one more question is that is it possible that the company that you work at will cover this licensing fees for you after you start working? It looks like another huge expenses. Will the company help you get the license?

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Missy]

I've never heard of a company paying the license fee, but I suppose it could happen. $179 every 2 years is not a huge expense, really. The CPE units can be expensive. I usually do a subscription type service that gives unlimited courses for under $200/year.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[joyflying]

@mla11692 yeah, that would be what I thought it would be. Thanks.

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Author]

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