[jvcpa]

I passed the exams but ran in to a roadblock due to the fact that the state I applied to (MS) has different education requirements from the state where I originally registered for the exam (WA). They basically don’t take two-year credits in MS, but they do in 45 other states. I’ve thought about appealing, has anyone ever heard of someone getting around the rules in a situation like this? I mean, isn’t it pretty infuriating that I’ve passed the exam but they say that my education requirements are insufficient for their board? In that case, how did I pass the EXAM?!

Anyway, I’m anticipating a move to greener pastures due to my spouse’s job within the next year, so I’m not really worried about Mississippi’s archaic board and regulations. However, I am concerned about my work experience, which was under an “ex-CPA”. This person was a CPA for twenty years, switched careers into HR, eventually went back to finance, became a CFO, and then decided the CPA wasn’t going to elevate them past CFO status so they decided not to re-register and catch-up on 200 hours of CPE. They were designated as “failed to register” for the latter part of their career. Now they are retired.

Would this experience count with any of the state boards, or do I need to find a job under a currently licensed CPA? Any thoughts or discussion are welcome as I’m really going a bit crazy over my predicament.

Passed: R-F-B-A - Persistence is the key to passing.

[Anonymous]

In my state (KY), the work doesn't have to be done for a CPA, but simply has to have a CPA sign off on it. So, I worked for an accountant who has a degree in accounting but has never attempted the exams (or if he did he failed and won't admit it – point is, he's not a CPA). He can't sign off on his experience, but I know a CPA who is willing to sign off on it. The requirements are that the signing CPA be actively licensed during hte time that hte experience is acquired, regardless of whether or not s/he is your employer/boss/etc.

Most states require that the work be done for a CPA, but KY is at least one that doesn't.

[Anonymous]

In my state (KY), the work doesn't have to be done for a CPA, but simply has to have a CPA sign off on it. So, I worked for an accountant who has a degree in accounting but has never attempted the exams (or if he did he failed and won't admit it – point is, he's not a CPA). He can't sign off on his experience, but I know a CPA who is willing to sign off on it. The requirements are that the signing CPA be actively licensed during hte time that hte experience is acquired, regardless of whether or not s/he is your employer/boss/etc.

Most states require that the work be done for a CPA, but KY is at least one that doesn't.

[W_HAMILTON]

The states vary so much. Virginia is oddly lenient; you don't have to work under a CPA and you don't even have to have a CPA sign off. As long as your experience constitutes “substantial use of accounting, financial, tax, or other skills that are relevant … to providing services to the public using the CPA title or to an employer using the CPA title,” you can even have a non-CPA supervisor sign off for the experience requirements. Self-employment doesn't count, but most other accounting-type services for an employer would qualify.

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[W_HAMILTON]

The states vary so much. Virginia is oddly lenient; you don't have to work under a CPA and you don't even have to have a CPA sign off. As long as your experience constitutes “substantial use of accounting, financial, tax, or other skills that are relevant … to providing services to the public using the CPA title or to an employer using the CPA title,” you can even have a non-CPA supervisor sign off for the experience requirements. Self-employment doesn't count, but most other accounting-type services for an employer would qualify.

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[Author]

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