[Eliza]

I emailed my state board asking this, but they have not gotten back to me yet so I figured I would ask here to see if anyone here knew the answer to this.

I already have all of my experience, just under five years in fact. Do I need complete my exams within a certain amount of time? Like, if I were to switch jobs now to a industry job that would not qualify as experience, would my experience at my current job “expire” after a certain amount of time if I don’t complete my exams?

[Recked]

Unfortunately each state is different in these rules. I think TX has something like a 2 year rule, that the experience must be recent within the last 2 years.
I'm not in TX so I have no idea, but I think I read that on here somewhere.
While awaiting a response from the GA state board I'd encourage you to dig into some primary source documents, ie: the GA CPA laws themselves to read up on the requirements.
often times the people responding to emails at the state boards are only administrative or clerical staff, and you are usually better off going to a primary source than random strangers on a CPA forum, or low level administrative staff that might give you incorrect information that will ultimately have an impact on your career.
Best of luck on your journey!

[Eliza]

I've already looked all over the NASBA and GA sites and couldn't find anything. Asking strangers is usually a last resort for me.

[Recked]

Is this helpful?
From the GA CPA FAQ section, link below.
What are the work experience requirements for licensure in Georgia?
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See O.C.G.A. 43-3-6 and Board Rule 20-3-.08. For applications received after June 30, 2009, applicants must have completed one year and 2,000 hours in public accounting; one year and 2,000 hours in business, industry, government or college teaching (teaching at a 4 year college or university in at least two different areas of accounting above the introductory or elementary level); or a combination of work experience in public accounting, business, industry, government or college teaching. Complete requirements are contained in the board’s rules on this website.
_
All work experience must have been supervised by a person who holds a live permit as a certified public accountant except for government or college teaching. In these two areas you must be supervised; however, the supervisor is not required to hold a CPA license. The experience must have been earned no earlier than one-year prior to application; the experience may have breaks in service of no longer than 1-year in duration.
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https://gsba.georgia.gov/licensure#field_related_links-401-10

[Recked]

How about this?
(B) One year of 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 by the board by rule, provided that the board may promulgate rules stating certain circumstances which shall constitute acceptable breaks in the continuity of said experience; and provided, further, that the board may accept, in lieu of such year of experience in public accounting, evidence satisfactory to it of one year of 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 of public accountancy immediately preceding the date of application for the certificate or what the board determines to be the equivalent thereof; and provided, further, that any person certified as a certified public accountant under the laws of this state on July 1, 1977, shall be deemed to have the experience in the practice of public accountancy required by this subparagraph; and
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-43/chapter-3/43-3-6/

[Recked]

The qualifying experience must be continuous experience obtained within a reasonable time prior to the date of application for the license. The date of application shall be the date the application is received in the Board office.
(a) Continuous experience shall be uninterrupted experience during the time period in Which the required experience was earned, provided, however, that a break in continuity of employment for a reasonable duration in any of the following circumstances may be treated as an acceptable break:
1. Involuntary termination by an employer;
2. Illness;
3. Full-time school attendance at a four year college or university which offers a baccalaureate degree;
4. Maternity leave;
5. Military leave;
6. Relocation; or
7. A break for any other reason for not more than one year.

Any periods of time deemed to be acceptable breaks shall not be counted as part of the qualifying experience.
(b) If an application is dated, and filed not more than one year subsequent to completion of qualifying experience, that experience shall be presumed by the Board to have been obtained within a reasonable time prior to the date of such application.
(c) Any other circumstances shall be reviewed by the Board on a case by case basis in its discretion.
https://rules.sos.state.ga.us/gac/20-3?urlRedirected=yes&data=admin&lookingfor=20-3

[Eliza]

I've seen both of those before, but it's not very specific. Maybe I'm missing it, but do they mean application to sit for the test or application for licensure? And they don't mention anything about the exams.

The reason this bothers me is because a Becker teacher once told me that there was a one year expiration on experience, but nothing I find seems to really answer my question. I just want to be sure before I jump the gun and switch positions, or if it's better to stay where I'm at just in case I can't get my exams done in a year.

[Recked]

The qualifying experience must be continuous experience obtained within a reasonable time prior to the date of application for the license
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That says application for license, not application to sit for the exams.
You need zero experience to sit for the exams. I think those quotes do answer your question, they are just not the answer you are looking for.
I would play it safe and stay where you are until you pass. Previous employers are also known to make experience sign off a living hell. Best to stay on their good side until this is over.

[Author]

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