N.H. Admin. Code § Ac 301.02

Current through Register No. 50, December 12, 2024

Section Ac 301.02 - CPA Certification Process Overview

Each person seeking a New Hampshire certificate to practice as a CPA shall:

(a) Meet the education requirements set forth in RSA 309-B:5, III, and in Ac 302.02 prior to sitting for the applicable CPA exam;

(b) Meet the experience requirements set forth RSA 309-B:5, IX or X, or a combination of both provided that the minimum amount of experience is documented, and in Ac 302.04;

(c) Take and pass the required applicable CPA examination, the requirements for which shall be the following:

(1) The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination created and graded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and administered by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) for each applicant who is not licensed as:

a.A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in any jurisdiction in the United States or Hong Kong;

b.A Chartered Accountant (CA) in Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland;

c.A Contadores Publicos Certificado (CPC) in Mexico; or

d.A holder of any other foreign designation granted in a foreign country and which complies with RSA 309-B:7, X, as determined by NASBA and the board;

(2) The International Qualifications Examination administered by NASBA for each applicant who is licensed pursuant to (1)a. - d. above, and who seeks licensure by reciprocity;

(3) Each applicant shall contact the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to apply to sit for the exam;

(4) Each applicant shall contact the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to apply for a certificate to practice as a CPA in New Hampshire;

(5) Applications shall include the payment of the fee required by NASBA, as well as the provision of any documents required by NASBA to determine the applicant's eligibility, in accordance with these rules, to sit for the exam or for a certificate to practice as a CPA in New Hampshire;

(6) Once the applicant is determined to be eligible to sit for the exam, NASBA shall send a Notice to Schedule (NTS) to the applicant;

(7) Once the applicant receives the NTS, the applicant shall make arrangements to schedule and sit for the exam within 6 months of the issue date on the NTS;

(8) The board shall refer all inquiries regarding such arrangements directly to NASBA; and

(9) The applicant shall direct all communication regarding:

a.All aspects of the administration of the examination or for a certificate to practice as a CPA in New Hampshire to NASBA; and

b.Unresolved conflicts between the applicant and NASBA to the board.

(d) For an initial certification, each applicant shall submit an application package to NASBA that includes:

(1) A fully completed Application For Initial Certification Form, including all required attachments, as described in Ac 301.04;

(2) A minimum of 3 character reference forms, as described in Ac 301.06;

(3) Verification of education, which shall include:

a.If the applicant received his or her education in the United States, an official, sealed transcript from an accredited college or university in the United States and which contains enough information for the board or its designee to determine whether the applicant met the New Hampshire education requirements that were in effect at the time the applicant successfully completed the applicable CPA examination; or

b.If an applicant received his or her education outside the United States, an evaluation from any academic credential evaluation service that has been approved by NASBA and which contains the following information so that the board or its designee can determine whether the applicant met the New Hampshire education requirements that were in effect at the time the applicant successfully completed the applicable CPA examination:

1.An equivalency summary that indicates the analogous academic degrees in the United States the applicant holds;

2.A credential analysis that specifies:

(i) The name of the country;

(ii) The degree awarded;

(iii) The year the degree was awarded; and

(iv) The entity that awarded the degree;

3.A course-by-course listing; and

4.A course credit analysis that includes:

(i) Total credits earned toward the degree as stated on transcripts submitted;

(ii) Total accounting credits earned; and

(iii) Total business credits earned;

(4) Verification of experience, which shall include:

a.Public accounting experience documented using Public Accounting Experience Verification Form, as described in Ac 301.07;

b.Governmental accounting experience documented using Governmental Accounting Experience Verification Form as described in Ac 301.08; or

c.A combination of public and governmental accounting experience using the forms described in a. and b. above, provided that the total amount of experience meets the minimum amount of experience required by RSA 309-B:5;

(5) If the applicant sat for the applicable CPA examination in another state, a fully completed Authorization For Interstate Exchange Of Information Form as described in Ac 301.09; and

(6) The application processing fee as required by NASBA.

(e) For a reciprocity certification, submit an application package that shall include:

(1) A fully completed Reciprocity Application Form, including all required attachments, as described in Ac 301.05;

(2) One of the following:

1.An equivalency summary that indicates the analogous academic degrees in the United States the applicant holds;

2.A credential analysis that specifies:

(i) The name of the country;

(ii) The degree awarded;

(iii) The year the degree was awarded; and

(iv) The entity that awarded the degree;

3.A course-by-course listing; and

4.A course credit analysis that includes:

(i) Total credits earned toward the degree as stated on transcripts submitted;

(ii) Total accounting credits earned; and

(iii) Total business credits earned;

(3) Verification of experience, which shall include:

a.Public accounting experience documented using Public Accounting Experience Verification Form, as described in Ac 301.07 or have been active in practice for at least 4 of the 10 years immediately preceding the application;

b.Governmental accounting experience documented using Governmental Accounting Experience Verification Form as described in Ac 301.08; or

(4) A fully completed Authorization For Interstate Exchange Of Information Form as described in Ac 301.09;

(5) A photocopy of each verifying CPA, CA, CPC or other equivalent foreign designation holder's:

a.Driver's license clearly showing such person's photograph, identification information, and signature; or

b.Passport clearly showing such person's photograph, identification information, and signature; and

(6) The application fee required pursuant to RSA 309-B:4, VIII(h) and as specified in Ac 301.13; and

(f) If the applicant is unable to provide the verification of experience as required by (e) (3) above, provide proof of:

(1) Passing, within the 10 years immediately preceding the application, the examination on which the certificate was based pursuant to RSA 309-B:7, III(b); and

(2) Having acquired at least 4 years' public accounting experience outside New Hampshire after passing the examination required pursuant to (1) above.

(g) Personally appear before the board or a designee of the board if the board determines that there are any questions regarding any aspect of the application that cannot be completely resolved without such a personal appearance.

N.H. Admin. Code § Ac 301.02

#1663, eff 12-17-80; ss by #1972, eff 2-28-82; ss by #2475, eff 9-13-83; ss by #3061, eff 7-18-85; amd by #4597, eff 4-7-89; ss by #5365, eff 3-27-92; ss by #6201, eff 3-5-96; ss by #6903, eff 12-4-98; ss by #7659, eff 3-8-02; ss by #9051, eff 12-27-07; amd by #10054, eff 1-1-12

Amended by Volume XXXV Number 01, Filed January 8, 2015, Proposed by #10746, Effective 1/1/2015, Expires1/1/2025.