N.J. Admin. Code § 13:29-1A.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:29-1A.3 - Applications for examination; education and experience requirements

(a) Applications to take the Certified Public Accountant Examination shall be accompanied by the following items:

1. A two-inch by two-inch passport photograph, front view, without a hat, taken within 30 days prior to filing an application; and

2. An evaluation of educational credentials from CPA Examination Services, 150 Fourth Avenue, Nashville, TN 37219, telephone 1-800-CPA-EXAM (272-3926), certifying that the applicant has met the educational requirements set forth in (b) below.

(b) An applicant to take the Certified Public Accountant Examination shall satisfy the following educational requirements:

1. An applicant shall possess a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, based upon a curriculum that includes a minimum of 120 semester hours and the applicant has completed at least 24 semester hours in accounting and at least 24 semester hours in business courses (other than accounting courses). The 24 semester hours in accounting and 24 semester hours in business courses (other than accounting courses) may be completed outside of a degree program. The applicant shall possess a baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent from:

i. A business school or college of business that has been granted accreditation by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), or any other national accreditation agency with standards that are substantially similar to the standards utilized by the AACSB or the ACBSP; or

ii. An educational institution that has been granted accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education or any other regional accrediting agency with standards that are substantially similar to the standards utilized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education; or

2. An applicant shall have completed at least 150 hours of education, including a baccalaureate or higher degree, and at least 24 semester hours in accounting and at least 24 semester hours in business courses (other than accounting courses) . The 24 semester hours in accounting and 24 semester hours in business courses (other than accounting courses) may be completed either as part of a degree program or outside of a degree program. The applicant shall satisfy any one of the following conditions:

i. The applicant has earned a graduate degree with a concentration in accounting from an accounting program or department which has been granted accreditation by the AACSB, ACBSP, or any other national accreditation agency with standards that are substantially similar to the standards utilized by the AACSB or the ACBSP;

ii. The applicant has earned a graduate degree from a business school or college of business which has been granted accreditation by the AACSB, ACBSP, or any other national accreditation agency with standards that are substantially similar to the standards utilized by the AACSB or the ACBSP;

iii. The applicant has earned a baccalaureate degree from a business school or college of business which has been granted accreditation by AACSB, ACBSP, or any other national accreditation agency with standards that are substantially similar to the standards utilized by the AACSB or the ACBSP; or

iv. The applicant has earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from an educational institution that has been granted accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education or any other regional accrediting agency with standards that are substantially similar to the standards utilized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education.

(c) An applicant qualifying to take the Certified Public Accountant Examination pursuant to the provisions of (b)1 above shall not be issued a license until successful completion of at least 150 semester-hours of education, as set forth in (b)2 above. The 150 semester-hours of education requirement shall not apply to an applicant who obtained a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent prior to July 1, 2000 and was qualified for licensure prior to such date.

(d) An applicant for a Certified Public Accountant's license who meets the requirements of (b) or (c) above to the Board's satisfaction shall be granted admission to sit for the Certified Public Accountant Examination.

(e) An applicant who has passed all parts of the Certified Public Accountant Examination shall furnish evidence of one year of intensive and diversified experience in the practice of public accounting or its equivalent under the supervision of a Board licensee or an individual who is entitled to practice as a certified public accountant in this State as provided in N.J.A.C. 13:29-4. Experience shall be obtained in full-time regular employment based on a minimum of 1,750 hours per year. Part-time experience shall be considered equivalent if acquired within two consecutive years and in no less than the same amount of hours required for full-time experience. Experience shall be considered intensive and diversified if experience is acquired in the areas of auditing or accounting. Such evidence shall take the form of a notarized affidavit on the employer's letterhead indicating in detail the nature of the intensive and diversified experience in auditing or accounting.

(f) The Board may, in its discretion, evaluate any and all accounting and auditing experience obtained by any applicant and give appropriate credit for said experience toward the experience required in this section.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:29-1A.3

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 2380(b), effective 9/21/2015