The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes related to public accountancy, primarily focusing on the regulation and licensure of certified public accountants (CPAs). It introduces a technical change in the purpose of Chapter 473 to emphasize the need for independent and objective certified public accountants. The definition of the "Uniform Accountancy Act" is removed, and the Board of Accountancy is granted the authority to competitively procure contracted services from certain nonprofit corporations for specific duties. Additionally, the bill revises the education and work experience requirements for CPA licensure, including the introduction of new coursework requirements and updated standards for international applicants.

Further amendments include changes to the continuing education requirements for CPAs, specifically mandating that a certain percentage of hours be dedicated to ethics training, with a preference for nonprofit providers. The bill also clarifies the standards for determining good moral character and the conditions under which applicants may be certified for licensure by endorsement. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 364 Filed: 473.301, 473.302, 473.3035, 473.306, 473.312