Existing law requires a person seeking a certificate of certified public accountant to meet certain requirements relating to education and work experience, including the completion of 2 years of public accounting experience in a partnership, corporation, limited-liability company or sole proprietorship engaged in the practice of public accounting. Existing law authorizes the Nevada State Board of Accountancy to prescribe by regulation for the substitution of certain qualified programs of continued education to satisfy partially the requirements for work experience. (NRS 628.200) Section 2 of this bill replaces the requirement to obtain 2 years of work experience with a requirement to complete not less than 2,000 hours of work experience in a period of not less than 1 year. Section 2 also removes the authority of the Board to adopt regulations providing for substitute programs of continuing education to satisfy the requirements for work experience. Existing law provides that a candidate for a certificate of certified public accountant who meets certain educational requirements is eligible to take the examination for the certificate before completing the requirements for work experience if the candidate is without any history of acts involving dishonesty or moral turpitude. (NRS 628.190, 628.240) Section 3 of this bill removes the requirement that the candidate must not have any history of acts involving dishonesty or moral turpitude. Existing law requires the Board to charge a candidate a fee for the examination. (NRS 628.280) Section 4 of this bill authorizes, rather than requires, the Board to charge an examination fee. Existing law authorizes the Board to waive the requirement that an applicant for a certificate take an examination if the applicant satisfies certain requirements, including having experience in the practice of public accountancy either as a certified public accountant or as a staff accountant under certain circumstances. (NRS 628.310) Section 5 of this bill authorizes the Board to waive the examination for a person who has experience in the practice of public accountancy, private industry or the federal, state or local government, while holding a certificate as a certified public accountant for more than 4 of the immediately preceding 10 years. Existing law grants practice privileges in this State to a natural person who holds a valid license as a certified public accountant in another state. Such a natural person is not required to obtain a certificate of certified public accountant or a permit to engage in the practice of public accounting from the Board but is required to consent to certain specified conditions, including consent to the disciplinary authority of the Board. (NRS 628.315) Section 6 of this bill extends the authority of the Board to grant such practice privileges to a certified public accounting firm organized as a partnership, corporation or limited-liability company or a sole proprietorship which holds a valid registration in good standing from another state. Such a certified public accounting firm is not required to register with the Board but is required to consent to the same conditions as natural persons, such as consent to the disciplinary authority of the Board. Sections 1 and 8-20 of this bill make conforming changes to account for the Board's authority to grant practice privileges to those entities. Sections 8-10 of this bill also require those entities which are organized as a partnership, corporation or limited-liability company to maintain an office in this State. Section 7 of this bill exempts certain entities whose sole business is preparing tax returns and related schedules from the requirement of registration. Section 21 of this bill repeals the definition of “home office” which is rendered obsolete by the changes made by sections 6 and 7.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 628.023, 628.200, 628.240, 628.280, 628.310, 628.315, 628.335, 628.340, 628.343, 628.345, 628.390, 628.430, 628.435, 628.460, 628.480, 628.490, 628.510, 628.520, 628.540, 628.550, 628.017
Reprint 1: 628.023, 628.200, 628.240, 628.280, 628.310, 628.315, 628.335, 628.340, 628.343, 628.345, 628.390, 628.430, 628.435, 628.460, 628.480, 628.490, 628.510, 628.520, 628.540, 628.550, 628.017
As Enrolled: 628.023, 628.200, 628.240, 628.280, 628.310, 628.315, 628.335, 628.340, 628.343, 628.345, 628.390, 628.430, 628.435, 628.460, 628.480, 628.490, 628.510, 628.520, 628.540, 628.550, 628.017
BDR: 628.023, 628.200, 628.240, 628.280, 628.310, 628.315, 628.335, 628.340, 628.343, 628.345, 628.390, 628.430, 628.435, 628.460, 628.480, 628.490, 628.510, 628.520, 628.540, 628.550, 628.017