SS_079-16 Education required for examination and certification  

  • Statement of Scope
    Accounting Examining Board
    Rule No.:
    Ch . Accy 2
    Relating to:
    Education required for examination and certification
    Rule Type:
    Emergency
    1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
    A dministrative rules that went into effect on June 1 , 2016, changed the education requirements for candidates to take the certified public accountant (CPA) examination or be certified in Wisconsin as a CPA. S ome candidates who, as of June 1, 2016, had completed or were in the process of completing their education according to the requirements in effect on May 31, 2016, do not or will not meet the education requirements as revised. This proposed rule will help ensure the opportunity for these individuals to be employed or start a business as a CPA in Wisconsin is not delayed or denied.
    A n expeditious promulgation of this rule is in the best interest of Wisconsin’s economy and public welfare , as this will prevent some students who have completed or are nearing completion of programs meeting the education requirements in effect on May 31, 2016, from having to take additional coursework to meet the current education requirements .
    2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
    The Accounting Examining Board will update ch. Accy 2 to provide that, prior to June 1, 2017, a candidate may qualify to take the CPA examinatio n or be certified in Wisconsin as a CPA under either the educational requirements in effect on May 31, 2016, or as revised effective June 1, 2016 .
    3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
    Chapter Ac cy 2 contains the education requirements for candidates for the CPA examination and Wisconsin certification as a CPA. If the rules are not updated, some candidates who , as of June 1, 2016, completed or were in the process of completing their education will not meet the education requirements to take the certified public accountant (CPA) examination or be certified in Wisconsin as a CPA.
    4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
    Section 15.08 (5) (b) , Stats., provides examining boards “shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains. . .”
    Section 442.04 (5 ) (b) 3. , Stats., provides the B oard may not grant a certificate as a certified public accountant to any person other than a person who “has completed at least 150 semester hours of education at an institution that include course work in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board, and has received a bachelor's or higher degree.”
    Section 442.04 (5) (b) 4. , Stats., provides a person is not eligible to take the CPA examination “unless the person has completed at least 120 semester hours of education at an institution that include course work in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board.”
    5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
    State employees will spend approximately 80 hours developing the proposed rule.
    6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:
    Candidates for the CPA examination and Wisconsin certification as a CPA
    7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
    None.
    8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):
    The proposed rule will have minimal to no economic impact on small businesses and the state’s economy as a whole.
    Contact Person: Dale Kleven, (608) 261-4472, Dale2.Kleven@wisconsin.gov