EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LA W.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0887*
HOUSE BILL 887
C3 5lr2826
CF SB 51
By: Delegates Valderrama, Arentz, Fraser –Hidalgo, Howard, A. Johnson, and
Wivell
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2025
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Accountants – Reciprocal Licenses – Qualifications 2
FOR the purpose of altering the qualifications for an individual licensed as a certified public 3
accountant in another state to practice certified public accountancy in the State; and 4
generally relating to reciprocal licensure requirements for the practice of certified 5
public accountancy. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 8
Section 2–301 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 13
Section 2–321 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 19
2–301. 20
Except as provided in § 2–321 of this subtitle, an individual shall be licensed by the 21
Board before the individual may practice certified public accountancy in the State. 22
2–321. 23 2 HOUSE BILL 887
(a) In this section, “practice certified public accountancy” includes the practice of 1
public accountancy. 2
(b) (1) An individual whose principal place of business is outside the State is 3
exempt from the licensing requirement under § 2–301 of this subtitle and shall be 4
considered to have qualifications that are substantially equivalent to a licensee if THE 5
INDIVIDUAL: 6
(i) [the individual] holds a valid license as a certified public 7
accountant from another state; and 8
(ii) [the requirements of that state have been verified by NASBA as 9
substantially equivalent with the licensure requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act] 10
WAS REQUIRED TO PASS THE UNIFORM CPA EXAMINATION TO QUALIF Y FOR THE 11
LICENSE IN THE OTHER STATE. 12
(2) An individual who qualifies for an exemption under paragraph (1) of 13
this subsection may exercise all of the privileges of a licensed certified public accountant. 14
(c) [(1) An individual who is licensed by a state that the NASBA National 15
Qualification Appraisal Service has not verified to be in substantial equivalence with the 16
CPA licensure requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act may exercise all of the 17
privileges of a licensed certified public accountant if the individual: 18
(i) retains a principal place of business outside of the State; 19
(ii) holds a valid license as a certified public accountant; and 20
(iii) has qualifications that the NASBA N ational Qualification 21
Appraisal Service has determined to be substantially equivalent to the CPA licensure 22
requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act. 23
(2) An individual who has passed the Uniform CPA Examination and holds 24
a valid license issued by another state prior to January 1, 2012, may be exempt from the 25
education requirements in the Uniform Accountancy Act for purposes of this subsection. 26
(3)] Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual who qualifies 27
for a practice privilege under this section may practice certified public accountancy in the 28
State: 29
[(i)] (1) by any means, including mail, telephone, or electronic 30
communication; and 31
[(ii)] (2) without any notice, fee, or other submission to the Board. 32
HOUSE BILL 887 3
(d) As a condition of the practice privilege, an individual who is licensed by 1
another state and qualifies for a practice privilege under this subtitle and any firm that 2
employs the individual to practice in the State shall both consent to: 3
(1) the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority 4
of the Board; 5
(2) complying with State public accountancy laws and regulations adopted 6
by the Board; 7
(3) the appointment of the State Board of Public Accountancy that issued 8
the individual’s license to practice certified public accountancy as the agent upon which 9
process may be served in any action or proceeding by the Board against the individual; and 10
(4) ceasing to offer or provide services in the State that are subject to this 11
title if the license issued by the state in which the individual’s principal place of business 12
is located is no longer valid. 13
(e) An individual authorized to practice certified public accountancy under this 14
section and under the practice privilege may represent to the public, by use of a title, 15
including “licensed certified public accountant”, “certified public accountant”, “public 16
accountant”, or “auditor”, by use of the abbreviation “CPA”, by description of services, 17
methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the individual is authorized to practice certified 18
public accountancy in the State. 19
(f) A sole practitioner who is practicing in the State under the practice privilege 20
may only perform attest services as defined in § 2–101(c)(1), (4), or (5) of this title, through 21
a firm that holds a permit issued under § 2–401 of this title. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2025. 24