1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to state government; modifying standards for required education and
1.3 experience for certified public accountants; establishing reciprocity for licensed
1.4 public accountants; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 326A.03,
1.5 subdivision 6, by adding subdivisions; 326A.14; repealing Minnesota Rules, part
1.6 1105.7900, item D.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326A.03, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
1.9 Subd. 6.Certificate; required education and experience until July 1, 2030.(a) On
1.10or after July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2030, a person who has passed the examination
1.11required in this section must be granted a certificate as a certified public accountant provided:
1.12(1) the person certifies to the board that the person has completed at least 150 semester or
1.13225 quarter hours at a college or university that is fully accredited by a recognized accrediting
1.14agency listed with the United States Department of Education, or an equivalent accrediting
1.15association, and has completed at least one year of experience of the type specified in
1.16paragraph (b); (2) the board verifies the certifications; and (3) the person complies with
1.17requirements for initial issuance of the certificate as a certified public accountant as
1.18prescribed by the board by rule.
1.19 (b) An applicant for initial issuance of a certificate under this subdivision shall show
1.20that the applicant has had one year of experience. Acceptable experience includes providing
1.21any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation,
1.22management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills, as verified by a licensee
1.23and meeting requirements prescribed by the board by rule. Acceptable experience may be
1.24gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice.
1Section 1.
25-02377 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR BD/LJ
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1536NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: RASMUSSON and Rest)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/17/2025
Referred to State and Local Government 2.1Experience as an auditor in the Office of the Legislative Auditor or State Auditor, as verified
2.2by a licensee, shall be acceptable experience.
2.3 (c) This section expires July 1, 2030.
2.4 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to
2.5read:
2.6 Subd. 6a.Certificate; required education and experience after June 30, 2030.(a)
2.7On and after July 1, 2030, the board must grant a certificate as a certified public accountant
2.8to a person who has passed the examination required in this section if:
2.9 (1) the person certifies to the board that the person has completed a master's degree at
2.10a college or university that is fully accredited by a recognized accrediting agency listed with
2.11the United States Department of Education and has completed at least one year of acceptable
2.12experience described in paragraph (b); or
2.13 (2) the person certifies to the board that the person has earned a bachelor's degree from
2.14a college or university that is fully accredited by a recognized accrediting agency listed with
2.15the United States Department of Education and has completed at least two years of acceptable
2.16experience described in paragraph (b).
2.17 (b) Acceptable experience includes providing any type of service or advice that involves
2.18accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting
2.19skills, as verified by a licensee and meeting requirements prescribed by the board by rule.
2.20Acceptable experience may be gained through employment in government, industry,
2.21academia, or public practice. Experience as an auditor in the Office of the Legislative Auditor
2.22or the Office of the State Auditor, as verified by a licensee, is acceptable experience.
2.23 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to
2.24read:
2.25 Subd. 6b.Transitional period.(a) Until July 1, 2030, a person must be granted a
2.26certificate as a certified public accountant if the person meets either:
2.27 (1) all requirements under subdivision 6; or
2.28 (2) all requirements under subdivision 6a.
2.29 (b) This section expires July 1, 2030.
2Sec. 3.
25-02377 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR BD/LJ 3.1 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326A.14, is amended to read:
3.2 326A.14 SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY; RECIPROCITY.
3.3 Subdivision 1.Requirements.(a) An individual whose principal place of business is
3.4not in this state and who holds a valid license in good standing as a certified public accountant
3.5from any state which, upon verification, is in substantial equivalence with the certified
3.6public accountant licensure requirements of section 326A.03, subdivisions 3, 4, and 6, shall
3.7be presumed to have qualifications substantially equivalent to this state's requirements and
3.8shall have all the privileges of licensees of this state without the need to obtain a license.,
3.9if the person:
3.10 (1) holds a valid certificate, license, or permit to practice as a certified public accountant
3.11that was issued in another state and is in good standing to practice as a certified public
3.12accountant in that state;
3.13 (2) has a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary school with an accounting
3.14concentration or equivalent as determined by the board by rule; and
3.15 (3) has passed the Uniform CPA Examination.
3.16 (b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, an individual who offers or
3.17renders professional services, whether in person, by mail, telephone, or electronic means,
3.18under this paragraph: (1) shall be granted practice privileges in this state; (2) is subject to
3.19the requirements in paragraph (c); and (3) is not required to provide any notice or other
3.20submission.
3.21 (b) An individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who holds a
3.22valid license in good standing as a certified public accountant from any state whose certified
3.23public accountant licensure qualifications, upon verification, are not substantially equivalent
3.24with the licensure requirements of section 326A.03, subdivisions 3, 4, and 6, shall be
3.25presumed to have qualifications substantially equivalent to this state's requirements and
3.26shall have all the privileges of licensees of this state without the need to obtain a license if
3.27the individual obtains verification, as specified in board rule, that the individual's
3.28qualifications are substantially equivalent to the licensure requirements of section 326A.03,
3.29subdivisions 3, 4, and 6. For purposes of this paragraph, any individual who passed the
3.30Uniform CPA Examination and holds a valid license issued by any other state prior to
3.31January 1, 2009, is exempt from the education requirement in section 326A.03, subdivision
3.326, paragraph (a), provided the individual meets the education requirement in section 326A.03,
3.33subdivision 3. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, an individual who
3.34offers or renders professional services, whether in person, by mail, telephone, or electronic
3Sec. 4.
25-02377 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR BD/LJ 4.1means, under this paragraph: (1) shall, after the verification specified by adopted rules, be
4.2granted practice privileges in this state; (2) is subject to the requirements in paragraph (c);
4.3and (3) is not required to provide any notice or other submission.
4.4 (c) An individual licensee of another state exercising the privilege afforded under this
4.5section and the firm which employs that licensee are deemed to have consented, as a condition
4.6of the grant of this privilege:
4.7 (1) to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority of the board;
4.8 (2) to comply with this chapter and the board's rules;
4.9 (3) to the appointment of the state board that issued the license as the licensee's agent
4.10upon whom process may be served in any action or proceeding by this board against the
4.11licensee; and
4.12 (4) to cease offering or rendering professional services in this state individually and on
4.13behalf of a firm in the event the license issued by the state of the individual's principal place
4.14of business is no longer valid or in good standing.
4.15 (d) An individual who has been granted practice privileges under this section who
4.16performs attest services as defined in section 326A.01, subdivision 2, clause (1), (4), or (5),
4.17for any entity with its headquarters in this state, may only do so through a firm which has
4.18obtained a permit under section 326A.05.
4.19 Subd. 2.Use of title in another state.A licensee of this state offering or rendering
4.20services or using the CPA title in another state is subject to the same disciplinary action in
4.21this state for which the licensee would be subject to discipline for an act committed in the
4.22other state. The board shall investigate any complaint made by the board of accountancy
4.23of another state.
4.24 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
4.25 Sec. 5. REPEALER; SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE.
4.26 Minnesota Rules, part 1105.7900, item D, is repealed.
4.27 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
4Sec. 5.
25-02377 as introduced01/28/25 REVISOR BD/LJ 1105.7900SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY.
D.Individuals required by Minnesota Statutes, section 326A.14, subdivision 1,
paragraph (b), to obtain a verification that their individual qualifications are substantially
equivalent to the licensure requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 326A.03, subdivisions
3, 4, and 6, shall obtain the verification from the NASBA National Qualification Appraisal
Service prior to rendering professional services in this state. Documentation supporting this
verification must be maintained by the individual for a minimum period of six years and
must be submitted to the board upon request.
1R
APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Rules: 25-02377