By: Perry, Bettencourt S.B. No. 522
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the certification and regulation of certain
out-of-state certified public accountants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 901.259(a), Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The board shall issue a certificate to a person who
holds a certificate or license issued by another state if the
person:
(1) satisfies at least one of the following:
(A) [holds a certificate or license as a
certified public accountant from a state that the National
Association of State Boards of Accountancy's National
Qualification Appraisal Service has verified as having education,
examination, and experience requirements for certification or
licensure that are comparable to or exceed the requirements for
licensure as a certified public accountant of The American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants/National Association of
State Boards of Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board
determines that the licensure requirements of that Act are
comparable to or exceed the licensure requirements of this chapter;
[(B) obtains from the National Association of
State Boards of Accountancy's National Qualification Appraisal
Service verification that the individual's education, examination,
and experience qualifications are comparable to or exceed the
requirements for licensure as a certified public accountant of The
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants/National
Association of State Boards of Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act
and the board determines that the licensure requirements of that
Act are comparable to or exceed the licensure requirements of this
chapter;
[(C)] meets the requirements for issuance of a
certificate in this state other than the requirement providing the
grades necessary to pass the uniform CPA examination;
(B) [(D)] met the requirements in effect for
issuance of a certificate in this state on the date the person was
issued a certificate by the other state; or
(C) [(E)] has completed at least four years of
experience practicing public accountancy, if the experience:
(i) occurred after the person passed the
uniform CPA examination and within the 10 years preceding the date
of application; and
(ii) satisfies requirements established by
board rule; and
(2) has met the continuing professional education
requirements that apply to a license holder under this chapter for
the three-year period preceding the date of application.
SECTION 2. Section 901.462, Occupations Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f)
to read as follows:
(a) An individual who holds an active [a] certificate or
license as a certified public accountant issued by another state
and whose principal place of business is not in this state may
exercise all the privileges of certificate and license holders of
this state without obtaining a certificate or license under this
chapter if the individual:
(1) has passed the uniform CPA examination;
(2) has completed:
(A) a baccalaureate degree with at least 150
semester hours and a concentration in accounting or equivalent
courses;
(B) a graduate degree with a concentration in
accounting or equivalent courses; or
(C) a baccalaureate degree with a concentration
in accounting or equivalent courses; and
(3) at the time the individual's certificate or
license was issued in the other state, had completed:
(A) at least one year of work experience, if
licensed under an educational pathway comparable to Subdivision
(2)(A) or (B); or
(B) at least two years of work experience, if
licensed under an educational pathway comparable to Subdivision
(2)(C) [(1) the National Association of State Boards of
Accountancy's National Qualification Appraisal Service has
verified that the other state has education, examination, and
experience requirements for certification or licensure that are
comparable to or exceed the requirements for licensure as a
certified public accountant of The American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants/National Association of State Boards of
Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board determines that
the licensure requirements of that Act are comparable to or exceed
the licensure requirements of this chapter; or
[(2) the individual obtains from the National
Association of State Boards of Accountancy's National
Qualification Appraisal Service verification that the individual's
education, examination, and experience qualifications are
comparable to or exceed the requirements for licensure as a
certified public accountant of The American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants/National Association of State Boards of
Accountancy Uniform Accountancy Act and the board determines that
the licensure requirements of that Act are comparable to or exceed
the licensure requirements of this chapter].
(b) An individual who meets the requirements of Subsection
(a) [(a)(1) or (2)] and who offers or renders professional services
in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means may practice
public accountancy in this state without notice to the board.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may prohibit an
individual not licensed in this state from exercising the
privileges of certificate and license holders of this state if the
board determines the individual does not meet the requirements of
Subsection (a).
(f) An individual who on December 31, 2024, held a
certificate or license issued by another state and practiced under
a privilege of this section in this state may exercise all the
privileges of the holder of a certificate and license issued under
this chapter without obtaining a certificate or license in this
state. To the extent that the individual exercises privileges as
described by this subsection, the individual is subject to this
chapter.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.