West Virginia Code 30-9-12 – Certificate renewal; conditions of renewal
(a) The board shall renew a certificate for a one-year period beginning on July 1, of each year after its issuance in accordance with renewal procedures and fees specified by rule: Provided, That an applicant for renewal of a certificate shall list on his or her application all states and foreign jurisdictions in which he or she has applied for or held an out-of-state certificate or foreign designation and any denial, revocation or suspension of an out-of-state certificate or foreign designation.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 30-9-12
- Board: means the West Virginia Board of Accountancy. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
- Certificate: means a certificate as a certified public accountant issued or renewed by the board pursuant to this article or corresponding provisions of prior law. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
- Firm: means any business entity, including, but not limited to, accounting corporations and professional limited liability companies, in which two or more certified public accountants or public accountants hold an ownership or membership interest, in terms of the financial interests and voting rights of all partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers, and the primary business activity of which is the provision of professional services to the public by certified public accountants or public accountants. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
- Foreign: means any country other than the United States. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
- Out-of-state certificate: means a valid certificate as a certified public accountant or equivalent designation issued or renewed under the laws of another state: Provided, That "out-of-state certificate" does not include any certificate as a certified public accountant or equivalent designation that was issued or renewed solely by virtue of a holder&rsquo. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
- Professional services: means those services that involve the specialized knowledge and skills of a certified public accountant or a public accountant delivered by any means, including but not limited to, in person, by mail, telephone or by electronic means. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
- Public accountant: means a person holding a registration who is not a certified public accountant. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
- Rule: means any rule proposed for legislative approval by the board pursuant to this article. See West Virginia Code 30-9-2
(b) The board shall require as a condition for the renewal of a certificate that each certified public accountant participate in continuing professional education in accordance with the requirements specified by rule, subject to the following exemptions and limitations:
(1) The board shall by rule exempt from the continuing professional education requirements set forth in this subsection any certified public accountant who does not perform or offer to perform any professional service to the public, either directly or indirectly through his or her employer.
(2) Any certified public accountant receiving the exemption from continuing professional education requirements must place the word "inactive" adjacent to his or her "CPA" title on any business card, telephone directory listing, letterhead or any other similar document or device, with the exception of the licensee's certificate on which the "CPA" title appears: Provided, That a certified public accountant receiving the exemption from continuing professional education requirements who has completely discontinued his or her performance of professional services, who has no active management or supervisory responsibilities in a firm, and who is at least sixty-two years of age is not required to place the word "inactive" or any other word adjacent to his or her "CPA" title on any business card, telephone directory listing, letterhead or any other similar document or device.
(3) The board may by rule phase in continuing professional education requirements over a period of three years for any certified public accountant who, as of July 1, 2001, has not been subject to continuing professional education requirements and who subsequently elects to perform or offers to perform any professional service to the public during a subsequent certificate renewal period within the three-year phase-in period.