Statement of Scope
Accounting Examining Board
Relating to: | Candidates for certification |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
Administrative rules require a candidate for certification as a Certified Public Accountant to pass all sections of the Uniform CPA Examination within a rolling 18−month period that begins on the date the first section is passed. If any section of the examination is not passed within the rolling 18−month period, credit for any section passed outside the 18−month period expires and that section must be retaken. The spread of COVID-19 and the resulting exam center closures and safety precautions have severely limited the ability of candidates to meet this deadline. 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.
An expeditious promulgation of the proposed rule is in the best interest of Wisconsin’s economy and public welfare, as it will prevent some candidates for certification as a CPA from having to retake one or more sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
The Accounting Examining Board will update s. Accy 2.304 to provide a temporary extension of the 18-month rolling deadline within which all sections of the Uniform CPA Examination must be passed. 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 Accy 2 contains the examination requirements for candidates for certification as a CPA. If the rules are not updated, some candidates who are in the process of completing the Uniform CPA Examination may be required to retake one or more exam sections. 4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats., provides an examining board “[s]hall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains. . .” Section 442.04 (2), Stats., provides that “[t]he examining board shall hold an examination at least once each year at a time and place determined by the examining board.” Section 442.04 (5) (b) 4., Stats., provides the Board may not grant a certificate as a certified public accountant to any person other than a person who “… has successfully passed an examination in such subjects affecting accountancy and business as the examining board considers necessary.” 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 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.
Approved for publication: Approved for implementation:
Authorized Signature Authorized Signature
Date Approved Date Approved
