Changes to the CPA Education Requirements and Examination 3-5-03

EDUCATION

Effective July 1, 2003, the Law Governing the Practice of Public Accountancy in Georgia will change to reflect legislation that was passed during the 2002 Session of the General Assembly.  This law implements a 2-step education requirement for eligibility to take the Uniform CPA Examination and for subsequent licensure.

Step 1 - Examination:  Beginning with the November 2003 administration of the Uniform CPA Examination, candidates may qualify to take the examination based on having earned a baccalaureate degree with a concentration in accounting.  The Board anticipates adopting rules that define a concentration in accounting as completion of 20 semester or 30 quarter hours in accounting subjects above the elementary level at a 4-year accredited college or university that offers a baccalaureate degree.

Step 2 - Licensure:  Beginning July 1, 2003, all applicants for licensure, except those who began taking the examination prior to January 1, 1998, must have completed the additional education, beyond that required to take the examination provided in Step 1, to total 150 semester hours or 225 quarter hours of college credit.  The Board anticipates adopting rules that describe courses that must be included in these additional hours.  Among them are an additional 10 semester or 15 quarter hours in accounting subjects above the elementary level and 24 semester hours or 35 quarter hours in general business subjects at a 4-year accredited college or university that offers a baccalaureate degree.  The education requirement for applicants for licensure who began taking the examination prior to January 1, 1998, is the education described in Step 1 above.

The Board will begin the rule adoption process relating to these changes after the July 1, 2003 effective date of the law.  The rules will be exposed for public comment in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act (O.C.G.A 50-13).
 

EXAMINATION

Changes to the structure, content and delivery of the Uniform CPA Examination will be made beginning with examinations administered in 2004.  It is anticipated that the last paper-pencil examination will be the November 2003 examination.  Beginning in April 2004, the examination will be administered by computer.  The examination will be available quarterly during 2 months of each quarter.  Information regarding the new structure, content and delivery of the examination is available at a specially developed AICPA/NASBA website.

The Board will begin the rule adoption process relating to these changes and the transition to the new examination during the summer of 2003.  The Board anticipates adopting requirements that mirror requirements proposed at the national level to the extent practical.  The rules will be exposed for public comment in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act (O.C.G.A. 50-13).