Requirements for a license as a certified public accountant

§ 7404. Requirements for a license as a certified public accountant. 1. To qualify for a license as a certified public accountant, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:

(1) Application: file an application with the department;

* (2) Education: have received an education, including a bachelor's or higher degree or a foreign equivalent based on a program in accountancy, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;

* NB Effective until November 21, 2026

* (2) Education: have received an education, including a bachelor's or higher degree or a foreign equivalent from a program in accountancy that is registered by the department, or deemed comparable to a registered program as determined by the department. To meet the professional education requirements for licensure, the applicant shall present satisfactory evidence of completion of one of the following:

a. A curriculum of at least one hundred twenty semester hours in a program in accountancy, provided that the applicant shall satisfy the undergraduate curriculum semester hour requirements for the specified subjects set forth in the commissioner's regulations; or

b. A curriculum of at least one hundred fifty semester hours in a program in accountancy, provided that the applicant shall satisfy the curriculum semester hour requirements for the specified subjects set forth in the commissioner's regulations;

* NB Effective November 21, 2026

* (3) Experience: have experience satisfactory to the board of regents and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;

* NB Effective until November 21, 2026

* (3) Experience:

Present evidence of completion of the following experience, satisfactory to the board of regents and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations:

(i) two years of acceptable full-time experience, or the equivalent thereof, for an applicant who is applying for licensure on the basis of the education described in subparagraph a of paragraph two of this subdivision; or

(ii) one year of acceptable full-time experience, or the equivalent thereof, for an applicant who is applying for licensure on the basis of the education described in subparagraph b of paragraph two of this subdivision;

* NB Effective November 21, 2026

* (4) Examination: pass a written examination satisfactory to the board and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations and the requirement with respect to such examination may not be waived;

* NB Effective until November 21, 2026

* (4) Examination: pass a written examination satisfactory to the board and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations, provided that the required educational attainment for such examination shall not be greater than that set out in subparagraph a of paragraph two of this subdivision, and the requirement with respect to such examination may not be waived;

* NB Effective November 21, 2026

(5) Age: be at least twenty-one years of age;

(6) Citizenship: meet no requirements as to United States citizenship;

(7) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the department; and

(8) Fees: pay a fee of two hundred twenty dollars to the department for admission to a department conducted examination and for an initial license, a fee of one hundred fifteen dollars for each reexamination, a fee of one hundred thirty-five dollars for an initial license for persons not requiring admission to a department conducted examination, and a fee of two hundred ten dollars for each triennial registration period.

2. In lieu of professional requirements specified in paragraphs two and three of subdivision one of this section, fifteen years in the practice of public accountancy satisfactory to the board may be accepted by the department.