As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

1.    “Board” means the state board of accountancy.

2.    “Certificate” means a certificate as “certified public accountant” issued under section 43-02.2-04 or provisions of prior law, or a corresponding certificate as certified public accountant issued after examination under the law of any other state.

3.    “Client” means a person or entity that agrees with a licensee to receive any professional service other than an employer-employee relationship.

4.    “Firm” means a sole proprietorship, a corporation, a partnership, or any combination thereof, or any other entity permitted by law.

5.    “Licensee” means the holder of a certificate, license, or permit issued under this chapter or prior law.

6.    “NASBA national qualification appraisal service” means the section of the national association of state boards of accountancy that either reviews the CPA licensure requirements of its member jurisdictions to determine which CPA licensure requirements are substantially equivalent to the licensure requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act or evaluates the credentials of individuals who are licensed in jurisdictions that are not substantially equivalent to determine their individual substantial equivalency.

7.    “Permit” means a permit to practice public accountancy issued under section 43-02.2-06 or 43-02.2-07, prior law, or corresponding provisions of the laws of other states.

8.    “Practice of” or “practicing” public accountancy means the performance or the offering to perform by a person or firm holding out to the public as a licensee, for a client or potential client, services involving the use of accounting or auditing skills including the issuance of reports on financial statements, but not including management advisory, financial advisory, or consulting services, bookkeeping services, or the preparation of tax returns or the furnishing of advice on tax matters unless provided by a firm of certified public accountants or licensed public accountants.

9.    “Practice privilege” means the privilege for a person to practice public accountancy described in, and subject to the conditions contained in, subsection 1 of section 43-02.2-04.1.

10.    “Practice review” means a study, appraisal, or review of one or more aspects of the professional work of a firm in the practice of public accountancy, by a person or persons who hold certificates and are in the practice of public accounting and who are not affiliated with the person or firm being reviewed.

    11.    “Principal place of business” means the office location designated by the licensee for purposes of substantial equivalence and reciprocity.

12.    “Professional” means arising out of or related to the specialized knowledge or skills associated with certified public accountants or licensed public accountants.

13.    “Report”, when used with reference to financial statements, means an opinion, report, or other form of language that states or implies assurance as to the reliability of any financial statements and that also includes or is accompanied by any statement or implication that the person or firm issuing it has special knowledge or competence in accounting or auditing. A statement or implication of special knowledge or competence may arise from use by the issuer of the report of names or titles indicating that the issuer is an accountant, auditor, or is in the business of accounting, or from the language of the report. “Report” includes any form of language that disclaims an opinion when the form of language is conventionally understood to imply any positive assurance as to the reliability of the financial statements referred to or special competence on the part of the person or firm issuing such language. “Report” includes any other form of language that is conventionally understood to imply such assurance or such special knowledge or competence.

14.    “Rule” means any rule, regulation, or other written directive of general application duly adopted by the board.

15.    “State” means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

16.    “Substantial equivalency”, as used in section 43-02.2-04, pertaining to certification by reciprocity, and in section 43-02.2-04.1, pertaining to the practice privilege, is a determination by the board or its designee that another jurisdiction‘s education, examination, and experience requirements are comparable to or exceed that of the Uniform Accountancy Act, or that an individual’s education, examination, and experience qualifications are comparable to or exceed that of the Uniform Accountancy Act. In ascertaining substantial equivalency as used in this chapter, the board shall take into account the qualifications without regard to the sequence in which experience, education, or examination requirements were attained.