1.    The board shall grant the certificate of “certified public accountant” to any person who meets the requirements of this section.

2.    The board may not grant a certificate if the applicant has been convicted of a felony, or of any crime an element of which is dishonesty or fraud, under the laws of the United States, this state, or any other state if the acts involved would have constituted a crime under the laws of this state.

3.    The board shall grant or renew certificates to persons who make application and demonstrate that their qualifications are in accordance with the following:

a.    The board shall issue a certificate to a holder of a certificate, license, or permit issued by another state, upon a showing that the applicant is eligible under the substantial equivalency standard set out in subsection 1 of section 43-02.2-04.1. An application under this section may be made through the NASBA qualification appraisal service.

b.    With regard to applicants that do not qualify for reciprocity under the substantial equivalency standard set out in subdivision a, the board shall issue a certificate to a holder of a certificate, license, or permit issued by another state upon a showing that:

(1) The applicant passed the uniform CPA examinations; (2) The applicant had four years of experience of the type described in subsection 14 or meets comparable requirements prescribed by the board by rule, after passing the examination upon which the applicant’s certificate was based and within ten years immediately preceding the application; and

(3) If the applicant’s certificate, license, or permit was issued more than four years prior to the application for issuance of an initial certificate under this section, that the applicant has fulfilled the requirements of continuing professional education that would have been applicable under subsection 15.

c.    The applicant shall pay the applicable fee.

d.    An individual who establishes that individual’s principal place of business in this state must obtain a certificate under this section.

4.    The board shall issue a certificate to a holder of a recognized accounting designation from a jurisdiction or organization outside of the United States, provided such jurisdiction or organization extends similar reciprocity to the certificate holders of this state, and upon a showing to the board’s satisfaction that the applicant:

a.    Meets the substantial equivalent of the education requirements of subsection 5 and the experience requirements of subsection 14 at the time of application, or at the time of the issuance of the designation by the other jurisdiction or organization met the education and experience requirements then applicable in this state; b.    Has completed examinations generally equivalent to those prescribed under subsection 6; c.    Has satisfactorily completed any additional examinations that the board prescribes; and

d.    Has paid the applicable fees.

5.    The education requirement for a certificate is at least one hundred fifty semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree or its equivalent conferred by a college or university acceptable to the board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by board rule to be appropriate.

6.    The examination required to be passed as a condition for the granting of a certificate must test the applicant’s knowledge of the subjects of accounting and auditing. The time for holding the examination must be fixed by the board and may be changed from time to time. The board may prescribe by rule the methods of applying for and conducting the examination, including methods for grading papers and determining a passing grade required of an applicant for a certificate provided that the board to the    extent possible sees to it that the grading of the examination and the passing grade requirements are uniform with those applicable in all other states. The board may use all or any part of the uniform certified public accountant examination and advisory grading service of the American institute of certified public accountants and may contract with third parties to perform administrative services with respect to the examination it deems appropriate to assist it in performing its duties. The board may permit a candidate to take the examination if the candidate has at least one hundred twenty semester hours of college education.

7.    An applicant must pass the examination provided for in subsection 6, as specified by rule, in order to qualify for a certificate.

8.    An applicant must be given credit for any and all sections of an examination passed in another state if such credit would have been given under then applicable requirements, if the applicant had taken the examination in this state.

9.    The board may in particular cases waive or defer any of the requirements of subsections 7 and 8 regarding the circumstances under which the examination must be passed, upon a showing that, by reason of circumstances beyond the applicant’s control, the applicant was unable to meet the requirement.

10.    The board may charge, or provide for a third party administering the examination to charge, each applicant a fee, in an amount prescribed by the board by rule, for examination or re-examination.

11.    A certificate of certified public accountant must be renewed each year, with renewal subject to payment of fees and any other requirements prescribed by the board.

12.    The board may require examination of other related subjects as specified by rule.

13.    Applicants for initial issuance or renewal of certificates under this section shall list in the applications all states and jurisdictions in which they have applied for or hold certificates or permits or other recognized accounting designation, and each holder of or applicant for a certificate under this section shall notify the board in writing, within thirty days after its occurrence, of any issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of a certificate or permit or other recognized accounting designation by another state or jurisdiction.

14.    After December 31, 2000, an applicant for initial issuance of a certificate under this section shall show that the applicant has had one year of experience. This experience must include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills. This experience must be verified and must meet any other requirements prescribed by the board by rule. This experience is acceptable if it was gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public accounting. This experience requirement does not apply to those who received a certificate from this state prior to January 1, 2000.

15.    The board may require by rule, as a condition for granting and renewal of certificates under this section, that applicants show completion of continuing education meeting requirements of board rule. The continuing education rules may include provisions for exceptions and must include reasonable provision for an applicant who cannot meet the continuing education requirements due to circumstances beyond the applicant’s reasonable control.

16.    The board may by rule create an exception to the continuing education requirements for certificate holders who do not perform or offer to perform for the public one or more kinds of services involving the use of accounting or auditing skills, including issuance of reports on financial statements or of one or more kinds of management advisory, financial advisory or consulting services, or the preparation of tax returns or the furnishing of advice on tax matters. Licensees granted such an exception by the board shall place the word “inactive” adjacent to the licensee’s CPA title or LPA title on any business card, letterhead or any other document or device, with the exception of the licensee’s CPA or LPA certificate, on which the licensee’s CPA or LPA title appears. In addition, inactive CPAs, in lieu of “inactive”, may place the word “retired” adjacent to the individual’s CPA title or LPA title on any business card, letterhead or any other    document or device, with the exception of the individual’s CPA or LPA certificate, on which the individual’s CPA or LPA title appears. Nothing in this section precludes an inactive CPA, from providing the following volunteer, uncompensated services: tax preparation services, participating in a government-sponsored business mentoring program, serving on the board of directors for a nonprofit or governmental organization, or serving on a government-appointed advisory body. A licensee only may convert to inactive status if the licensee holds a license in good standing.