A. A person must be licensed in order to use the CPA title in Virginia.

Terms Used In Virginia Code 54.1-4409.1

  • Board: means the Virginia Board of Accountancy. See Virginia Code 54.1-4400
  • Continuing professional education: means the education that a person obtains after passing the CPA examination and that relates to services provided to or on behalf of an employer in academia, government, or industry or to services provided to the public. See Virginia Code 54.1-4400
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • CPA: means certified public accountant. See Virginia Code 54.1-4400
  • License of another state: means the license that is issued by the board of accountancy of a state other than Virginia that gives a person the privilege of using the CPA title in that state or that gives a firm the privilege of providing attest services, compilation services, and financial statement preparation services to persons and entities located in that state. See Virginia Code 54.1-4400
  • Licensed: means holding a Virginia license or the license of another state. See Virginia Code 54.1-4400
  • Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
  • Virginia license: means a license that is issued by the Board giving a person the privilege of using the CPA title in Virginia or a firm the privilege of providing attest services, compilation services, and financial statement preparation services to persons and entities located in Virginia. See Virginia Code 54.1-4400

1. The person shall hold a Virginia license if he provides services to the public and the principal place of business in which he provides those services is in Virginia.

2. Other persons shall not be required to hold a Virginia license in order to use the CPA title in Virginia provided that they hold the license of another state and comply with the substantial equivalency provisions of § 54.1-4411.

B. The Board shall prescribe the methods, fees, and continuing professional education requirements for a person to apply for the issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of a Virginia license.

C. The Board has the authority to refuse to grant a person the privilege of using the CPA title in Virginia if, based upon all the information available, the Board finds that the person is unfit or unsuited to use the CPA title in Virginia. The Board shall not refuse to grant a person the privilege of using the CPA title in Virginia solely because of a criminal conviction.

2007, c. 804; 2017, c. 403.