The board must issue a certificate to a holder of a foreign designation that the board determines to be comparable to a certificate issued by this state, if:

1. (1) The foreign authority that granted the designation makes similar provision to allow a person who holds a valid certificate issued by this state to obtain the foreign authority's comparable designation;
2. (2) The foreign designation was duly issued by a foreign authority that regulates the practice of public accountancy, based on educational and examination requirements established by the foreign authority, or by statute, and the foreign designation has not expired or been revoked or suspended;
3. (3) The applicant received the designation, based on educational and examination standards that the board determines to be comparable to those in effect in this state, at the time the foreign designation was granted, and the designation was issued upon the basis of educational, examination, and experience requirements established by the foreign authority or by law;
4. (4) The applicant has passed a qualifying examination, which uses a grading system that is uniform with those applicable in other states, and an examination approved by the board, on the law, rules, and code of ethical conduct in effect in this state;
5. (5) The applicant received the designation based on educational and examination standards that the board determines to be comparable to those in effect in this state at the time the foreign designation was granted;

6. (6) The applicant has:

   1. (a) Completed an experience requirement that the board determines to be comparable to the requirement provided in this chapter, in the jurisdiction that granted the foreign designation;
   2. (b) Completed four years of professional experience in this state; or
   3. (c) Met equivalent requirements prescribed by the board, by rule promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26, within the ten years immediately preceding the application; and
7. (7) The applicant passed a uniform qualifying examination consistent with national standards, and an examination on the laws, rules, and code of ethical conduct in effect in this state. An applicant under this section shall list in the application all jurisdictions in which the applicant has applied for, or holds, a designation to practice public accountancy. Each holder of a certificate issued under this section shall notify the board in writing, within thirty days after its occurrence, of any issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of a designation, or commencement of a disciplinary or enforcement action by any jurisdiction.

Source: SL 2002, ch 179 , § 31; SL 2026, ch 160 , § 8.