Wyo. Code R. 061-0001-3
Accountants, Board of Certified Public
Chapter 3: Certificates
Effective Date: 03/20/2018 to 10/28/2019
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 061.0001.3.03202018
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated pursuant to W.S. 33-3-108 and W.S. 33-3-109.
(a) A certificate as a CPA shall be issued to any person who has successfully completed all sections of the Uniform CPA Examination (examination), documents lawful presence in the United States, and who has met the requirements of W.S. 33-3-109(a) and the rules. All certificate holders whose principal place of business is in this state and who provide services in Wyoming as defined in W.S. 33-3-109(c) are in active practice and shall maintain the certificate on active status.
(b) Education. The applicant for a certificate as a CPA shall have completed, and evidence by an official transcript from a college or university acceptable to the board under chapter 2, section 3(c) and (e) of the rules, at least twenty-four (24) semester hours of upper division or graduate level accounting courses.
(i) The applicant for a certificate as a CPA qualifying for the examination under W.S. 33-3-109(a)(v)(A) or W.S. 33-3-109(p) shall demonstrate four (4) years of experience which shall be verified by a CPA whose certificate was active at the time the experience was earned or as provided for in W.S. 33-3-109(a)(v)(B).
(ii) The applicant for a CPA certificate qualifying under W.S. 33-3-109(a)(v)(C) shall demonstrate one (1) year of experience which shall be verified by a CPA whose certificate was active at the time the experience was earned or as provided for in W.S. 33-3-109(a)(v)(D).
(iii) The term 'year of experience' as used in W.S. 33-3-109(a)(v)(B) and (D) means a minimum of two thousand (2,000) working hours.
(d) Equivalent experience. The board may consider equivalent experience not verified by an active CPA. The applicant shall provide documentation verifying equivalent experience specifying the job title, employment period, a detailed description of the duties, and the documentation shall be affirmed by an appropriate supervisor or official. The applicant shall be required to provide samples of work product that demonstrate the type and quality of work experience earned by the applicant. This experience may include but is not limited to the following:
(i) Financial statement preparation;
(e) An original certificate applicant shall document that he has completed a professional ethics examination, “Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course” accepted by the board for certification purposes at the time of application.
(f) Transfer credit shall be granted to an original certificate applicant if he shows satisfactory completion of all sections of the examination given by the licensing authority in any jurisdiction, provided the requirements outlined in W.S. 33-3-109 and section 2 of this chapter have been met.
Section 3. Reciprocal Certificates. CPAs of other states or accountants from foreign countries whose principal place of business is in Wyoming or who do not qualify for practice privileges shall obtain an active Wyoming certificate before furnishing services in Wyoming. All applicants for reciprocal certificates shall document lawful presence in the United States.
(a) Duly qualified persons may be certified under W.S. 33-3-109(o) and W.S. 33-3-116(c) when they submit applications, proof of qualifications, applicable fees, document lawful presence in the United States and other information as follows:
(i) A person holding an active CPA certificate based on passing the examination prior to January 1, 2012 and issued by any state or jurisdiction when the person had completed at least one year of broad based experience set forth in section 2(d) of this chapter meets requirements substantially equivalent to Wyoming's requirements and shall demonstrate applicable certification is in good standing and the person has not been otherwise disciplined for cause.
(ii) A person holding an active CPA certificate based on passing the examination after January 1, 2012 and issued by any state or jurisdiction when the person had met the requirements specified at W.S. 33-3-116(c) meets requirements substantially equivalent to Wyoming's requirements and shall demonstrate applicable certification is in good standing and the person has not been otherwise disciplined for cause.
(iii) A person holding an active CPA certificate issued by a state or jurisdiction deemed substantially equivalent to the Uniform Accountancy Act by NASBA National Qualification Appraisal Service meets requirements substantially equivalent to Wyoming's requirements and shall demonstrate applicable certification is in good standing and the person has not been otherwise disciplined for cause.
(iv) A person holding an inactive or retired CPA certificate in any other state shall either activate the certificate in a substantially equivalent state or submit documents to demonstrate the individual qualifications have been determined by NASBA to be substantially equivalent or shall meet the requirements as set forth in section 2 of this chapter. An applicant meeting the requirements of section 2 shall provide an official transcript showing compliance with the educational requirements imposed by W.S. 33-3-109 and documentation that shows compliance with the CPE requirements to activate a certificate.
(v) Pursuant to W.S. 33-1-117 and notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, military spouses registered in good standing as CPAs in other states deemed to be substantially equivalent may practice under a temporary permit not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days or until an application for certification in Wyoming has been granted or denied, whichever first occurs.
(b) Foreign Reciprocity. An applicant holding a credential from a foreign country comparable to the CPA certificate is required to meet the qualifications for certificates provided in W.S. 33-3-109(k).
(i) The board shall waive the examination and issue a certificate to an applicant who has completed an examination comparable to the Uniform CPA Examination administered by a foreign authority evaluated by NASBA’s International Qualifications Appraisal Board (IQAB) with requirements determined to be substantially equivalent to the requirements for a CPA whose certificate was issued by a U.S. State Board of Accountancy.
(A) An applicant shall pass the AICPA International Uniform Certified Public Accountant Qualification Examination (IQEX) with a minimum score of seventy-five (75).
(B) An applicant shall evidence satisfactory completion of the comparable examination administered by the foreign authority.
(C) An applicant shall provide certification from an appropriate foreign authority that no designation awarded has expired, been revoked, suspended, or is under investigation and is otherwise in good standing.
(D) An applicant shall provide certification from the foreign authority that the authority provides similar provisions to Wyoming CPAs to obtain a comparable designation.
(E) Fees for the application shall be submitted in U.S. funds by money order or a properly encoded draft drawn on a United States bank in U.S. funds.
(F) An applicant shall document lawful presence in the United States.
(a) Persons holding a certificate issued under W.S. 33-3-109 or W.S. 33-3-116 but who do not practice public accounting in Wyoming and have not lost the right to active status shall place the certificate on an inactive status.
(b) A certificate holder who is no longer actively engaged in the practice of accounting in Wyoming shall place the certificate on inactive status by submitting a written application to the board. The request may be submitted when the holder no longer provides services or with the annual renewal application. The written request shall certify the holder is not actively engaged in the practice of accounting in Wyoming and provide the following information:
(i) Place of employment; (ii) Name of supervisor or manager, if applicable; (iii) Occupational information regarding services provided in Wyoming or job duties; and (iv) Reason for the request to place the certificate on inactive status.
(c) A certificate holder who maintains the certificate on inactive status may assume or use the title “Certified Public Accountant, Inactive” or “CPA, Inactive” if:
(i) The assumption or use of the designation is not incident to the practice of public accounting as defined in W.S. 33-3-109(c); (ii) The certificate has not been revoked or suspended by any jurisdiction for any reason except non-payment of fees; and (iii) The certificate holder pays an annual fee as set forth in chapter 1, section 12 of the rules.
(d) A holder who maintains the certificate on an inactive status shall not be subject to CPE requirements.
(e) An inactive certificate holder may activate the certificate by providing: (i) An application in a form provided by the board; (ii) Documentation of compliance with the CPE requirements set forth in chapter 5 of the rules; and (iii) Payment of additional fees equal to the difference between the fee paid for the inactive status and the fee required to maintain active status; and (iv) Documentation of lawful presence in the United States.
(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inactive CPA from offering uncompensated accounting services that could be performed by a non-CPA.
(g) A holder who maintains the certificate on inactive status and wishes to provide services as defined in W.S. 33-3-109(c) in Wyoming for compensation shall submit a complete application to activate the certificate as set forth in subsection (e) above prior to providing accounting services in Wyoming.
Section 5. Retired Status.
(a) The Board may waive the requirement that holders maintain active or inactive status and allow a holder to retire the certificate and continue to assume or use the title “Certified Public Accountant, Retired” or “CPA, Retired” if:
(i) The holder is not actively engaged in the practice of public accounting in Wyoming as defined in W.S. 33-3-109(c);
(ii) The assumption or use of the designation is not incident to the practice of public accounting as defined in W.S. 33-3-109(c);
(iii) The certificate has not been revoked or suspended by any jurisdiction for any reason except non-payment of fees; and
(iv) The certificate holder has reached age 65 or is disabled.
(b) A retired certificate holder who has previously held active or inactive status may activate the certificate by providing:
(i) An application in a form provided by the board;
(ii) Documentation of compliance with CPE requirements set forth in chapter 5 of the rules;
(iii) Payment of active status fees; and
(iv) Documentation of lawful presence in the United States.
(c) A holder who maintains the certificate on retired status and begins to provide services as defined in W.S. 33-3-109(c) in Wyoming shall submit a complete application to activate the certificate as set forth in subsection (b) above prior to providing accounting services in Wyoming.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a retired CPA from offering uncompensated accounting services that could be performed by a non-CPA.
(a) All active and inactive certificates expire December 31 each year. Renewal notifications shall be provided to all certificate holders by mail or e-mail no later than October 1 each year. Renewal applicants shall provide all information required by the board. Incomplete paper renewal applications may be returned to the applicant.
(b) Active Status: Renewal applications shall be postmarked or received by the board’s office no later than November 1 each year and shall include the following:
(i) Resident certificate holders shall comply with Wyoming's CPE requirements by providing a list of courses completed or proposed to be completed during the current calendar year with the certificate renewal application.
(ii) Designated certificate holders as defined in chapter 1, section 2(l) of the rules who provide services in a Wyoming office must submit the application to renew the CPA firm permit in conjunction with the individual certificate renewal application.
(iii) Applicable fees set forth in chapter 1, section 12 shall be included with the certificate renewal application.
(c) Inactive Status: Certificate holders who maintain an inactive certificate shall annually renew the certificate by complying with the provisions of section 4 of this chapter no later than December 31 each year.
(i) Inactive certificate holders who submit renewal applications postmarked after December 31 or who attempt to renew an expired inactive certificate shall pay the annual inactive fee plus the late and notice fees set forth in chapter 1, section 12 of the rules.
(d) Individual certificate holders shall be responsible for the truth and accuracy of all renewal information submitted regardless of the application method.
(e) Expired or Surrendered Certificates.
(i) Expired or surrendered certificates may be restored upon application, payment of fees set forth in chapter 1, section 12 of the rules, and compliance with other requirements imposed on such certificate holders including but not limited to CPE requirements.
(f) On-line Renewal: Certificate holders may renew active or inactive status certificates electronically by certifying compliance with all applicable requirements.
(a) Each certificate holder and each CPA firm's designated certificate holder, on a form and in the manner prescribed by the board, shall disclose information specified in subsections (d), (e), and (f) of this section. Disclosure shall be required upon initial application for an individual certificate or CPA firm permit. Once licensed, disclosure shall be required within thirty (30) days of the imposition of discipline or judgment or with the renewal of the certificate or permit. Actions previously reported do not need to be re-reported upon renewal.
(b) All information or documents disclosed or provided pursuant to the requirements of this section shall be maintained in an investigative file pursuant to chapter 7, section 21(c)(ii).
(c) Disclosure shall include but is not limited to the following:
(i) The name of the court or regulatory/administrative entity involved;
(ii) The case number; (iii) The names of the parties involved; (iv) The type of reportable event; and (v) A summary of the reportable events. (d) Any conviction or finding of guilt, or plea of nolo contendere to: (i) A felony; (ii) Any crime an element of which is dishonesty or fraud; or (iii) The denial, cancellation, revocation, suspension or refusal to renew the authority to practice as a certified public accountant by any state, federal agency, or foreign authority, for any cause other than failure to pay a fee. (e) Imposition of a censure, reprimand, sanction, probation, civil penalty, fine, consent decree or order, by any state board of accountancy, the Securities Exchange Commission, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Internal Revenue Service, or foreign regulatory body that regulates the practice of accountancy.
(f) Any fully adjudicated judgment or settlement in a civil suit or arbitration proceeding entered after July 1, 2005, totaling more than $150,000, and based upon an allegation of dishonesty, fraud, or gross negligence in the practice of accounting, or any action that would constitute a violation of the rules of professional conduct promulgated by the board. Notification under this section shall apply only to actions directly involving a certificate or permit holder's practice of accounting in Wyoming.
Section 8. Exemptions. A certificate holder may request, on forms provided by the board, that the board waive the requirement to maintain the certificate on active status for cases of individual hardship, for the following reasons:
Section 9. Transition to Practice Privileges. Certificate holders whose principal place of business is not in Wyoming and who qualify for practice privileges or otherwise are not required to maintain the Wyoming certificate may choose between the following:
(a) Surrender the certificate and wall document for mobility (if issued), submit an affidavit of lost certificate, or allow the certificate to expire at the end of the calendar year; or
(b) Continue to maintain the certificate on active status as required by the rules.