SECTIONS 5026-5029 - California Statutes

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE

SECTION 5026-5029

5026. The Legislature has determined it is in the public interest
to require that certified public accountants and public accountants
licensed under provisions of this chapter comply with continuing
education requirements adopted by the board as a prerequisite to the
renewal of public accountancy licenses on and after December 31,
1974.

5027. The board shall by regulation prescribe, amend, or repeal
rules including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) A definition of basic requirements for continuing education.
(b) A licensee who plans, directs, or approves any financial or
compliance audit report on any governmental agency shall complete a
minimum of 24 hours of qualifying continuing education in the area of
governmental accounting and auditing or related subjects during the
two-year license renewal period.
(c) A licensee who provides audit, review, other attestation
services, or issues compiled financial statement reports shall,
during the two-year license renewal period, complete a minimum of 24
hours of qualifying continuing education in the area of accounting
and auditing related to reporting on financial statements.
(d) A licensee with a valid permit to practice public accountancy
shall, within a six-year period, complete a continuing education
course on the provisions of this chapter and the rules of
professional conduct.
(e) A licensee on inactive status shall complete the continuing
education course required by subdivision (d) prior to reentering
public practice.
(f) A delineation of qualifying programs for maintaining
competency.
(g) A system of control and compliance reporting.
In exercising its power under this section for the interests of
consumer protection, the board shall establish standards which will
assure reasonable currency of knowledge as a basis for a high
standard of practice by licensees. The standards shall be established
in a manner to assure that a variety of alternatives are available
to licensees to comply with the continuing education requirements for
renewal of licenses and taking cognizance of specialized areas of
practice.

5028. The board may, in accordance with the intent of this article,
make exceptions from continuing education requirements for licensees
not engaged in public practice, or for reasons of health, military
service, or other good cause; provided, however, that if the licensee
returns to the practice of public accounting he or she shall meet
such continuing education requirements as the board may determine.

5029. The board may establish an advisory continuing education
committee of nine members, six of whom shall be certified public
accountants, two of whom shall be board members, one of whom is a
public member of the board, and one of whom shall be a public
accountant, to perform any of the following duties:
(a) To evaluate programs and advise the board as to whether they
qualify under the regulations adopted by the board pursuant to
subdivision (f) of Section 5027. Educational courses offered by
professional accounting societies shall be accepted by the board as
qualifying if the courses are approved by the committee as meeting
the requirements of the board under the regulations.
(b) To consider applications for exceptions as permitted under
Section 5028 and provide a recommendation to the board.
(c) To consider other advisory matters relating to the
requirements of this article as the board may assign to the
committee.