(1) Three-year licenses shall be issued by the board:

     (a) To persons meeting the requirements of RCW 18.04.105(1),18.04.180 , or 18.04.183.

     (b) To certificate holders meeting the requirements of RCW 18.04.105(4).

     (c) To firms under RCW 18.04.195, meeting the requirements of RCW 18.04.205.

     (2) The board shall, by rule, provide for a system of certificate and license renewal and reinstatement. Applicants for renewal or reinstatement shall, at the time of filing their applications, list with the board all states and foreign jurisdictions in which they hold or have applied for certificates, permits or licenses to practice.

     (3) An inactive certificate is renewed every three years with renewal subject to the requirements of ethics CPE and the payment of fees, prescribed by the board. Failure to renew the inactive certificate shall cause the inactive certificate to lapse and be subject to reinstatement. The board shall adopt rules providing for fees and procedures for renewal and reinstatement of inactive certificates.

     (4) A license is issued every three years with renewal subject to requirements of CPE and payment of fees, prescribed by the board. Failure to renew the license shall cause the license to lapse and become subject to reinstatement. Persons holding a lapsed license are prohibited from using the title "CPA" or "certified public accountant." Persons holding a lapsed license are prohibited from practicing public accountancy. The board shall adopt rules providing for fees and procedures for issuance, renewal, and reinstatement of licenses.

     (5) The board shall adopt rules providing for CPE for licensees and certificate holders. The rules shall:

     (a) Provide that a licensee shall verify to the board that he or she has completed at least an accumulation of one hundred twenty hours of CPE during the last three-year period to maintain the license;

     (b) Establish CPE requirements; and

     (c) Establish when new licensees shall verify that they have completed the required CPE.

     (6) A certified public accountant who holds a license issued by another state, and applies for a license in this state, may practice in this state from the date of filing a completed application with the board, until the board has acted upon the application provided the application is made prior to holding out as a certified public accountant in this state and no sanctions or investigations, deemed by the board to be pertinent to public accountancy, by other jurisdictions or agencies are in process.

     (7) A licensee shall submit to the board satisfactory proof of having completed an accumulation of one hundred twenty hours of CPE recognized and approved by the board during the preceding three years. Failure to furnish this evidence as required shall make the license lapse and subject to reinstatement procedures, unless the board determines the failure to have been due to retirement or reasonable cause.

     The board in its discretion may renew a certificate or license despite failure to furnish evidence of compliance with requirements of CPE upon condition that the applicant follow a particular program of CPE. In issuing rules and individual orders with respect to CPE requirements, the board, among other considerations, may rely upon guidelines and pronouncements of recognized educational and professional associations, may prescribe course content, duration, and organization, and may take into account the accessibility of CPE to licensees and certificate holders and instances of individual hardship.

     (8) Fees for renewal or reinstatement of certificates and licenses in this state shall be determined by the board under this chapter. Fees shall be paid by the applicant at the time the application form is filed with the board. The board, by rule, may provide for proration of fees for licenses or certificates issued between normal renewal dates.

     (9)(a) Licensees, certificate holders, and nonlicensee owners must notify the board within thirty days after:

     (i) Sanction, suspension, revocation, or modification of their professional license or practice rights by the securities exchange commission, internal revenue service, or another state board of accountancy;

     (ii) Sanction or order against the licensee, certificate holder, or nonlicensee owner by any federal or other state agency related to the licensee's practice of public accounting or the licensee's, certificate holder's, or nonlicensee owner's violation of ethical or technical standards established by board rule; or

     (iii) The licensee, certificate holder, or nonlicensee owner is notified that he or she has been charged with a violation of law that could result in the suspension or revocation of a license or certificate by a federal or other state agency, as identified by board rule, related to the licensee's, certificate holder's, or nonlicensee owner's professional license, practice rights, or violation of ethical or technical standards established by board rule.

     (b) The board must adopt rules to implement this subsection and may also adopt rules specifying requirements for licensees, certificate holders, and nonlicensee owners to report to the board sanctions or orders relating to the licensee's practice of public accounting or the licensee's, certificate holder's, or nonlicensee owner's violation of ethical or technical standards entered against the licensee, certificate holder, or nonlicensee owner by a nongovernmental professionally related standard-setting entity.

[2003 c 290 § 2; 2001 c 294 § 13; 1999 c 378 § 7; 1992 c 103 § 10; 1986 c 295 § 10; 1983 c 234 § 11.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 2001 c 294: See note following RCW 18.04.015.