The Iowa Accountancy Act of 2001
Adopted Rules

CHAPTER 5
RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

193A-5.1(79GA,ch 55) Biennial renewal. To maintain the certificate of certified public accountant granted by the board under 2001 Iowa Acts, chapter 55, section 6 or 19, or the license to practice as a licensed public accountant granted under 2001 Iowa Acts, chapter 55, section 8, certificates and licenses shall be renewed biennially. Licensees whose last names begin with A to K will renew in even-numbered years. Licensees whose last names begin with L to Z will renew in odd-numbered years. The renewal of certificates and licenses, as required by 2001 Iowa Acts, chapter 55, sections 6 and 8, shall be on the basis of a biennial expiration date of June 30, upon forms that may be obtained from the board office or on the board's Web site. A biennial renewal fee will be charged.

193A-5.2(79GA,ch 55) Obtaining effective status.
5.2(1) A holder of a certificate as a certified public accountant or a license as an accounting practitioner issued under prior laws shall be permitted to restore the certificate or license to an effective status at some future date upon the payment of a penalty of $100 and the current renewal fee and by providing evidence of completed continuing education even though the holder had, prior to that date, ceased to renew with the board.

5.2(2) An applicant who wishes to restore a certificate or license to effective status must meet the basic requirement of 120 hours earned in the preceding three-year period prior to the date of application to restore effective status. The hours claimed to restore effective status cannot again be used at the next renewal.

193A-5.3(79GA,ch 55) Notices.
5.3(1) An application to renew a CPA certificate or LPA license can be obtained from the board office or on the board's Web site. While the board generally mails renewal applications in the May preceding certificate or license expiration, neither the board's failure to mail nor a licensee's failure to receive an application shall excuse the requirement to timely renew and pay the renewal fee.

5.3(2) A licensee shall notify the board within 30 days of any change of address or business connection.

193A-5.4(79GA,ch 55) Renewal procedures.
5.4(1) A licensee shall file a timely and sufficient renewal application with the board by the June 30 deadline in the biennial renewal year. An application shall be deemed filed on the date received by the board or, if mailed, the date postmarked, but not the date metered.

5.4(2) An applicant for renewal under this chapter shall disclose on the application all background and character information requested by the board, including, but not limited to:

a. All states or foreign jurisdictions in which the applicant has applied for or holds a CPA certificate or license, an LPA license, or a substantially equivalent designation from a foreign country;

b. Any past denial, revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew a CPA certificate, license or permit to practice, or LPA license, or voluntary surrender of a CPA certificate, license or permit or LPA license to resolve or avoid disciplinary action, or similar actions concerning a substantially equivalent foreign designation;

c. Any other form of discipline imposed against a CPA certificate, license or permit, LPA license, or a substantially equivalent foreign designation;

d. The conviction of any crime; and

e. The revocation of a professional license of any kind in this or any other jurisdiction.

5.4(3) A licensee who performs compilation services for the public other than through a certified public accounting or licensed public accounting firm shall submit a certification of completion of a peer review conducted in accordance with 193A-Chapter 11 no less often than once every three years.

5.4(4) Within the meaning of Iowa Code subsection 17A.18(2), a timely and sufficient renewal application shall be:

a. Received by the board in person or electronic form or postmarked with a nonmetered United States Postal Service postmark on or before the date the license is set to expire or lapse;

b. Signed by the licensee if submitted in person, or mailed, or certified as accurate if submitted electronically;

c. Fully completed, including continuing education, if applicable; and

d. Accompanied with the proper fee. The fee shall be deemed improper if, for instance, the amount is incorrect, the fee was not included with the application, the credit card number provided by the applicant is incorrect, the date of expiration of a credit card is omitted or incorrect, the attempted credit card transaction is rejected, or the applicant's check is returned for insufficient funds or a closed account.

5.4(5) The administrative processing of an application to renew an existing license shall not prevent the board from subsequently commencing a contested case to challenge the licensee's qualifications for continued licensure if grounds exist to do so.

5.4(6) If grounds exist to deny a timely and sufficient application to renew, the board shall send written notification to the applicant by restricted certified mail, return receipt requested. Grounds may exist to deny an application to renew if, for instance, the licensee failed to satisfy the continuing education as required as a condition for licensure. If the basis for denial is pending disciplinary action or disciplinary investigation which is reasonably expected to culminate in disciplinary action, the board shall proceed as provided in 193-Chapter 7. If the basis for denial is not related to a pending or imminent disciplinary action, the applicant may contest the board's decision as provided in 193-subrule 7.39(1).

5.4(7) When a licensee appears to be in violation of mandatory continuing education requirements, the board may, in lieu of proceeding to a contested case hearing on the denial of a renewal application as provided in rule 193-7.39(546,272C), offer a licensee the opportunity to sign a consent order. While the terms of the consent order will be tailored to the specific circumstances at issue, the consent order will typically impose a penalty between $50 and $250, depending on the severity of the violation, establish deadlines for compliance; and may impose additional educational requirements on the licensee. A licensee is free to accept or reject the offer. If the offer of settlement is accepted, the licensee will be issued a renewed certificate of registration and will be subject to disciplinary action if the terms of the consent order are not complied with. If the offer of settlement is rejected, the matter will be set for hearing, if timely requested by the applicant pursuant to 193-subrule 7.39(1).

5.4(8) Certificate or license holders who continue to practice public accounting as a CPA or an LPA in Iowa after their certificate or license has expired shall be subject to disciplinary action. Such unauthorized activity may also be grounds to deny a licensee's application for reinstatement.

193A-5.5(79GA,ch 55) Failure to renew.
5.5(1) A person who fails to renew the certificate or license by the expiration date, but does so within 30 days following its expiration date, shall be assessed a penalty of 25 percent of the biennial renewal fee.

5.5(2) If the holder fails to renew the certificate or license within the 30-day grace period outlined in subrule 5.5(1) the certificate or license will lapse and the licensee shall be required to reinstate in accordance with subrule 5.5(3). The licensee is not authorized to practice during the period of time that the certificate or license is lapsed.

5.5(3) The board may reinstate the certificate or license upon the applicant's payment of a penalty of $100 and provision of evidence of completed continuing education outlined in rule 193A-10.3(79GA,ch 55).

193A-5.6(272C,79GA,ch 55) Certificates and licenses property of the board. Every certificate or license granted by the board shall, while it remains in the possession of the holder, be preserved by the holder but shall, nevertheless, always remain the property of the board. In the event that the certificate or license is revoked, suspended, or is not renewed in the manner prescribed by 2001Iowa Acts, chapter 55, or Iowa Code chapter 272C, it shall, on demand, be delivered by the holder to the administrator of the board. However, a person shall be entitled to retain possession of a lapsed certificate or license which has not been revoked, suspended or voluntarily surrendered in a disciplinary action as long as the person complies with all provisions of 2001 Iowa Acts, chapter 55, sections 10 and 13. A lapsed certificate or license may be reinstated to effective status at anytime pursuant to 193A-subrule 5.2(2).

193A-5.7(79GA,ch 55) Licensee's continuing duty to report. A licensee shall notify the board in writing of the licensee's conviction of a crime within 30 days of the date of conviction. "Conviction" is defined in 2001 Iowa Acts, chapter 55, section 5(2). Licensees shall also notify the board in writing within 30 days of the date of any issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of a certificate, license or permit by another state.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 272C and 2001 Iowa Acts, chapter 55.