Florida recently changed their licensing rules to require one year of work experience.  However, I noticed a recent update appeared to grandfather in anyone who applied for qualifications to take the CPA exam in 2008.  I applied and was approved to take the exam in 2008.  Here is the new rule as it is written:

If application for licensure is made after December 31, 2008, and the applicant has not  applied for and been approved to take the licensure examination by January 1, 2009, the applicant must document one year of work experience as follows:

What I want to know is if I'm grandfathered in and upon completing the CPA exam do I still need to provide proof of 1 year work experience. 

I tried contacting the State Board but they are not helpful.  One person recited exactly what was written on the website (what I posted above) and couldn't tell me any more, another person said she knew of no changes to the rules and no work experience was required.

I don't want to take the exam, pass all 4 parts and have my grades expire while I'm trying to get the 1 year work experience. 

Any insight or information anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

Christine

Christine,

I am in a similar boat. I passed all four sections (just got confirmation from NASBA on last section at the end of November) in 2008. However, it seemed to me unlikely that I would receive the application package from the state prior to Decmber 31st, so I have contacted the the Florida Institute of CPAs (our future lobying organization) and they have been helpful in contacting the Division of Certified Public Accountants, who will meet tomorrow (December 4th). This issue will be brought to their attention. I think we both have a strong case to be grandfathered in under the old rules. I don't know about you, but at this stage in my career there is no way I will ever work as a direct report to a CPA.

-Garrett 

Garrett,

Congratulations on passing all 4 parts!  I have been in contact with the FICPA about this.  I first contacted them to see if there would be any grandfathering, they told me no.  Then I asked about the time before grades expire (right now it's one year) and the person who emailed me said I may have found a "glitch" in the system. 

The issue with the grades expiring is that the grades expire after one year, but if you can't apply for license until you have your year's experience, that ultimately means you have to get your experience BEFORE passing the exam (or when you have 1/2 the exam passed) so that your grades don't expire.

I hope they have some good news about this...thank you for posting! At least I know they're working on it (hopefully) and I'm not alone.

Christine

Thanks, Christine. It certainly doesn't sound very well thought out. And to be fair, they should have some kind of notice period for folks like you.

As far as my situation is concerned, I cannot see how they could not see that I should be accomodated. Afterall, I passed the exams and am only waiting for them to fulfill their bureacratic duties! I figure that if I do not hear from them prior to December 31st, I'll take the Florida Law exam (it is online and open book) and send it to them, together with the $50 check and application (also available online).

Or maybe I will drive to Tallahassee or Gainesville.

Are you waiting now to see what comes out of this before studying?

-Garrett

Garrett,

Right now I'm waiting.  I graduated in June 08, right about when I read the law was being changed.  I planned to take time off from work and study full time to try to pass the exam by the end of the year.  However, in the end I couldn't get the time off from work (a leave of absence for more then a month is a bit much to ask in today's day and age).  The decision was made easier when I didn't get my notice to test until September. I knew by that point at best I could pass one, maybe two parts, but definitely not all 4 parts. 

I was devastated when I read the rule because I was really planning on working towards my CPA right after graduation with plans on opening my own practice after I got my license.  I don't have the experience requirement met and don't know if I will.  I'm the head accounting manager at the company I work for where I've been working for 10 happy years.  I"m not about to leave now to work directly under a CPA.

So, I'm taking a wait and see position to see what the state board does.  I'm hoping they either grandfather anyone in who applied to take the exam prior to the end of the year (which would be the best solution) or (at minimum) extend the expiration dates of the exam grades or eliminate expiration dates altogether.

Christine