N.H. Rev. Stat. § 309-B:7 — NH Code / Title XXX / Chapter 309-B / Section 7
309-B:7 Issuance and Renewal of Certificates; Maintenance of Competency.
Status: in_force

I. The office shall grant or renew certificates to persons who make application and demonstrate that their qualifications, including where applicable the qualifications prescribed by RSA 309-B:5, are in accordance with the requirements of this section. The holder of a certificate issued under this section may provide attest services as defined in RSA 309-B:3, I(a), and compilation services as defined in RSA 309-B:3, III-a, only in a CPA firm that holds a permit issued under RSA 309-B:8. II. Certificates shall be initially issued, and renewed as required by RSA 310:8. III. For renewal of a certificate under this section each licensee shall participate in a program of learning designed to ensure continuing professional competence. The requirements established by the board shall specify any reasonable approach to meeting this requirement, including but not limited to, the setting of hours and the conducting of random audits of reports submitted to the board. The approach to meeting this requirement specified by the board shall be comparable to guidelines specified in the Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs jointly approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The board may by rule create an exception to this requirement for licensees who do not perform or offer to perform for the public one or more kinds of services involving the use of accounting or auditing skills, including issuance of reports on financial statements or of one or more kinds of management advisory, financial advisory or consulting services, or the preparation of tax returns or the furnishing of advice on tax matters. Licensees granted such an exception by the board shall place the word "inactive" adjacent to their CPA title or PA title on any business card, letterhead, or any other document or device, with the exception of their CPA certificate or PA registration, on which the CPA or PA title appears. IV. The office shall charge a fee for each application for initial issuance or renewal of a certificate under this section in an amount prescribed by the office by rule. V. Applicants for initial issuance or renewal of certificates under this section shall in their applications list all states in which they have applied for or hold certificates, licenses, or permits and list any past denial, revocation, or suspension of a certificate, license, or permit, and each holder of or applicant for a certificate under this section shall notify the board in writing, within 30 days after its occurrence, of any issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of a certificate, license, or permit by another state. VI. The office shall issue a certificate to a holder of a substantially equivalent foreign designation, granted in a foreign country, provided that: (a) The foreign authority which granted the designation makes similar provision to allow a person who holds a valid certificate issued by this state to obtain such foreign authority's comparable designation; and (b) The foreign designation: (1) Was duly issued by a foreign authority that regulates the practice of public accountancy and the foreign designation has not expired or been revoked or suspended; (2) Entitles the holder to issue reports upon financial statements; and (3) Was issued upon the basis of educational, examination, and experience requirements established by the foreign authority or by law; and (c) The applicant: (1) Received the designation, based on educational and examination standards substantially equivalent to those in effect in this state, at the time the foreign designation was granted; (2) Completed an experience requirement, substantially equivalent to the requirement set out in RSA 309-B:5, IX, in the jurisdiction which granted the foreign designation or has completed at least 4 years of professional experience in this state; or meets equivalent requirements prescribed by the board by rule, within the 10 years immediately preceding the application; and (3) Passed a uniform qualifying examination in national standards acceptable to the board. VII. An applicant under paragraph VI shall in the application list all jurisdictions, foreign and domestic, in which the applicant has applied for or holds a designation to practice public accountancy, and each holder of a certificate issued under this paragraph shall notify the board in writing, within 30 days after its occurrence, of any issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of a designation or commencement of a disciplinary or enforcement action by any jurisdiction. VIII. The board shall by rule require as a condition for renewal of a certificate under this section, by any certificate holder who issues compilation reports for the public other than through a CPA firm, that such individual undergo, no more frequently than once every 3 years, a peer review conducted in such manner as the board shall by rule specify, and such review shall include verification that such individual has met the competency requirements set out in professional standards for such services. IX. The office of professional licensure and certification may contract with the NASBA Qualification Appraisal Service to assess any applications made under this section.