Source: https://development.code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/sections/47-2853.44.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 00:58:34+00:00

Document:
D.C. Law Library - § 47–2853.44. Registration of firms of certified public accountants.
↪ § 47–2853.44. Registration of firms of certified public accountants.
(a)(1) The Board shall register firms of certified public accountants that demonstrate their qualifications in accordance with this section.
(C) Any firm that does not have an office in the District but performs attest services defined in § 47-2853.41(1) for a client having its home office in the District.
(B) Is lawfully able to perform the services in the state where the individual with practice privileges has his or her principal place of business.
(B) Partners, officers, shareholders, members, or managers whose principal place of business is in the District and who perform professional services in the District shall be licensed under this part.
(A) The firm shall designate an individual who is licensed in the District or, in the case of a firm required to register under subsection (a)(2)(C) of this section, an individual with practice privileges under § 47-2853.49, to be responsible for the proper registration of the firm and notify the Board.
(B) All owners who are not licensed in the District or in a state shall be active individual participants in the firm of certified public accountants or affiliated entities.
(C) The firm shall comply with all other requirements that the Board may impose by rule.
(6) A licensed individual, or individual with practice privileges, who is responsible for attestation or compilation services and signs, or authorizes another person to sign, the accountant’s report on the financial statements on behalf of the firm shall meet the competency requirements set forth in the professional standards for such services.
(7) A licensed individual, or individual with practice privileges, who signs, or authorizes another person to sign, the accountants’ report on the financial statements on behalf of the firm shall meet the competency requirements set forth in the professional standards.
(c) Subject to subsection (a)(4) of this section, a firm that is a corporation organized for the practice of certified public accounting shall also comply with Chapter 5 of Title 29, and any rules promulgated thereunder, governing the issuance, ownership, and transferability of shares and be in compliance with such regulations as may be issued for such corporations.
(d) A firm that is registered pursuant to this section or that is exempt from holding a registration under subsection (a)(4) of this section may use the words “certified public accountants” or the abbreviation “CPA” in connection with its firm name. A registered firm shall notify the Board within one month after the admission or withdrawal of a member or shareholder in practice in the District from any firm so registered. Firms shall not offer certified public accounting services unless registered pursuant to this section, except as provided in subsection (a)(2) and (3) of this section.
(e) An applicant firm for initial issuance or renewal of a registration to practice under this section shall register each office of the firm within the District with the Board and demonstrate that all attest and compilation services rendered in the District are under the charge of a person licensed under this part, or the corresponding provision of prior law or some other state.
(f)(1) An applicant firm for initial issuance or renewal of a registration under this section shall, in its application, list all states (including the District) in which the firm has applied for or has been registered as a CPA firm and list any past denial, revocation, or suspension of a license or registration by the District or any other state.
(D) Issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of a license, permit, or registration by any other state.
(g) Firms that fall out of compliance with the provisions of this section due to changes in firm ownership or personnel shall take corrective action as quickly as possible. The Board may grant a reasonable period to take corrective action. Failure to bring the firm back into compliance within a reasonable period, as defined by the Board, shall result in the suspension or revocation of the firm registration.
This section is referenced in § 47-2853.43 and § 47-2853.49.
D.C. Law 19-43 redesignated subsecs. (a) to (f) as subsecs. (b) to (g); added subsec. (a); rewrote redesignated subsec. (b); in subsec. (d), substituted “issued by the Board, or that is exempt from holding a registration and permit under subsection (a)(2) and (3) of this section” for “issued by the Board”, and substituted “pursuant to this section, except as provided in subsection (a)(2) and (3) of this section”, for “pursuant to this section”.
The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-171 substituted “licensed in the District, or, in the case of a firm required to register under subsection (a)(2)(A) of this section, an individual with practice privileges under § 47-2853.49, to be” for “licensed in the District or, in the case of a firm required to register under subsection (a)(2)(A) of this section, shall be an individual with practice privileges under § 47-2853.49 to be” in (b)(5)(A).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(f) of Non-Health Related Occupations and Professions Licensure Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-255, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 763).
“(7) Any individual licensee who signs or authorizes someone to sign the accountants’ report on the financial statements on behalf of the firm shall meet the competency requirement of paragraph (6) of this subsection.”.
“(b) Subject to the exception provided in subsection (a)(4) of this section, a firm that is a corporation organized for the practice of certified public accounting shall also comply with the provisions of Chapter 4 of Title 29, governing the issuance, ownership, and transferability of shares and be in compliance with such regulations as may be issued for such corporations.
“(c) A firm which is registered pursuant to this section and which holds a permit issued by the Board may use the words ”certified public accountants“ or the abbreviation ”CPA“ in connection with its firm name. Notification shall be given to the Board within one month after the admission or withdrawal of a member or shareholder in practice in the District from any firm so registered. Firms shall not offer certified public accounting services unless registered pursuant to this section.
“(d) An applicant firm for initial issuance or renewal of a permit to practice under this section shall be required to register each office of the firm within the District with the Board and to show that all attest and compilation services as defined herein rendered in the District are under the charge of a person holding a valid license in the District issued under Subchapter I-B, or the corresponding provision of prior law or some other state.
“(e) An applicant firm for initial issuance or renewal of permits under this section shall, in its application, list all states (including the District) in which the firm has applied for or holds permits as a certified public accounting firm and list any past denial, revocation, or suspension of a permit by the District or any other state, and each holder of or applicant for a permit under this section shall notify the Board in writing, within 30 days after its occurrence, of any change in the identities of partners, officers, shareholders, members, or managers whose principal place of business is in the District, any change in the number or location of offices within the District, any change in the identity of the persons in charge of such offices, and any issuance, denial, revocation, or suspension of a permit by any other state.

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