Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/code.cfm?chap=30&art=9&section=6
Timestamp: 2016-12-06 22:25:11
Document Index: 4585649

Matched Legal Cases: ['§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§14611', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30']

Chapter 30 | Article 30 - 9
| Section 6
30 - 9 - 1 30 - 9 - 2 30 - 9 - 3 30 - 9 - 4 30 - 9 - 5 30 - 9 - 6 30 - 9 - 7 30 - 9 - 8 30 - 9 - 9 30 - 9 - 10 30 - 9 - 11 30 - 9 - 12 30 - 9 - 13 30 - 9 - 14 30 - 9 - 15 30 - 9 - 16 30 - 9 - 17 30 - 9 - 18 30 - 9 - 19 30 - 9 - 20 30 - 9 - 21 30 - 9 - 22 30 - 9 - 23 30 - 9 - 24 30 - 9 - 25 30 - 9 - 26 30 - 9 - 27 30 - 9 - 28 30 - 9 - 29 30 - 9 - 30 30 - 9 - 31 30 - 9 - 32 30 - 9 - 33 30 - 9 - 34 10 - VETERINARIANS
WVC 30 - 9 - ARTICLE 9. ACCOUNTANTS.
WVC 30 - 9 - 1 §30-9-1. License required to practice.
To protect the public interest in receiving accurate and
reliable financial information and assurance, certified public
accountants, public accountants, and accounting firms are required
to be licensed as provided in this article.
WVC 30-9-2
§30-9-2. Definitions. As used in this article, the following words and terms have the following meanings, unless the context or associated language clearly indicates otherwise: (1) “Affiliated entity” means an entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a firm. For purposes of this definition, an entity controls another entity if the entity directly or indirectly or acting in concert with one or more other affiliated entities, or through one or more subsidiaries, owns, controls, holds with power to vote, or holds proxies representing, more than fifty percent of the voting interest in such entity. (2) “Assurance” means any act or action, whether written or oral, expressing an opinion or conclusion about the reliability of a financial statement or about its conformity with any financial accounting standards. (3) “Attest services” means providing the following services: (A) Any audit or other engagement to be performed in accordance with the statements on Auditing Standards (SAS); (B) Any review of a financial statement to be performed in accordance with the statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS); (C) Any examination of prospective financial information to be performed in accordance with applicable Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE); (D) Any engagement to be performed in accordance with the Auditing Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB); or (E) Any examination, review or agreed upon procedures engagement to be performed in accordance with the statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE), other than an examination described in paragraph (C) of this subdivision. (4) “Audit” means expressing an opinion about the fairness of presentation of financial statements in accordance with the statements on Auditing Standards. (5) “Authorization” means an authorization issued pursuant to this article that entitles a permit holder or an individual practitioner to perform attest or compilation services. (6) “Board” means the West Virginia Board of Accountancy. (7) “Business entity” means any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, professional limited liability partnership, limited liability company, professional limited liability company, joint venture, business trust or any other form of business organization. The term “business entity” includes a firm. (8) “Certificate” means a certificate as a certified public accountant issued or renewed by the board pursuant to this article or corresponding provisions of prior law. (9) “Certified public accountant” or “CPA” means the holder of a certificate. (10) “Client” means a person or entity that agrees with a licensee or licensee’s employer to receive any professional service. (11) “Commission” means compensation, except a referral fee, for recommending or referring any product or service to be supplied by another person. (12) “Compilation services” means providing a service performed in accordance with the statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services that presents, in the form of a financial statement, information that is the representation of management without an expression of assurance on the statement: Provided, That this definition does not apply to the use of the term “compilation” in section thirty-one of this article. (13) “Contingent fee” means a fee established for the performance of any service pursuant to an arrangement in which no fee will be charged unless a specified finding or result is attained, or in which the amount of the fee is otherwise dependent upon the finding or result of the service. A fee fixed by a court, taxing authority or other public authority is not a contingent fee. (14) “Examination”, when used with reference to prospective financial statements, means expressing an opinion about the fairness of presentation of financial information in accordance with the statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements. (15) “Financial statement” means a writing or other presentation, including accompanying notes, which presents, in whole or in part, historical or prospective financial position, results of operations or changes in financial position of any person, corporation, partnership or other entity. (16) “Firm” means any business entity, including, but not limited to, accounting corporations and professional limited liability companies, in which two or more certified public accountants or public accountants hold an ownership or membership interest, in terms of the financial interests and voting rights of all partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers, and the primary business activity of which is the provision of professional services to the public by certified public accountants or public accountants. (17) “Firm ownership requirements” means, with respect to: (A) Any professional limited liability company organized pursuant to article thirteen, chapter thirty-one-b of this code, consisting of one or more licensed certified public accountants or licensed public accountants; (B) Any other firm where: (i) A simple majority of ownership of the firm, in terms of financial interests and voting rights of all partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers, belongs either to: (I) Certified public accountants holding a certificate under section twelve of this article or the equivalent provision of another state; or (II) Public accountants who have met the continuing professional education requirements of subsection (b), section twelve of this article and who are not subject to the exemption or limitation set forth in subdivisions (1) or (2), subsection (b), section twelve of this article or similar provisions of another state. (ii) All owners of the firm who are not certified public accountants or public accountants are active participants in the firm or in affiliated entities. (18) “Foreign” means any country other than the United States. (19) “Good moral character” means lack of a history of dishonesty or felonious activity. (20) “Home office” means the client’s office address. (21) “Individual practitioner” means a certified public accountant or a public accountant who offers professional services to the public but who does not practice in a firm. (22) “License” means a certificate, permit, registration or authorization. (23) “Licensee” means the holder of a license. (24) “Manager” means a manager of a professional limited liability company. (25) “Member” means a member of a professional limited liability company. (26) “Nonlicensee” means a person or business entity that does not hold a license. (27) “Out-of-state certificate” means a valid certificate as a certified public accountant or equivalent designation issued or renewed under the laws of another state: Provided, That “out-of-state certificate” does not include any certificate as a certified public accountant or equivalent designation that was issued or renewed solely by virtue of a holder’s prior status as a public accountant or its equivalent in the state of issuance and not by virtue of the holder’s having met the certification requirements of the state of issuance. (28) “Out-of-state permit” means a valid permit as a firm of certified public accountants or another designation equivalent to a permit issued or renewed by the board and that is issued or renewed under the laws of another state. (29) “Peer Review” means a study, appraisal or review of one or more aspects of the professional work of a licensee by a person who holds a certificate or an out-of-state certificate and who is not affiliated with the licensee being reviewed. (30) “Permit” means a permit issued to a firm pursuant to this article. (31) “Principal place of business” means the licensee’s office location in the state where the licensee holds a certificate or registration. (32) “Professional services” means those services that involve the specialized knowledge and skills of a certified public accountant or a public accountant delivered by any means, including but not limited to, in person, by mail, telephone or by electronic means. (33) “Public accountant” means a person holding a registration who is not a certified public accountant. (34) “Referral fee” means compensation for recommending or referring any service of a licensee to any person. (35) “Registration” means a registration as a public accountant issued by the board pursuant to prior law governing the registration of public accountants and renewed by the board pursuant to this article. (36) “Report”, when used with reference to financial statements, means an opinion or disclaimer of opinion or other form of language or representation which states or implies any form of assurance or denial of assurance. (37) “Rule” means any rule proposed for legislative approval by the board pursuant to this article. (38) “State” means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Guam. (39) “Substantial equivalency” or “substantially equivalent” means or refers to a determination by the board or its designee that the education, examination and experience requirements contained in the statutes or rules of another state are comparable to or exceed the education, examination and experience requirements contained in the Uniform Accountancy Act, or that an individual certified public accountant’s education, examination and experience qualifications are comparable to or exceed the education, examination and experience requirements contained in the Uniform Accountancy Act. (40) “Substantial equivalency practitioner” means any individual whose principal place of business is not in this state, who holds a certificate from another state and has complied with the provisions of section sixteen of this article. (41) “Uniform Accountancy Act” means the Uniform Accountancy Act, fifth edition, revised (July 2007), jointly published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. WVC 30-9-3
§30-9-3. Board of accountancy; appointment; terms, qualifications of members; removal of members; compensation of members; civil liability protection for members. (a) The West Virginia board of accountancy is hereby continued. (b) (1) Commencing with the board terms beginning July 1, 2001, the board shall consist of seven members appointed for terms of three years by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Five members must be certified public accountants; one member must be a public accountant so long as twenty-five or more public accountants are registered by the board, but if there are fewer than twenty-five public accountants registered by the board, then the member may be either a public accountant or a certified public accountant; and one member must be a citizen member who is a resident of this state, who is not licensed under the provisions of this article and who also is not a bookkeeper, enrolled agent or a person who provides or offers to provide to the public any bookkeeping, tax preparation, financial advisory or insurance service: Provided, That the members of the board in office on July 1, 2001, shall continue to serve until their respective terms expire. (2) Each licensed member of the board, at the time of his or her appointment, must have held a license in this state for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the appointment and each member must be a resident of this state during the appointment term. (3) Each appointment of a public accountant, whether for a full term or to fill a vacancy, must be made by the Governor from among three nominees selected by the West Virginia Public Accountants Association and each appointment of a certified public accountant, whether for a full term or to fill a vacancy, must be made by the Governor from among three nominees selected by the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants: Provided, That when the appointment of a certified public accountant is to fill the seat held on July 1, 2001, by a public accountant, then the appointment, whether for a full term or to fill a vacancy, must be made by the Governor from among three nominees selected by the West Virginia Public Accountants Association. When the appointment is for a full term, the nominations must be submitted to the Governor not later than eight months prior to the date on which the appointment will become effective. When the appointment is to fill a vacancy, the nominations must be submitted to the Governor within ten days after a request for the nominations has been made by the Governor to the president of the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants or president of the West Virginia Public Accountants Association. If the society or the association fails to submit to the Governor nominations for an appointment in accordance with the requirements of this section, the Governor may make the appointment without the nominations. (c) No member may serve more than two consecutive full terms, and any member having served two full terms may not be appointed for one year after completion of his or her second full term. A member shall continue to serve until his or her successor has been appointed and qualified. (d) If a board member is unable to complete a term, the Governor shall appoint a person of similar qualifications to complete the unexpired term: Provided, That if the board member is a certified public accountant or public accountant, the Governor shall appoint a person from any nominees submitted pursuant to subdivision (3), subsection (b) of this section. Each vacancy occurring on the board must be filled by appointment within sixty days after the vacancy is created. (e) The Governor may remove any member from the board for neglect of duty, incompetency or official misconduct. (f) Any member of the board shall immediately and automatically forfeit his or her membership if he or she has his or her certificate or registration suspended or revoked by the board, is convicted of a felony under the laws of any state or the United States, or becomes a nonresident of this state. (g) Each member of the board shall receive compensation and expense reimbursement in accordance with section eleven, article one of this chapter. (h) Board members are exempt from civil liability for any decision made or any act done in good faith in the performance of any duty or the exercise of any power granted under this article. WVC 30 - 9 - 4 §30-9-4. Powers of the board.
The board has all the powers set forth in article one of this
chapter, and in addition may:
(1) Sue and be sued in its official name as an agency of this
state; (2) Hire, fix the compensation of and discharge the employees
necessary for the administration of this article;
(3) Examine and determine the qualifications of any applicant
for a license;
(4) Issue, renew, deny, suspend, revoke or reinstate licenses
and take disciplinary action against licensees;
(5) Investigate alleged violations of the provisions of this
article, reasonable rules promulgated hereunder and orders and
final decisions of the board;
(6) Conduct hearings upon charges calling for the revocation
or suspension of a license or take disciplinary action against a
licensee, firm or substantial equivalency practitioner; (7) Cooperate with the appropriate authorities in other states
in the investigation and enforcement of violations of this article
or comparable acts of other states;
(8) Propose rules in accordance with the provisions of article
three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code; and (9) Take all other actions necessary and proper to effectuate
the purposes of this article.
WVC 30 - 9 - 5 §30-9-5. Rule-making authority.
(a) The board shall propose rules for legislative approval in
accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter
twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this
article, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The education required of
an applicant;
(2) The experience required of an applicant;
(3) T
he examination administered under this article;
(4) Issuing or renewing a certificate, registration, permit or
(5) Denying, suspending, revoking,
or reinstating a
certificate, registration, permit or authorization; (6) The conduct of investigations;
Firm ownership requirements
(8) Accounting corporations;
(9) Substantial equivalency requirements;
(10) Continuing professional education
licensees, including exemptions;
(11) Peer review requirements;
(12) Professional conduct requirements;
(13) Identifying professional services required to be
performed in accordance with the applicable statements on
(14) Use of the titles "certified public accountant," "CPA,"
"public accountant" and "PA";
(15) Use of commissions, referral fees and contingent fees;
(16) Fees for the issuance and renewal of a certificate,
registration, permit or authorization and other fees authorized by
this article; and (17) Other rules the board considers necessary and proper for
implementing the provisions of this article.
(b) All rules in effect on the first day of July, two thousand
one, will remain in effect until they are superseded.
WVC 30 - 9 - 6 §30-9-6. Fees; special fund; administrative fines.
(a) All fees and other moneys, except administrative fines,
received by the board must be deposited in the separate special fund which has been established for the board in the state treasury
and must be used for the administration of this article. Except as
may be provided in section eleven, article one of this chapter, the
board shall retain the amounts in the special fund from year to
year. No compensation or expense incurred under this article is a
charge against the general revenue fund.
(b) Any amounts received as administrative fines imposed
pursuant to this article must be deposited into the general revenue
fund of the state treasury.
WVC 30-9-7
§30-9-7. Issuance of certificate; certificates issued prior to the first day of July, two thousand one. (a) The board shall issue an original certificate to an applicant who demonstrates that: (1) He or she has met one of the following qualifications for a certificate: (A) He or she meets the qualifications for a certificate set forth in section eight of this article; (B) He or she holds an out-of-state certificate and meets the requirements of section nine of this article; (C) He or she holds an out-of-state certificate, does not meet the requirements of section nine of this article but does meet the requirements of section ten of this article; or (D) He or she holds a substantially equivalent foreign designation and meets the requirements of section eleven of this article. (2) He or she has submitted an application, in writing, on a form prescribed by the board: Provided, That the application must require an applicant to list all states in which he or she has applied for or holds an out-of-state certificate and any past denial, revocation or suspension of an out-of-state certificate; (3) He or she is trustworthy and of good moral character; (4) He or she has paid the appropriate fee prescribed by the board; (5) He or she has submitted to a state and national criminal history record check, as set forth in this subdivision. (A) This requirement is found not to be against public policy. (B) The criminal history record check shall be based on fingerprints submitted to the West Virginia State Police or its assigned agent for forwarding to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (C) The applicant shall meet all requirements necessary to accomplish the state and national criminal history record check, including: (i) Submitting fingerprints for the purposes set forth in this subsection; and (ii) Authorizing the board, the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to use all records submitted and produced for the purpose of screening the applicant for a certificate. (D) The results of the state and national criminal history record check may not be released to or by a private entity except: (i) To the individual who is the subject of the criminal history record check; (ii) With the written authorization of the individual who is the subject of the criminal history record check; or (iii) Pursuant to a court order. (E) The criminal history record check and related records are not public records for the purposes of chapter twenty-nine-b of this code. (F) The applicant shall pay the actual costs of the fingerprinting and criminal history record check. (G) The board may propose rules to implement the provisions of this section for legislative approval in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The rules must be consistent with standards established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact as authorized by 42 U. S. C. §14611, et seq. (b) Certificates will initially be issued for a period to expire on June 30 following the date of issue. (c) A certificate issued by the board prior to July 1, 2001, will for all purposes be considered a certificate issued under this section: Provided, That a person holding a certificate issued prior to July 1, 2001, must renew the certificate pursuant to section twelve of this article. WVC 30 - 9 - 8 §30-9-8. Education, examination and experience certificate
The board shall issue a certificate to an applicant of good
moral character who meets the following requirements:
(1) At least one hundred fifty semester hours of college
education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by
a college or university, the total education program to include an
accounting concentration or equivalent, as determined by the board
to be appropriate;
(2) Passage of the uniform certified public accountant
examination published by the American institute of certified public
accountants or its successor and any additional examination
required by the board by rule that tests the applicant's knowledge
of subjects related to the practice of accounting: Provided, That
before applying for the examination required by this subsection, an
applicant is required to have met the baccalaureate degree
requirement but not the one hundred fifty semester hour requirement
of subsection (1) of this section; and
(3) At least one year of experience in providing any type of
service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest,
compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or
consulting skills. The experience requirement may be satisfied by
employment in private practice, government, industry,
not-for-profit organization, academia or public practice. An
applicant's experience must be verified by a licensee and must meet requirements specified by rule.
WVC 30 - 9 - 9 §30-9-9. Substantial equivalency certificate requirements.
The board shall issue a certificate to an applicant who holds
a valid out-of-state certificate
if the state of issuance extends
similar privileges to holders of certificates under circumstances
similar to those described in this section and if the board
determines that:
(1) The state of issuance of the out-of-state certificate has
certified public accountant certification requirements that are
substantially equivalent to the certified public accountant
certification requirements of the uniform accountancy act; or (2) The applicant has individual qualifications that are
certification requirements of the uniform accountancy act.
WVC 30 - 9 - 10 §30-9-10. Not substantially equivalent certificate requirements.
moral character who holds a valid out-of-state certificate but who
does not qualify for a certificate under the provisions of section
nine of this article if the applicant meets the education,
experience, examination and continuing education requirements
specified by the board by rule.
WVC 30 - 9 - 11 §30-9-11. Foreign designation certificate requirements.
moral character who holds a foreign designation in public
accountancy if:
(1) The foreign authority that granted the designation
regulates the practice of public accountancy and allows a person
holding a certificate issued by this state to obtain the foreign
authority's comparable designation; and (2) The applicant meets the education, examination, experience
and continuing education requirements specified by the board by
WVC 30 - 9 - 12 §30-9-12. Certificate renewal; conditions of renewal.
(a) The board shall renew a certificate for a one-year period
beginning on the first day of July of each year after its issuance
in accordance with renewal procedures and fees specified by rule:
Provided, That an applicant for renewal of a certificate shall list
on his or her application all states and foreign jurisdictions in
which he or she has applied for or held an out-of-state certificate
or foreign designation and any denial, revocation or suspension of
an out-of-state certificate or foreign designation. (b) The board shall require as a condition for the renewal of
a certificate that each certified public accountant participate in
continuing professional education in accordance with the
requirements specified by rule, subject to the following exemptions
and limitations: (1) The board shall by rule exempt from the continuing
professional education requirements set forth in this subsection
any certified public accountant who does not perform or offer to
perform any professional service to the public, either directly or
indirectly through his or her employer. (2) Any certified public accountant receiving the exemption
from continuing professional education requirements must place the
word "inactive" adjacent to his or her "CPA" title on any business
card, telephone directory listing, letterhead or any other similar
document or device, with the exception of the licensee's
certificate on which the "CPA" title appears: Provided, That a certified public accountant receiving the exemption from continuing
professional education requirements who has completely discontinued
his or her performance of professional services, who has no active
management or supervisory responsibilities in a firm, and who is at
least sixty-two years of age is not required to place the word
"inactive" or any other word adjacent to his or her "CPA" title on
any business card, telephone directory listing, letterhead or any
other similar document or device. (3) The board may by rule phase in continuing professional
education requirements over a period of three years for any
certified public accountant who, as of the first day of July, two
thousand one, has not been subject to continuing professional
education requirements and who subsequently elects to perform or
offers to perform any professional service to the public during a
subsequent certificate renewal period within the three-year
phase-in period.
WVC 30 - 9 - 13 §30-9-13. Duty to inform board of denials, suspensions,
revocations, limitations.
Each licensee must notify the board, within thirty days of its
occurrence, of any denial, suspension or revocation of or any
limitation placed on a license or out-of-state certificate.
WVC 30 - 9 - 14 §30-9-14. Holder of out-of-state certificate establishing
principal place of business in state.
A holder of an out-of-state certificate who intends to
establish his or her principal place of business in this state must
first apply for the issuance of a certificate.
WVC 30 - 9 - 15 §30-9-15. Public accountants.
A person who on the first day of July, two thousand one, holds
a registration as a public accountant issued under prior law is
entitled to have the registration renewed under the same terms,
upon fulfillment of the same continuing professional education
requirements, on the same renewal schedule and subject to the same
restrictions and the payment of the same fees that are required for
the renewal of a certificate under section twelve of this article. Any registration not so renewed will expire on the thirtieth day of
June, two thousand two.
WVC 30 - 9 - 16 §30-9-16. Substantial equivalency practice privileges.
(a) An individual whose principal place of business is not in
this state and who holds an out-of-state certificate has all the
rights and privileges of a certificate holder of this state without
the need to obtain a certificate if:
(1) The state that issued the out-of-state certificate has
certification requirements that are substantially equivalent to the
certification requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act; or
(2) The individual holds a valid license as a certified public
accountant from any state which the National Association of State
Boards of Accountancy National Qualification Appraisal Service has
not verified to be in substantial equivalence with the CPA
licensure requirements of the Uniform Accountancy Act and the
individual has obtained from the National Association of State
Boards of Accountancy National Qualification Appraisal Service
verification that his or her CPA qualifications are substantially
equivalent to the CPA licensure requirements of the Uniform
Accountancy Act. Any individual who qualifies for practice
privileges pursuant to this subdivision before the first day of
January, two thousand twelve, and who passed the uniform CPA
examination and holds a valid license issued by any other state is
exempt from the education requirement in the Uniform Accountancy
Act for purposes of this section.
(b) An individual who offers or renders professional services
under this section shall be granted practice privileges in this state, and no notice, fee, or other submission is required of any
such individual. Such an individual is subject to the requirements
in subsection (c) of this section.
(c) (1) Any individual performing or offering to perform any
services in the state as a substantial equivalency practitioner and
the firm which employs that out-of-state certificate holder are
simultaneously subject to the jurisdiction of the board concerning
all matters within the scope of this article and are required to
comply with the provisions of this article and applicable rules.
(2) The state board of accountancy of the state of issuance of
any substantial equivalency practitioner's certificate is appointed
as his or her agent upon which process may be served in an action
or proceeding by the board.
(d) In the event the certificate from the state of the
individual's principal place of business is no longer valid, the
individual will cease offering or rendering professional services
in this state individually and on behalf of a firm.
(e) Subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this
section, an individual who qualifies for the practice privileges
under this section may only perform any of the following services,
for any entity with its home office in this state, through a firm
which has obtained a permit issued under section seventeen of this
article and an authorization issued under section nineteen of this
(1) A financial statement audit or other engagement to be performed in accordance with the Statements on Auditing Standards;
(2) An examination of prospective financial information to be
performed in accordance with the Statements on Standards for
Attestation Engagements; or
(3) An engagement to be performed in accordance with the
Auditing Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
(f) An individual practitioner who is also a substantial
equivalency practitioner may provide the services set out in
subsection (e) of this section without obtaining a permit issued
under section seventeen of this article, but must obtain the
authorization issued under section nineteen of this article.
(g) A certificate holder of this state offering or rendering
services or using their CPA title in another state is subject to
disciplinary action in this state for an act committed in another
state for which the certificate holder would be subject to
discipline in that other state.
(h) The board shall investigate any complaint made by the
board of accountancy of another state.
WVC 30 - 9 - 17 §30-9-17. Issuance and renewal of permits.
(a) The board shall grant or renew permits to firm applicants
that demonstrate their qualifications in accordance with this
(b) Firms meeting the following criteria must hold a permit
issued under this section:
(1) Any firm with an office in this state performing attest or
compilation services;
(2) Any firm with an office in this state that uses the title
"CPA" or "CPA firm"; or
(3) Any firm that does not have an office in this state but
performs attest services described in subdivisions (A), (C) or (D),
subsection (3), section two of this article for a client having its
home office in this state.
(c) A firm that does not have an office in this state may
perform services described in subdivision (B), subsection (3),
section two of this article, or subsection (12), section two of
this article, for a client having its home office in this state and
may use the title "CPA" or "CPA firm" without a permit issued under
this section only if it meets firm ownership requirements and is
undergoing a peer review program that conforms with applicable
rules, and performs the services through an individual with
practice privileges under section sixteen of this article.
(d) A firm that does not have an office in this state and does
not perform attest services or compilation services for a client having its home office in this state may perform other professional
services while using the title "CPA" or "CPA firm" in this state
without a permit issued under this section only if it performs the
services through an individual with practice privileges under
section sixteen of this article: Provided, That the firm may
lawfully perform the services in the state where the individuals
with practice privileges have their principal place of business.
(e) Applicants for a permit must demonstrate that:
(1) Each partner, officer, shareholder, member or manager of
the firm whose principal place of business is in this state and who
performs or offers to perform professional services in this state
holds a certificate or a registration; and
(2) The firm meets firm ownership requirements.
(f) An application for the issuance of a permit must be made
in the form specified by the board by rule and must include the
(1) The names of all partners, officers, shareholders, members
or managers of the firm whose principal place of business is in
this state;
(2) The location of each office of the firm within this state
and the name of the certified public accountant or public
accountant in charge of each office; and
(3) Any issuance, denial, revocation or suspension of an
out-of-state permit.
(g) Permits will initially be issued for a period to expire on the thirtieth day of June following the date of issue.
(h) The board shall renew a permit for a one-year period
beginning on the first day of July of each year after initial
issuance in accordance with the requirements for initial issuance
of a permit in this section.
(i) The board shall charge an application fee for the initial
issuance or renewal of a permit in an amount specified by rule.
WVC 30 - 9 - 18 §30-9-18. Notification of changes in firm ownership; revocation of
(a) A permit holder must notify the board in writing, within
thirty days after its occurrence, of any change in the identities
of partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers whose
principal place of business is in this state, any change in the
number or location of offices within this state, any change in the
identity of the persons in charge of those offices, and any
issuance, denial, revocation or suspension of a permit or
equivalent designation by any other state.
(b) The board shall suspend or revoke the permit of any firm
that ceases to meet firm ownership requirements due to changes in
firm ownership or personnel due to the death or retirement of a
partner, officer, shareholder, member or manager and that fails to
take corrective action in the manner and during the time period
specified by rule.
WVC 30 - 9 - 19 §30-9-19. Issuance and renewal of authorizations.
(a) Commencing with the first day of July, two thousand one,
no person or business entity may provide attest or compilation
services without having first obtained an authorization issued by
the board. An applicant may apply to provide attest services or
compilation services or both. This requirement does not apply to
individuals performing attest or compilation services based on the
practice privilege under section sixteen of this article except as
required under subsection (e) of that section, or to business
entities performing attest or compilation services that are not
required to obtain a permit under subsections (c) or (d), section
seventeen of this article. Any substantial equivalency
practitioner who issues a compilation report as an individual
practitioner or on behalf of a business entity may do so without
obtaining an authorization under this section so long as such
individual does so in accordance with the requirements set out in
subdivisions (1) and (2), subsection (f) of this section.
(b) Applications for the issuance of authorizations must be
made in the form specified by the board by rule.
(c) Authorizations will initially be issued for a period to
expire on the thirtieth day of June following the date of initial
(d) The board shall issue an authorization to a permit holder
that demonstrates that:
(1) Any certified public accountant, public accountant or substantial equivalency practitioner who signs or authorizes
someone to sign an attest or compilation report on behalf of the
permit holder meets the competency requirements set forth in the
professional standards for those services specified by rule;
(2) All attest and compilation services rendered by the permit
holder in this state are verified by a certified public accountant,
substantial equivalency practitioner or a public accountant; and
(3) The permit holder is undergoing a peer review program that
conforms with applicable rules.
(e) A firm may simultaneously apply for the issuance or
renewal of a permit and the issuance or renewal of an authorization
by demonstrating that the firm meets the requirements of section
seventeen of this article and subsection (d) of this section.
(f) The board shall issue an authorization to an individual
practitioner who demonstrates that he or she:
(1) Signs an attest or compilation report as a certified
public accountant, public accountant or substantial equivalency
practitioner, as applicable and meets the competency requirements
set forth in the professional standards for those services
specified by rule; and
(2) Is undergoing a peer review program that conforms with
(g) The board shall renew an authorization for a one year
period beginning on the first day of July of each year after
initial issuance in accordance with the requirements for initial issuance of an authorization in this section.
(h) The board shall charge an application fee for the initial
issuance or renewal of an authorization in an amount specified by
WVC 30 - 9 - 20 §30-9-20. Refuse to issue or renew; suspension, revocation of
license; disciplinary action.
(a) The board may refuse to issue, refuse to renew, suspend,
or limit any license or practice privilege of any licensee,
substantial equivalency practitioner or firm and may take
disciplinary action against a licensee or substantial equivalency
practitioner practicing in this state who, after hearing, has been
adjudged by the board as unqualified because of any of the
(1) Fraud or deceit in obtaining or maintaining a license or
substantial equivalency practice privilege;
(2) Cancellation, revocation, suspension or refusal to renew
an out-of-state certificate, an out-of-state permit or substantial
equivalency practice privilege for disciplinary reasons in any
other state for any cause other than a failure to pay an annual fee
for the renewal of an out-of-state certificate or out-of-state
permit in the other state;
(3) Failure by any licensee to maintain compliance with
requirements for issuance or renewal of a license or to timely
notify the board as required under section eighteen of this
(4) Revocation or suspension of the right of a licensee or
substantial equivalency practitioner to practice before any state
or federal agency; (5) Dishonesty, fraud, professional negligence in the performance of services as a licensee or substantial equivalency
practitioner or in the filing or failure to file the licensee's or
substantial equivalency practitioner's own income tax returns, or
a willful departure from accepted standards of professional conduct
applicable to licensees and substantial equivalency practitioners; (6) Violation of any provision of this article or any rule,
including the violation of any professional standard or rule of
professional conduct;
(7) Conviction of a felony or any crime an element of which is
dishonesty or fraud under the laws of the United States or this
state, or conviction of any similar crime under the laws of any
other state if the underlying act or omission involved would have
constituted a crime under the laws of this state;
(8) Performance of any fraudulent act by any licensee or
substantial equivalency practitioner;
(9) Any conduct adversely
reflecting upon the licensee's or
substantial equivalency practitioner's fitness to perform
professional services;
(10) Making any false or misleading statement or verification
in support of an application for a license filed by another person
or firm; or
(11) Engaging in the unlawful practice of law as defined by
the West Virginia supreme court of appeals.
(b) If the board suspends, revokes, refuses to issue, refuses
to renew or limits any license or practice privilege, the board shall give written notice of the denial, including a statement of
charges setting forth the reasons for the denial, and notice of the
date, time and place for hearing. The hearing must be held in
accordance with the provisions of section twenty-two of this
(c) Disciplinary action includes, but is not limited to, a
reprimand, censure, probation, administrative fine not to exceed
one thousand dollars per day per violation, and mandatory
attendance at continuing professional education seminars.
WVC 30 - 9 - 21 §30-9-21. Complaints; investigation.
(a) Upon receipt of a written complaint filed against any
licensee, substantial equivalency practitioner or firm, the board
shall provide a copy of the complaint to the licensee, substantial
equivalency practitioner or firm.
(b) The board may investigate the complaint. If the board
finds upon investigation that probable cause exists that the
licensee, substantial equivalency practitioner or firm has violated
any provision of this article or the rules, the board shall serve
the licensee, substantial equivalency practitioner or firm with a
written statement of charges and a notice specifying the date, time
and place of hearing. The hearing must be held in accordance with
section twenty-two of this article.
(c) The board may review the publicly available professional
work of a licensee, substantial equivalency practitioner, or firm
on a general and random basis, without any requirement of a formal
complaint or suspicion of impropriety. If the board discovers
reasonable grounds, the board may conduct an investigation and upon
its own motion, may file a written statement of charges, including
a notice specifying the date, time and place of hearing, against
the licensee, firm or substantial equivalency practitioner.
WVC 30 - 9 - 22 §30-9-22. Hearing; judicial review; notification to out-of-state
board of accountancy; costs of proceedings.
(a) A hearing on a statement of charges must be held in
accordance with the provisions for hearing set forth in section
eight, article one of this chapter and procedures specified by
rule. (b) Any licensee, substantial equivalency practitioner or firm
adversely affected by any decision of the board entered after a
hearing may obtain judicial review of the decision in accordance
with section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this
code, and may appeal any ruling resulting from judicial review in
accordance with article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(c) If the board renders a decision refusing to issue,
refusing to renew, suspending or revoking a license, or the board
takes disciplinary action, the board shall determine whether the
licensee, substantial equivalency practitioner or firm holds an
out-of-state certificate or permit, and if so, the board shall
notify the board of accountancy of the state of issuance of its
decision in the manner, under the circumstances and within the time
(d) In addition to other sanctions imposed, the board shall
require a licensee, firm or substantial equivalency practitioner to
pay the costs of the proceeding.
WVC 30 - 9 - 23 §30-9-23. Reinstatement.
If the board has suspended, revoked or refused to renew a
license or has revoked the practice privileges of a substantial
equivalency practitioner, the licensee, firm or substantial
equivalency practitioner against whom action has been taken under
the provisions of this article, must be afforded an opportunity to
demonstrate the qualifications to resume practice. The application
for reinstatement must be in writing and is subject to the
procedures specified by rule.
WVC 30 - 9 - 24 §30-9-24. Licensees' working papers; clients' records.
(a) Any statement, record, schedule, working paper, and
memorandum made by a licensee or a partner, shareholder, officer,
director, member, manager or employee of a licensee incident to, or
in the course of, rendering services to a client while a licensee,
remains the property of the licensee in the absence of an express
agreement between the licensee and the client to the contrary: Provided, That this subsection does not apply to a report submitted
by the licensee to the client or to a statement, record, schedule,
working paper or memorandum provided by the client to the licensee
or to a partner, shareholder, officer, director, member, manager or
employee of a licensee. (b) No statement, record, schedule, working paper, or
in the course of, rendering services to a client while a licensee
may be sold, transferred or bequeathed, without the consent of the
client or the client's personal representative or assignee, to
anyone other than one or more surviving partners, stockholders,
members or new partners, new stockholders, or new members of the
licensee, or any combined or merged firm or successor in interest
to the licensee. (c) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit any
temporary transfer of a workpaper or other material necessary in
the course of carrying out a peer review or as otherwise interfering with the disclosure of information as authorized by
(d) In addition to any statement, record, schedule, working
paper, memorandum or report required to be furnished or returned to
a client in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, a
licensee shall furnish to a client or former client, upon request
made within a reasonable time after original issuance of the
document in question:
(1) A copy of the tax return of the client; (2) A copy of any report or other document issued by the
licensee to or for the client and not formally withdrawn or
disavowed by the licensee prior to the request;
(3) A copy of any working paper, to the extent that it would
ordinarily constitute part of the client's records and is not
otherwise available to the client; and
(4) Any accounting or other record belonging to, or obtained
from or on behalf of, a client that the licensee removed from the
client's premises or received for the client's account: Provided,
That a licensee may make and retain copies of the documents of the
client when they form the basis for work done by the licensee.
(e) Nothing in this section requires a licensee to keep any
workpaper beyond the period prescribed in any other applicable
WVC 30 - 9 - 25 §30-9-25. Commissions, referral fees and contingent fees.
(a) To the extent specified by rule, a licensee may for a
contingent fee represent a client before a taxing authority within
the scope of practice of public accounting: Provided, That this
provision may not be construed either to limit or to expand the
scope of practice of public accounting, and may not be construed to
permit the unauthorized practice of law.
(b) All agreements or arrangements in which a licensee is to
be paid a commission, referral fee or contingent fee must be in
writing, state the method by which the fee is to be determined,
must be signed by both the licensee and the client, and must be
delivered to the client before the performance of any services or
the delivery of any product to which the commission, referral fee
or contingent fee relates. A contingent fee arrangement must state
the method of calculation of the fee, including the percentage or
percentages which accrue to the licensee in the event of all
foreseeable outcomes, the expenses to be deducted from any
recovery, collection or other amount on which the fee may be based,
and whether the expenses are to be deducted before or after the
contingent fee is calculated.
WVC 30 - 9 - 26 §30-9-26. Unlawful acts.
(a) No authorization holder or substantial equivalency
practitioner may perform attest or compilation services in a manner
other than pursuant to the statements on standards relating to
those services specified by rule.
(b) (1) No licensee or substantial equivalency practitioner or
firm may, for a commission or referral fee, recommend or refer to
a client any product or service or refer any product or service to
be supplied by a client, or perform for a contingent fee any
professional services for or receive a referral fee, commission or
contingent fee from a client for whom the licensee, the substantial
equivalency practitioner or firm works or associates or in which
either of them owns an interest or who performs for that client:
(A) An audit or review of a financial statement;
(B) A compilation of a financial statement when the licensee
or substantial equivalency practitioner expects, or reasonably
might expect, that a third party will use the financial statement
and the compilation report does not disclose a lack of
independence; or
(C) An examination of prospective financial information.
(2) The prohibition in subdivision one of this subsection
applies only during the period in which the licensee or substantial
equivalency practitioner is engaged to perform any of the services
listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection and the period covered
by any historical financial statements involved in any of those listed services.
(c) No licensee or substantial equivalency practitioner may
for a contingent fee prepare an original or amended tax return or
claim for a tax refund or serve as an expert witness.
(d) No licensee may use a professional or firm name or
designation that: (1) Is deceptive or misleading about the legal
form of the firm, or about the persons who are partners, officers,
members, managers or shareholders of the firm, or about any other
matter; or (2) contains a name or term other than past or present
partners, officers, members, managers or shareholders of the firm
or of a predecessor firm engaged in the practice of accounting.
(e) No person or firm that does not hold an authorization to
perform attest services, or is not otherwise exempt from the
authorization requirement, may perform or offer to perform attest
services, and no person or firm that does not hold an authorization
to perform compilation services, or is not otherwise exempt from
the authorization requirement, may perform or offer to perform
compilation services.
(f) No individual practitioner who holds an authorization may
perform or offer to perform attest services for a client of his or
her employer through or on behalf of his or her employer.
(g) No person who is not a certified public accountant, a
public accountant or a substantial equivalency practitioner may:
(1) Issue a report on financial statements of any other
person, business entity, or governmental unit or otherwise render or offer to render any attest or compilation service: Provided,
That this subdivision does not prohibit any act of a public
official or public employee in the performance of that person's
duties or the performance by any person of other services involving
the use of accounting skills, including the preparation of tax
returns, management advisory services, and the preparation of
financial statements without the issuance of reports thereon:
Provided, however, That this subdivision does not prohibit any
person who is not a certified public accountant, a public
accountant or a substantial equivalency practitioner to prepare
financial statements or issue nonattest transmittals of information
thereon that do not purport to have been performed in accordance
with the applicable statements on standards;
(2) Claim to hold a certificate, registration or authorization
or make any other claim of licensure or approval related to the
preparation of financial statements or the issuance of reports
thereon that is false or misleading;
(3) Claim to have used "generally accepted accounting
principles," "generally accepted accounting standards," "public
accountancy standards," "public accountancy principles," "generally
accepted auditing principles" or "generally accepted auditing
standards" in connection with the preparation of any financial
statement, or use any of these terms to describe any complete or
partial variation from those standards or principles or to imply
complete or partial conformity with those standards or principles;
(4) State or imply that he or she is tested, competent,
qualified or proficient in financial standards established by the
American institute of certified public accountants or any agency
thereof, the governmental accounting standards board or any agency
thereof, the securities and exchange commission or any agency
thereof, the financial accounting standards board or any agency
thereof, or any successor entity to any of these entities;
(5) Assume or use the titles "certified accountant,"
"chartered accountant," "enrolled accountant," "licensed
accountant," "registered accountant," "Auditor," "independent
Auditor" or any other title or designation that a reasonable person
may confuse with the titles "certified public accountant" or
"public accountant," or assume or use the abbreviations "CA," "LA,"
"RA," or similar abbreviation that a reasonable person may confuse
with the abbreviations "CPA" or "PA": Provided, That the title
"Enrolled Agent" and the abbreviation "EA" may only be used by
individuals so designated by the Internal Revenue Service;
(6) Use language in any statement relating to the financial
affairs of a person or entity that is conventionally used by a
licensee in a report on a financial statement;
(7) Use the words "audit," "audit report," "independent
audit," "examine," "examination," "opinion" or "review" in a report
on a financial statement;
(8) Assume or use any title that includes the words
"accountant," "Auditor," or "accounting" in connection with any other language (including the language of a report) that implies
that the person or business entity holds a license or has special
competence in accounting or auditing: Provided, That this
subdivision does not prohibit any officer, partner, member, manager
or employee of any business entity from affixing that person's own
signature to any statement in reference to the financial affairs of
the business entity with any wording designating the position,
title, or office that the person holds therein, nor does it
prohibit any act of a public official or employee in the
performance of the person's duties;
(9) Use or assume the title "certified public accountant," the
abbreviation "CPA," or any other title, designation, word,
combination of letters, abbreviation, sign, card or device that may
lead a reasonable person to believe that the person is a certified
public accountant or the holder of an out-of-state certificate; or
(10) Assume or use the title "public accountant," the
abbreviation "PA," or any other title, designation, word,
lead a reasonable person to believe that the person is a public
(h) Only a business entity that holds a permit or is exempt
from the permit requirement under subsections (c) or (d), section
seventeen of this article, may assume or use the designations
"certified public accountants," "CPA firm," "public accountants,"
or "PA firm" or the abbreviations "CPAs," or "PAs," or any other title, designation, word, combination of letters, abbreviation,
sign, card or device that may lead a reasonable person to believe
that the business entity is a firm or holds a permit.
(i) The display or uttering by a person of any printed,
engraved or written instrument, bearing the name of the person in
conjunction with any of the claims, titles, words or phrases listed
in this section is, for purposes of this section, prima facie
evidence that the person has engaged in the acts.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the
contrary, it is not a violation of this section for a firm or
business entity which does not hold a permit under section
seventeen or an authorization under section nineteen of this
article and which does not have an office in this state to provide
its professional services in this state so long as it complies with
subsection (c) or (d) of section seventeen, whichever is
applicable, and with any applicable provision of section nineteen
WVC 30 - 9 - 27 §30-9-27. Injunctions against unlawful acts.
When, as a result of an investigation under this article or
otherwise, the board or any other interested person believes that
any person or business entity has engaged, is engaging, or is about
to engage in any acts or practices that constitute or will
constitute a violation of section twenty-six of this article, the
board or any other interested person may make application to any
court of competent jurisdiction for an order enjoining the acts or
practices, and upon a showing that the person or business entity
has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice, an
injunction, restraining order, or another appropriate order may be
granted by the court without bond.
WVC 30 - 9 - 28 §30-9-28. Criminal proceedings; penalties.
(a) When, by reason of an investigation under section
twenty-one of this article or otherwise, the board has reason to
believe that any person or firm has knowingly engaged in acts or
practices that constitute a violation of section twenty-six of this
article, the board may bring its information to the attention of
the attorney general or other appropriate law-enforcement officer
who may cause appropriate criminal proceedings to be brought
(b) Any person or firm who knowingly violates any provision of
section twenty-six of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and,
upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one thousand
dollars or imprisoned in the county or regional jail not more than
one year, or both fined and imprisoned.
WVC 30 - 9 - 29 §30-9-29. Single act evidence of practice.
In any action or proceeding brought under sections
twenty-seven or twenty-eight of this article or any proceeding
initiated under section twenty-one of this article, evidence of the
commission of a single act prohibited by this article is sufficient
to justify a penalty, injunction, restraining order or conviction,
respectively, without evidence of a general course of conduct.
WVC 30 - 9 - 30 §30-9-30. Accounting corporations.
(a) All accounting corporations created prior to the first day
of July, two thousand one, are hereby continued.
(b) On or after the first day of July, two thousand one, one
or more certified public accountants or public accountants may
organize and become a shareholder or shareholders of an accounting
corporation domiciled within this state under the terms and
conditions and subject to the limitations and restrictions
(c) When the secretary of state receives a certification of
authorization to act as an accounting corporation, he or she shall
attach the authorization to the corporation application and, upon
compliance with the applicable provisions of chapter thirty-one of
this code, the secretary of state shall issue to the incorporators
a certificate of incorporation for the accounting corporation.
WVC 30 - 9 - 31 §30-9-31. Inapplicability of article.
(a) Nothing contained in this article may be construed to
prevent any person from describing himself or herself as an
"accountant" or a "bookkeeper" or from stating that he or she
practices accountancy or bookkeeping; nor, subject to certification
and registration requirements herein imposed, may this article be
construed to prevent any person from: (1) Performing services
involving the use of accounting skills; (2) rendering tax services,
management advisory or consulting services; (3) keeping of books of
account and related accounting records; or (4) preparing, compiling
or assembling financial statements without the expression of an
(b) The prohibitions of this section and the other provisions
of this article may not be construed to preclude a person or
business entity not holding a certificate or registration from
using the following or substantially similar language: "I (We)
have compiled the accompanying (financial statements) of (name of
entity) as of (time period) for the (period) then ended. A
compilation is limited to presenting in the form of financial
statements information that is the representation of management
(owners). I (We) have not audited or reviewed the accompanying
financial statements and, accordingly, do not express an opinion or
any other form of assurance on them. Management has elected to
omit substantially all (or certain) required disclosures (and the
statement of changes in financial position). If omitted disclosures were included in the financial statements, they might
influence the user's conclusions about the (entity's) financial
position, results of operations and changes in financial position. Accordingly, these financial statements are not designed for those
who are not informed about these matters."
(c)Nothing contained in this article may be construed to
prohibit an employee from furnishing services to his or her
(d) Nothing in this article prohibits a practicing attorney
or group of attorneys from preparing or presenting records or
documents customarily prepared by an attorney or group of attorneys
in connection with the attorney's professional work in the practice
WVC 30 - 9 - 32 §30-9-32.
WVC 30-9-33
§30-9-33. Mandatory training in federal antitrust law and state action immunity. It shall be required of the West Virginia Board of Accountancy, and their representatives from the Attorney General’s office, to obtain initial training on the subject of federal antitrust law and state action immunity by July 1, 2016, and thereafter on an annual basis. The purpose of the training is to provide those members with the knowledge to be able to identify the risks of any action that may be taken by the board that could be construed as possible antitrust violations. WVC 30-9-34
§30-9-34. Indemnification. In the event that a lawsuit is filed alleging violation of federal antitrust laws, the board may indemnify its board members and current and former employees for expenses reasonably incurred in connection with judicial or administrative proceedings to which they are or may become parties by reason of the performance of their official duties Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2016 Regular Session