Sllight changes for accountancy board

Anyone wanting to become a certified public accountant in Minnesota may be able to do it a little quicker.

This is one of the few points in a bill addressing the Minnesota Board of Accountancy. Sponsored by Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) and Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), HF2811/SF2402* was approved by the House Finance Committee April 4 and awaits action by the full House. It was passed 60-0 by the Senate on March 10.

More specifically, the bill would allow anyone in their last semester of college to take the exam to qualify as a CPA. Once a certificate of qualification is given, the bill proposes, the certificate would be good for three years, a change from the current process that requires a yearly renewal.

The initial CPA permit fee would remain at $100, while the annual fee would increase from $35 to $68.

The bill would also bring Minnesota statute in line with the Uniform Accountancy Act, require that no fewer than two of the seven members of the Board of Accountancy be owners or employees of a qualifying certified public accountant firm, and eliminates the requirement for the board to have a judicially noticed seal.