Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 019 - State Board of Accountancy
Rule 019.00.20-006 - Rule 13 "Continuing Education"

(1) Through December 31, 2019, all license holders shall complete at least 50% of the required hours in the subject areas of accounting, accounting ethics, attest, or taxation. Beginning January 1, 2020 (CPE taken for the 2021 license year and beyond), licensees engaged in the practice of public accounting shall complete at least 40% of the required hours in the subject areas of accounting, accounting ethics, attest, or taxation. Licensees not engaged in the practice of public accounting shall complete at least 20% of the required hours in the subject areas of accounting, accounting ethics, attest, or taxation.

(2) License holders engaged in any attest or compilation function shall complete at least 20% of the required hours in the subject areas of attest and accounting theory/practice.

(3) License holders must complete at least 4 hours of CPE in the area of accounting professional conduct and ethics during the 36-months immediately preceding the expiration date of their current license. Licensees who received their initial license during the current calendar year are exempt from the ethics requirement until their first full calendar year of licensure. Licensees must also complete one hour of CPE on Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy specific laws and rules. This requirement may be satisfied by completing a web based course via the Board's website or attending group training taught by a board member, board staff member, or a designee of the Board, and will count towards the 4 hour ethics requirement. The hour of CPE on Board specific rules and laws must be completed during the 36 months immediately preceding the expiration date of the current license.

(4) Licensees who are in their first calendar year of licensure must obtain CPE hours pro-rated based on the date of initial licensure.

(1) An active duty military service member deployed outside of the State of Arkansas;

(2) A returning military veteran within one (1) year of his or her discharge from active duty; or

(3) The spouse of a person under (1) or (2) above.

In order to receive a full or partial CPE exemption, a qualifying individual must submit a written request for an exemption to the Board. The written request must explain whether a full or partial waiver of the CPE requirement is sought and why such waiver is appropriate under the individual's specific circumstances. In deciding the extent of any CPE waiver allowed under this Rule, the Board will take into consideration factors including, but not limited to:

(1) An outline of the program is prepared in advance and preserved.

(2) The program is at least one hour (fifty-minute period) in length, excluding meal time and business session. Credit shall be based on contact hours. A 50- minute period will be considered as being equal to one hour. One-half CPE credit hours (equal to 25 minutes) are permitted after the first hour has been earned in a given program. Hours devoted to preparation by the participant shall not be counted as a contact hour. Effective January 1, 2020, (CPE taken for the 2021 license year and beyond) a licensee may earn a maximum of 4 hours of CPE each year by completing nano learning courses. A nano learning course is a tutorial program designed to permit a participant to learn a given subject in a ten-minute increment using electronic media and without interaction with a real time instructor. For purposes of calculating CPE credits, one CPE hour shall consist of five ten-minute courses.

(3) The program is conducted by a qualified instructor. A qualified instructor or discussion leader is anyone whose background, training, education or experience makes it appropriate for her/him to lead a discussion on the subject matter of the particular program. A lecturer or discussion leader shall be afforded CPE credit for preparation and presentation of a program for twice the number of CPE hours applicable for participants to the extent that the program contributes to the professional accounting competence of the applicant. Such credit does not pertain to the teaching of academic courses or other CPE courses that do not meet the criteria of Rule 13.3(a). Repetition of the same course material in the same year will not be allowable for credit as continuing education.

(4) A record of registration or attendance is maintained.

(5) The sponsor of the program is either approved registered or exempt from registration pursuant to the provisions of Rule 13.4.

(1) Programs or seminars sponsored by accredited higher educational institutions [see Rule 13.4(f)(2) ], government agencies, NASBA, professional organizations of Certified Public Accountants and Public Accountants, firms of Certified Public Accountants and Public Accountants, and industrial firms that meet the guidelines of Rule 13.3(b).

(2) Technical sessions at meetings of recognized national and state accounting organizations and their chapters.

(3) University or college courses offered by accredited institutions [see Rule 13.4(f)(2) ] through classroom, correspondence, or distance learning. Courses taught must be upper level college courses and may only be used for CPE one time in a three year period. For credit courses, each semester hour of credit shall equal 15 hours towards the requirement, and a quarter hour credit shall equal 10 hours. For non-credit short courses, credit is computed by contact hours.

(1) Those sponsors offering programs totaling more than 16 credit hours per year, or offering programs more than 5 times per year must register with the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, administered by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA); sponsors of such programs in self-study format may register with NASBA's QAS as an alternative to, or in addition to, registration with the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

(2) Those sponsors offering programs which total 16 credit hours or less per year and offering programs 5 times or less per year must either register with the National Registry of CPE Sponsors administered by NASBA or register with the Board annually using a registration form prescribed by the Board; sponsors of such programs in self-study format may register with NASBA's Quality Assurance Services as an alternative to, or in addition to, registration with the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

(1) The date and location of the program presentation;

(2) The names of each instructor or discussion leader;

(3) A list of licensees attending each program presentation, and the license numbers of such attendees; and

(4) A written outline of the program presentation.

(1) Professional accounting and legal organizations such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, the National Society of Public Accountants, the Arkansas Society of Public Accountants, NASBA, the Institute of Management Accountants, the American Accounting Association, the American Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, and other similar organizations;

(2) Universities or colleges that are accredited per Rule 3.1;

(3) Firms, both accounting and industrial, offering organized in-firm education programs which meet the requirements of Rule 13.3(a); and

(4) Governmental entities.

(1) Name of the attendee;

(2) NASBA registration number or an E, if the sponsor is exempt;

(3) Sponsoring organizations;

(4) Location of program;

(5) Title of program or description of content;

(6) Dates attended and/or completed and submitted;

(7) Field of Study

(8) Hours claimed; and

(9) Other information as designated by the Board.

1. Complete a form prescribed by the Board and submit payment of the appropriate fee(s) (initial or upgrade) for active status.

2. Comply with CPE requirements under these rules for the renewal period following reinstatement on a pro rata basis, such hours to be computed at a rate of 3 1/3 hours per month from the date of reinstatement to the end of the renewal period in which reinstatement occurs.

3. Undergo a federal and state background check.

4. Comply with the appropriate condition below:

(1) The licensee who has been granted retired status immediately becomes ineligible for retired status upon:

(2) Upon the occurrence of either 13.8(a)(1)(a) or 13.8(a)(1)(b) above, the licensee must notify the Board and request an application for active status or inactive status (if eligible) and:

(1) The licensee who has been granted disabled status immediately becomes ineligible for disabled status upon:

(2) Upon the occurrence of either 13.8(b)(1)(a) or 13.8(b)(1)(b) above, the licensee must notify the Board and request an application for active status or inactive status (if eligible) and:

(1) Whether for the public or for an employer - Working, supervising, or providing oversight of accounting work performed in the areas of financial accounting and reporting; tax compliance, planning or advice; management advisory services; accounting information systems; treasury, finance, or audit; or

(2) Representing to the public, including an employer, that the individual is a CPA or public accountant in connection with the sale of any services or products involving accounting work, including such designation on a business card, letterhead, proxy statement, promotional brochure, advertisement, or office; or

(3) Offering testimony in a court of law purporting to have expertise in accounting and reporting, auditing, tax, or management services.