Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 193A - Accountancy Examining Board
Chapter 5 - Licensure Status and Renewal of Certificates and Licenses
Rule 193A-5.7 - Inactive Status

(1) General purpose. This rule establishes a procedure under which a person issued a certificate as a certified public accountant or a license as a licensed public accountant may apply to the board for licensure in inactive status. Inactive licensure under this rule is available to a certificate or license holder who is not engaged in Iowa or for a client with a home office in Iowa in any practice of public accounting. A person eligible for inactive status may, as an alternative, allow the person's certificate or license to lapse.

(2) Eligibility. A person holding a lapsed or active certificate or license that has not been revoked or suspended may apply to renew in inactive status through the online application process if the person is not engaged in the state of Iowa or for clients with a home office in Iowa in any practice regulated by the board, including:

(3) Affirmation. The application form will contain a statement in which the applicant affirms that the applicant will not engage in any of the practices in Iowa listed in subrule 5.7(2) without first complying with all rules governing reinstatement to active status. A person in inactive status may reinstate to active status at any time pursuant to subrule 5.7(7).

(4) Renewal. A person licensed in inactive status may renew the person's certificate or license on the schedule described in rule 193A-5.1 (542). Such person is exempt from the continuing education provisions under 193A-Chapter 10 and will be charged a reduced renewal fee as provided in rule 193A-12.1 (542). An inactive certificate or license lapses if not timely renewed.

(5) Permitted practices. A person may, while registered as inactive, perform for a client, business, employer, government body, or other entity those accounting, tax, consulting, or financial or managerial advisory services that may lawfully be performed by a person to whom a certificate or license has never been issued as long as the person does not in connection with such services use the title "CPA" or "LPA," or any other title regulated under Iowa law for use only by CPAs or LPAs in Iowa Code section 542.13 (with or without additional designations such as "inactive"). Regulated titles may only be used by active CPAs or LPAs who are subject to continuing education under 193A-Chapter 10 to ensure that the use of such titles is consistently associated with the maintenance of competency through continuing education. Additionally, individuals who are actively licensed as CPAs in another jurisdiction in which they maintain their principal place of business may be eligible to exercise a practice privilege pursuant to Iowa Code section 542.20 and 193A-Chapter 20.

(6) Unauthorized practices. A person who, while licensed in inactive status, engages in any of the practices described in subrule 5.7(2) or violates any provision of rule 193A-14.2 (17A,272C,542) is subject to disciplinary action. A person in inactive status is not authorized to verify the experience of an applicant for a CPA certificate under Iowa Code section 542.5(12) or an applicant for an LPA license under Iowa Code section 542.8(8).

(7) Reinstatement to active status. A person licensed in inactive status needs to, prior to engaging in any of the practices in Iowa listed in subrule 5.7(2) or for a client with a home office in Iowa, apply to the board to reinstate to active status. Such person will be obligated to pay the applicable renewal fee for active status, but is given credit for renewal fees previously paid for inactive status if the person applies for reinstatement at a date other than the person's regular renewal date. Such person will be obligated to demonstrate compliance with all applicable continuing education and peer review obligations. A person who has engaged in the practice of public accounting as an active licensee of another jurisdiction while licensed as inactive in Iowa will be deemed to have satisfied the continuing education obligations for reinstatement if the person demonstrates that the person has satisfied substantially equivalent continuing education in the other jurisdiction.

(8) Retired status. A person holding an inactive license who does not reasonably expect to return to the workforce in the practice of public accounting due to bona fide retirement or disability may use the title "CPA, retired" or "LPA, retired," as applicable, in the context of non-income-producing personal activities. These designations may only be used during a period of bona fide retirement or disability.