Program areas at NASBA
Fifty-five jurisdictional Boards of Accountancy, operating under individual state or territory governments, issue licenses to and serve as regulators of Certified Public Accountants ("CPA"). NASBA developed and operates a National Candidate Database which is a central repository for all CPA Examination candidate information. The National Candidate Database helps Boards of Accountancy, as well as the CPA Examination contract partners, protect the personal data provided by candidates during the application and examination process. Approximately 213,000 CPA Examination sections were processed through the National Candidate Database during the twelve months ended July 31, 2023. In addition, services such as application processing, credential evaluations, and score reporting are provided to thirty-five Boards of Accountancy under contracts for pre-National Candidate Database eligibility requirements. NASBA also provides other related services which assist Boards of Accountancy in the examination process. By NASBA providing each of these services, it enables Boards of Accountancy to provide candidates for the CPA Examination with an operational pathway to the CPA Examination, an essential requirement in becoming a CPA.
CPAs must comply with statutory licensing requirements that include participating in continuing professional education ("CPE") programs. NASBA maintains a National Registry of CPE Sponsors ("Registry") which recognizes CPE program sponsors who commit to meeting the highest CPE program standards. To be listed on the Registry, learning providers must demonstrate that professional competence of participating CPAs is enhanced by the programs offered. CPE program sponsors on the Registry qualify as approved providers of CPE for purposes of meeting Boards of Accountancy CPE licensing requirements. As of July 31, 2023, there were 2,021 approved CPE program sponsors on the Registry. In addition, NASBA provides tools that assist CPAs and CPA firms in achieving compliance with Boards of Accountancy licensing requirements related to CPE. NASBA also offers CPE Audit Services to Boards of Accountancy to use as an automated tool for conducting their audits of licensees' compliance with CPE requirements.
Regarded as a cornerstone of support to Boards of Accountancy, NASBA appoints volunteers and provides funding for committees and task forces annually. Through the work of these committees, NASBA volunteers and staff address current and emerging issues affecting Boards of Accountancy. Topics range from ethics, education, diversity, accounting standards, professional trends, continuing professional education ("CPE"), CPA pipeline, peer review, and enforcement for the member Boards of Accountancy consideration. During the current year, there were twenty-five such task force and committees. NASBA also hosts conferences that provide a forum for members to connect and be informed on these topics, as well as to share best practices for enforcement, licensing issuance and regulation. These include an annual meeting for all Board of Accountancy members and staff, regional meetings which focus on and discuss issues specific to Boards of Accountancy in each region of the country, and conferences for executive directors and legal counsel who further the work of Boards of Accountancy. There were five such conferences held during the year.
As a part of public protection, Boards of Accountancy require that CPAs be licensed and remain in good standing. To assist and support Boards of Accountancy in this requirement, NASBA provides various services. NASBA provides initial and renewal licensing services on behalf of Boards of Accountancy which helps make the licensing process more efficient for Boards of Accountancy and the licensee. These services include application processing, eligibility determination, score reporting, and education evaluation. In addition, NASBA maintains the Accountancy Licensee Database. This is a central repository of current licensee and firm information for participating jurisdictions (54 of 55) and is populated by official state regulatory data sent from Boards of Accountancy. It offers a single-source national database of CPAs who are currently licensed or have been previously licensed. The Accountancy Licensee Database is used to assist Boards of Accountancy in their regulatory operation through the sharing of this data. A similar database, CPAverify, is offered to the public. NASBA also provides licensing and practice privilege information related to all U.S. jurisdictions and Boards of Accountancy through the Accountancy Licensing Library and CPAmobility.org.