Experience in State Comptroller Office Accepted for CPA License

By Danielle D'Angelo

The New York State Board for Public Accountancy approved a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the State Comptroller to grant equivalent licensure experience for CPA candidates in the comptroller's office.

The agreement applies to qualified individuals at the management audit, financial reporting, and examinations bureaus. Applicants for licensure must meet the state's two-year experience requirement, of which at least 18 months must be in auditing. Candidates at the bureau of financial reporting may gain up to six months of equivalent experience on appropriate assignments in preparation of the state's general purpose financial statements.

According to the memorandum, 2,000 hours is equivalent to one year's experience. For the experience in the comptroller's office to qualify for licensure, as with public accounting, a supervising CPA must attest to the candidate's work. The memorandum also calls for the establishment of a CPA advisory committee to facilitate interaction between the state board and comptroller's office. Two CPAs from each audit group sit on the advisory committee and review, make recommendations, and ensure consistency and uniformity of all experience applications to the state board.