(c) A name that claims or implies the ability to influence a regulatory body or official;
(d) A name that includes the name of an owner whose license has been revoked for disciplinary reasons by the board, whereby the licensee has been prohibited from practicing public accountancy or prohibited from using the title CPA or holding oneself out as a certified public accountant.
(2) As long as they do not violate this subchapter, all of the following are permissible types of CPA firm names:
(a) A firm name that includes the names of one or more former or present owners.
(b) A firm name that excludes the names of one or more former or present owners.
(c) A firm name that uses the CPA title as part of the firm name when all named individuals are owners of the firm who hold such title or are former owners who held such title at the time they ceased to be owners of the firm.
(d) A firm name that includes the name of a non-CPA owner if the CPA title is not a part of the firm name.
(3) A network firm may use a common brand name, or share common initials as part of the firm name.
(4) A network firm may use the network name as the firm’s name provided it also shares one or more of the following characteristics with other firms in the network:
(a) Common control, as defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., among the firms through ownership, management, or other means.
(b) Profits or costs, excluding costs of operating the association, costs developing audit methodologies, manuals and training courses, and other costs that are immaterial to the firm.
(c) Common business strategy that involves ongoing collaboration amongst the firms whereby the firms are responsible for implementing the association’s strategy and are held accountable for performance pursuant to that strategy.
(d) Significant part of professional resources.
(e) Common quality control policies and procedures that participating firms are required to implement and that are monitored by the association.
SECTION 14. Chapter Accy 2 (title) is created to read: CHAPTER ACCY 2 (title)
INDIVIDUAL LICENSURE
SECTION 15. Subchapter I (title) of chapter Accy 2 (precedes s. Accy 2.001) is created to read: SUBCHAPTER I (title)
AUTHORITY AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 16. Accy 2.001 is created to read:
SECTION 17. Accy 2.002 is created to read:
Accy 2.002 Definitions. In this chapter:
(1) “Accredited” means a school or institution of higher learning listed by and accrediting agency recognized by the secretary of the federal department of education on or after July 5, 2013.
Note: For a listing of accrediting agencies recognized by the secretary of the federal department of education, see
http:/www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg6.html.
(2) “Bachelor’s degree” means a baccalaureate degree normally conferred by universities and colleges at the completion of at least a 4-year, full-time, academic-year program of study.
Note: Some students complete the 4-yer bachelor’s degree in less than 4 years by attending summer school or maximum course loads over a number of academic semesters.
SECTION 18. Subchapter II (title) of chapter Accy 2 (precedes s. Accy 2.101) is created to read: SUBCHAPTER II (title)
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS
SECTION 19. Accy 2.101 (Note) is created to read:
Note: Application forms are available upon request to the board’s office at 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison WI 53708-8935 or by email at www.dsps.wi.gov. An applicant with a disability will be provided reasonable accommodations. SECTION 20. Accy 2.101 (3), (4) and (5) are created to read:
Accy 2.101 (3) Evidence of at least one year of public accounting experience or its equivalence as required by s. Accy 2.403 and s. 442.04 (5) (b) 5., Stats. (4) Evidence that the applicant has successfully passed each section of the uniform certified public accountant examination.
(5) Successful completion of the open book professional ethics examination on statutes and rules governing the practice of public accounting in Wisconsin a set forth in Accy 2.306.
SECTION 21. Subchapter III (title) in chapter Accy 2 (precedes s. Accy 2.201) is created to read: SUBCHAPTER III (title)
EDUCATION
SECTION 22. Accy 2.205 is created to read:
Accy 2.205 Requirements for renewal and reinstatement of individual licensees.
(1) Renewal before 5 years. An individual certified public accountant who files an application for renewal of a license within 5 years after the renewal date may renew his or her license by filing with the board all of the following:
(a) An application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department.
(2) Renewal after 5 years or more. An individual certified public accountant who files an application for renewal 5 years or more after the renewal date may be renewed by filing with the board all of the following:
(a) An application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department.
