Accountants with an inactive or delinquent CPA license: Reactivate. No Questions - No Penalties

Gov. Rick Scott Signed this Legislation into Law April 27, 2012

Accountants with an inactive or delinquent license can benefit from newly passed legislation that streamlines Florida’s public accounting licensure process.

For example, imagine a scenario where you left the profession in 1997 to raise a family and that you placed your CPA license on an “Inactive” status. Ten years later, suppose you applied for reactivation with the Florida Board of Accountancy (BOA), and were notified that you needed to complete 480 continuing professional education (CPE) hours to reactivate (the number of CPE hours for each reporting period that your license was on an “Inactive” status).

Based on the having to amass 480 CPE credits, let us assume that you decided NOT to reactive your license back in 2007.  With the passage of this legislation in 2012, you now need only 120 total hours to reactivate your CPA license! 

FICPA-sponsored legislation (HB 769/SB 1656), passed during the 2012 Session. One provision allows inactive or delinquent licensees to reactivate a Florida CPA license that was inactive or delinquent on June 30, 2012. The legislation:

• limits the required CPE to 120 hours
• of the 120 CPE hours, requires a minimum of eight hours of BOA-approved ethics, and
• a maximum of 30 behavioral hours

Inactive or delinquent licensees must notify the BOA in writing of their intent to reactive by Dec. 31, 2012 and complete the reactivation by June 30, 2014.

The FICPA will walk accountants through the reactivation process and provide information about saving on CPE courses and inform accountants about the benefits of membership in the FICPA. It is through members’ support that the FICPA is able to provide assistance to help all CPAs and advocate in matters protecting the CPA license.

More information about legislative issues: FICPA Governmental Affairs | (800) 342-3197, Ext. 204 (in Florida) | (850) 224-2727, Ext. 204 | govaffairs@ficpa.org

Division of Certified Public Accounting Website
Florida Board of Accountancy
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Gainesville, FL 32607
Phone: (850) 487-1395 
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