Active – CPE Exempt status

This individual is currently and actively licensed as a CPA and may use the CPA title. However, the individual is not currently providing services to the public (providing services that are subject to the guidance of the standard-setting authorities listed in the standards of conduct and practice in subdivisions 5 and 6 of § 54.1-4413.3) or to an employer (providing to an entity services that require the substantial use of accounting, financial, tax or other skills that are relevant, as determined by the Board) and therefore is not required to meet the VBOA's CPE requirements.

In order to qualify for the Active – CPE Exempt status your current job duties may not require a substantial use of accounting, financial, tax or other skills that are relevant, as determined by the Board.

Please see examples of jobs that generally qualify for the status and some that do not qualify for the status. However, job titles are not always indicative of approval or denial of status. Each application is reviewed on the individual, specific facts and circumstances.

Examples
Generally qualify for Active – CPE Exempt Retired Not employed Missionary Teacher (non-accounting) Medical doctor Stay at home parent President/CEO of large company	Do not qualify for Active – CPE Exempt Chief financial officer (CFO) Tax attorney Director of finance Comptroller/Controller Accountant Budget analyst/Manager Accounting professor

 

According to Board Regulation 18VAC5-22-40, "…holding a Virginia license constitutes using the CPA title." Therefore, not using the CPA title does not automatically exempt a licensee from CPE requirements. A licensee can only be considered Active – CPE Exempt if he or she is not currently providing services to the public or to an employer as outlined above.

To apply for the Active – CPE Exempt status complete, the Change of License Status Request Form: Active to Active – CPE Exempt and email, fax or mail the form along with a copy of your job description to the Board office.

Please note: You must be pre-approved for the Active – CPE Exempt status to be exempt from CPE requirements. We are seeing many licensees attempt to apply for this status only when they have been selected for a CPE audit. If you have not been approved for the Active – CPE Exempt status at the time of CPE audit selection and notification, you are responsible for meeting the VBOA’s CPE requirements.

Accounting professors: The VBOA believes educators at the college level who teach accounting, finance or tax do require the substantial use, or knowledge, of this subject matter in order to teach. Next to individuals in public accounting, educators of these subjects have the largest potential impact on the accounting and CPA profession. Educators must be committed to lifelong learning.

Therefore, by holding a CPA license, such educators are expected to and must meet the VBOA’s CPE requirements. By law, it is not required to hold a CPA license to teach these courses, but those that do must obtain the required hours of CPE.

For questions regarding status qualifications, please contact the Board directly at (804) 367-8505.