1997 Minnesota Statutes

     326.191 Public accountants; licensing. 

    Any person:  (i) who is a resident of this state or has a 
 place of business in this state; (ii) who has attained the age 
 of 18 years; (iii) who meets the requirements of clause (a), 
 (b), (c), or (d) below shall so certify to the board on or 
 before the first day of July, 1980, and shall thereafter be 
 licensed by the board as a licensed public accountant: 

    (a) Persons who held themselves out to the public as public 
 accountants and who were engaged within this state for a minimum 
 of one year as of July 1, 1979 in the practice of public 
 accounting as their principal occupation; 

    (b) Persons who for at least one year immediately prior to 
 July 1, 1979 have been employees whose principal duty has been 
 the practice of accounting for a certified public accountant or 
 a public accountant engaged within this state in the practice of 
 public accounting as principal occupation; 

    (c) Persons who, for a minimum of one year as of July 1, 
 1979, held senior level accounting or auditing positions in 
 government which are equivalent, as determined by the board, to 
 the practice of public accounting, and were required to 
 successfully complete an examination in accountancy or obtain 
 specific accounting experience or accounting education as a 
 prerequisite for the position; or 

    (d) Persons serving in the armed forces of the United 
 States of America on January 1, 1980, who for a minimum of one 
 year immediately prior to entering the service held themselves 
 out to the public as public accountants and were engaged within 
 this state in the practice of public accounting as their 
 principal occupation.  In that case, the time for application 
 for licensure shall be extended for a period of 12 months from 
 the time the person is separated from active duty. 

    The board may license an applicant who does not meet the 
 requirements of clause (a), (b), (c), or (d), but intends to 
 practice full-time public accounting in this state, if the 
 applicant is the holder of a license or registration as a public 
 accountant issued by another state before July 1, 1979, which 
 is, in the opinion of the board, equivalent to the licensure 
 requirements for a public accountant in this state.  A license 
 under this paragraph may be issued only if the other state 
 provides for similar recognition of public accountants of this 
 state. 

    The board may, in its discretion, license applicants who 
 do not, for reasons of individual hardship, meet the minimum 
 experience requirement. 

    The board shall charge an initial licensure fee to be 
 determined by rule, to license a public accountant. 

    The board shall in each case determine whether the 
 applicant is eligible for a license.  Any individual who is so 
 licensed and who holds a permit issued under this section shall 
 be styled and known as a "licensed public accountant". 

    HIST: 1979 c 326 s 5; 1980 c 380 s 1; 1986 c 444