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Society of Louisiana
Certified Public Accountants
2400 Veterans Blvd.,
Suite
500
Kenner,
LA 70062
(504) 464-1040
1-800-288-5272
Fax (504) 469-7930
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Department of Economic Development
State
Board of Certified Public Accountants
of Louisiana CPE Rules
LAC 46:XIX.1301-1311 Requirements for
Continuing Professional Education (R.S.
37:76) as amended through September
20, 2000.
Chapter 13. Maintenance
of Competency; Continuing Professional
Education (CPE)
§1301. Basic
Requirements
A. Each certificate
holder shall participate in at least
120 hours of continuing professional
education every three years. The
hours of a certificate holder to
whom §1301.E.2
applies shall be reduced pro rata
for the compliance period containing
his effective date.
1. Certificate holders
who participate in attest engagements
shall complete at least 20% of the
required hours in the subject area
described in §1307.A.1
in fulfilling the above requirements,
effective for the compliance period beginning
January 1, 2001. Certificate holders
participating in attest engagements include
those responsible for conducting substantial
portions of the procedures and those
responsible for planning, directing,
or reporting on attest engagements. Persons
who "plan, direct, and report" generally
include the in-charge accountant,
the supervisor or manager, and the
firm owner who signs or authorizes
someone to sign the attest engagement
report on behalf of the firm.
2. All certificate holders
shall complete at least two hours of
Professional Ethics that include a review
of the State Board's Rules of Professional
Conduct (LAC46:XIX). In order to qualify,
the contents of an Ethics course must
have been pre-approved by the board.
3. Personal development
hours cannot exceed twenty-five percent
of the total qualifying CPE.
4. Each certificate holder
shall triennially, when making application
for certificate renewal, submit requested
information on the prescribed form including
a signed statement confirming the number
of continuing education hours in which
the certificate holder has participated
during the reporting period.
B. Exemption.
The board may grant an exemption
from CPE in accordance with R.S.
37:76(D)(2). In order to be granted
an exemption, the certificate holder
must register in inactive status
and follow the provisions of §1707.C.
C. An individual
who held a license on June 17, 1999
or was issued a certificate on or
after June 18, 1999 who wishes to
reenter practice after having allowed
such license or certificate to lapse
must present proof, documented in
a form satisfactory to the board,
that he has satisfied the requirements
for continuing professional education
for the preceding period as specified
by §1301.A.
D. The board may
at its sole discretion grant extensions
of time or waivers to complete the required
continuing education requirements for
hardship situations and for medical reasons.
E. Effective Date
- As
to
any
certificate
holder
who
was
licensed
as
of
January
1,
1998, the
effective
date
of
these
requirements
was
January
1,
1998;
except
for
1301.A.1,
which
will
be
effective
January
1, 2001.
- As
to
any
individual
who
obtains
an
initial
certificate,
the
effective
date
of these
requirements
shall
be
January
1,
of
the
year after
his
initial certificate
was
issued.
F. Compliance Period
The
first compliance period for continuing
professional education was the three-year
period ended December 31, 1982, and
subsequent compliance periods shall
end on December 31 each third year
thereafter.
§1303. Standards
for Programs
A. Program Development
- The
program
shall
contribute
directly
to the
professional
competence
of
the participants.
- The
stated
program
objectives
shall
specify
the
level
of
knowledge
the
participant
should have
obtained
or
level
of
knowledge
he
should
be
able
to
demonstrate upon
completing
the program.
- The
education
and/or
experience
prerequisites
for the
program
should
be
stated.
- Programs
shall
be
developed
by
individual(s) qualified
in
the
subject
matter.
- Program
content
shall
be
current.
- A
program
shall
be
reviewed
by
an
individual(s)
qualified
in
the
subject
matter and
knowledgeable
in
instructional design,
other
than
the
preparer(s).
B. Program Presentation
- Participants
should
be
informed
in
advance
of
objectives,
prerequisites,
experience
level,
content,
advance preparation,
teaching
methods,
and continuing
professional
education
credit.
- Instructors,
lecturers
or
speakers
should
be qualified
with
respect
to
program content
and teaching
method
used.
- The
number
of
participants
and
physical facilities
should
be
consistent
with the
teaching method(s)
specified.
- Written
evaluations
shall
be
solicited
from
participants
for
each
program,
summarized
to
provide an
effective
means
for evaluating
program
quality,
and
retained.
§1305. Programs
which Qualify
A. The overriding
consideration in determining whether
a specific program qualifies as acceptable
continuing education is that it be a
formal program of learning which contributes
directly to the professional knowledge
and professional competence of an individual
certificate holder. Formal programs of
learning are those programs that are
designed, and primarily intended, as
educational activities, and comply with
all CPE standards. Magazines and reference
materials are not designed as educational
programs nor do they comply with CPE
standards. Accordingly, examinations
on magazine articles or reference materials
will not qualify for credit unless a
formal program of learning was developed
in addition to the examination. CPE credit
will not be allowed for programs which
have content that is in violation or
is not in compliance with the act or
rules of the board.
B. Continuing education
programs qualify if they meet the above
standards and if:
- a
written
outline
of
the
program is
prepared
in
advance
and preserved;
- the
program
is
at
least
one hour
(50
minute
period)
in length;
and
- a
record
of
registration
and
attendance or
test
results
is
maintained.
C. The following
are deemed to be qualifying programs:
- Accredited
University
or
College
Courses
(see
definition
at §501).
Credit
and
non-credit
courses
earn
continuing
education
credit
as
set
forth
in §1309.A.
- Formal
correspondence
or
other
individual
study
programs,
(including
text
books,
audio
or
visual tapes,
computer
disc,
CD-ROM,
or
internet
based
study
programs),
which
require
registration
and
provide
evidence
of
satisfactory
completion
as
set
forth
in §I309.B.
- Formal
live
classroom
study
programs,
including educational
programs
of
recognized
national and
state professional
organizations.
- Technical
sessions
at
meetings
of
recognized national
and
state
professional
organizations and
their chapters.
- Formal
organized
in-firm
educational
programs.
D. The board may
look to recognized state or national
professional organizations for assistance
in interpreting the acceptability of
and credit to be allowed for individual
courses.
E. The responsibility
for substantiating that a particular
program is acceptable and meets the requirements
rests solely upon the certificate holder.
§1307.
Subjects which Qualify
A. The following
general subject matters are acceptable
as long as they contribute to the professional
knowledge and professional competence
of the individual certificate holder
and are relevant to the services rendered
or to be rendered by the individual certificate
holder in public practice, industry,
academia or government:
- Accounting
and
Auditing.
This
field
of
study
includes
accounting
and
financial
reporting
subjects,
pronouncements
of authoritative
accounting
principles
issued
by
the
standard-
setting
bodies
and
any
other
related
subject
generally
classified
within
the
accounting
discipline.
It
also
includes
auditing
subjects
related
to
the
examination
of
financial
statements,
operations
systems,
and
programs;
the
review
of
internal
and
management
controls;
and
the
reporting
on
the
results
of
audit
findings,
compilations,
and
reviews.
It
also
includes
assurance
services
that
relate
to
standards for
attest
engagements.
- Consulting. This
field
of
study
deals
with
all
advisory
services
provided
by
professional
accountants. Services
provided
that
encompass
those
for
management
such
as
designing,
implementing,
and
evaluating
operating
systems
for
organizations
as
well
as
business
advisory
services
and
personal
financial
planning.
The
systems
include
those
dealing
with
planning,
organizing
and
controlling
any
phase
of
individual
financial
activity
or
business
activity.
Subjects
may
include
designing
and
implementing
a
computer
system
to
process
the
financial
and
management
operations
of
a
business;
litigation
support
services
and
the
related
fields
of
law;
personal
financial
planning
services;
investment
planning
for
individuals
or
organizations;
and
management
advisory
services.
This
Subsection
is
primarily
for
consultants
in
public
practice;
however,
internal
consultants
employed
by
a
business
entity
providing
advisory
services
within
the
entity
may
also
use these
subjects.
- Taxation. This
field
of
study
includes
subjects
dealing
with
tax
compliance
and
tax
planning. Compliance
covers
tax
return
preparation
and
review
and
IRS
examinations,
ruling
requests,
and
protests.
Tax
planning
focuses
on
applying
tax
rules
to
prospective
transactions
and
understanding
the
tax
implications
of
unusual
or
complex
transactions.
Recognizing
alternative
tax
treatments
and
advising
on
tax
saving
opportunities
are
also part
of
tax
planning.
- Management. This
field
of
study
considers
the
management
needs
of
individuals
in
public
practice, industry,
and
government.
Acceptable
subjects
for
individuals
in
public
practice
concentrate
on
the
practice
management
area,
such
as
organizational
structures,
marketing
services,
and
administrative
practices.
For
individuals
in
industry
or
government,
there
are
subjects
dealing
with
the
financial
management
of
the
organization,
including
information
systems,
budgeting,
asset
management,
as
well
as
buying
and
selling
businesses,
contracting
for
goods
and
services,
cost
analysis
and
foreign
operations,
In
general,
the
emphasis
in
this
field
is
on the
specific
management
needs
of
certificate
holder's
and not
on
general
management
skills.
- Specialized
Knowledge
and
Applications. This
field
of
study
treats
subjects
targeted
to
specialized
industries,
such
as
not-for-profit organizations,
health
care,
oil
and
gas.
An
industry
is
specialized
if
it
is
unusual
in
one
or
more
of
the
following
ways:
form
of
organization,
economic
structure,
legislation
of
regulatory
requirements,
marketing
or
distribution,
terminology,
technology;
and
either
employs
unique
accounting
principles
and
practices,
encounters
unique
tax
problems,
requires
unique
advisory
services,
or
faces
unique
audit
issues.
This
area
applies
to
certificate
holders
in
the
three
employment
areas,
i.e.,
public
practice,
industry,
and
government.
A
certificate
holder
would
use
this
classification
for
courses
not
already
reportable
under
categories
listed
in §1307.A.1-4,
such
as
Medicare
cost
reporting
or
rate
regulations
in
the telephone
and
utility
industry.
- Personal
Development. Personal
Development
is
the
field
of
study,
which
includes
self-management
and
self-
improvement both
inside
and
outside
of
the
business
environment.
It
includes
issues
of
quality
of
life,
interpersonal
relationships,
self-assessment,
and
personal
improvement.
Personal
Development
courses
are
intended
to
be
more
of
a
self-improvement
category,
as
compared
to
courses
that
are
directly
related
to
the
certificate
holder's
job
duties
or
job
requirements.
Courses
above
the
basic
skill
level
that
otherwise
might
qualify
as
Personal
Development
courses
may
be
claimed
in
the
management
area
or
the
consulting
area
if
they
relate
to
the
certificate
holder's job
duties
or
job
requirements.
- Professional
Ethics. Professional
Ethics
includes
the
study
of
the
codes
of
professional
ethics
applicable
to
all
CPA
registrants
and their
effect
on
business
decisions.
B. Special rules
- For
purposes
of
categorizing
courses,
a
course
may
be
categorized
in
its
entirety based
on
the
majority of
its
content.
- Courses
which
have
product
or
service sales
as
their
underlying
content shall
not qualify
for
CPE
credit.
§1309. Credit
Hours Granted
A. Class Hours
- Only
class
hours
or
the
equivalent (and
not
student
hours
devoted to
preparation) will
be
counted.
- Continuing
education
credit
will
be
given
for
whole
hours
only,
with
a
minimum of
50
minutes
constituting
one
hour.
As
an
example,
100
minutes
of
continuous
instruction
would
count
for
two
hours;
however,
more
than
50
minutes
but
less
than
100
minutes
of
continuous
instruction
would
count
only
for
one
hour,
For
continuous
conferences,
conventions
and
other
programs
when
individual
segments
are
less
than
50
minutes,
the
sum
of
the
segments
will
be
considered
equal to
one
total program.
- Credit
courses
at
accredited
universities
or
colleges
shall
earn
15
hours
of
continuing education
for
each
semester
hour
of
credit.
A
quarter hour
credit
shall equal
10
hours.
- Continuing
education
credit
allowable
for
noncredit
short
courses
at
accredited
universities
or
colleges shall
equal
time
in
class
in
accordance
with §1309.A.2.
B. Individual Study
Program. The amount of credit to
be allowed for correspondence and formal
individual study programs is to be
recommended by the program developer.
These programs shall be pre-tested
by the developer to determine the average
completion time. Credit will be allowed
in the period in which the course is
completed as indicated on the certificate
of completion.
1. Noninteractive self-study
programs shall receive CPE credit equal
to one-half the average completion time.
2. Interactive self-study
programs shall receive CPE credit equal
to the average completion time provided
the course developer is registered as
an interactive self-study course developer
with either the AICPA, NASBA, or a State
Society of CPAs, and the developer confirms
that the course is an interactive self-study
course.
a. An interactive self-study
program is one which simulates a classroom
learning process by providing ongoing
responses and evaluation to the learner
regarding his or her learning progress.
These programs guide the learner through
the learning process by:
i. Requiring frequent student
response to questions that test for understanding
of the material presented;
ii. Providing evaluative
responses and comments to incorrectly
answered questions; and
iii. Providing reinforcement
responses and comments to correctly answered
questions.
b. Ongoing responses, comments,
and evaluations communicate the appropriateness
of a learner's response to a prompt or
question. Such responses, comments, and
evaluations must be frequent and provide
guidance or direction for continued learning
throughout the program by clarifying
or explaining assessment of inappropriate
responses, providing reinforcement for
appropriate responses, and directing
the learner to move ahead or review relevant
material, It is the response of the learner
that primarily guides the learning process
in an interactive self-study program.
Not all technology based self-study programs
constitute interactive programs. Technology
based self-study programs must meet the
criteria set forth in the definition
of interactive self-study programs, as
must other self-study programs developed
using different modes of delivery.
3. CPE program developers
shall keep appropriate records of how
the average completion time of self-study
programs was determined.
C. Service as Lecturer
or Speaker
- Credit
for
one
hour
of
continuing
professional
education
will
be
granted
for
each hour
completed
as
a
lecturer
or
speaker
to
the
extent
it
contributes
directly
to
the
individual's
professional
knowledge
and
competence
and
provided
the
program
would
qualify
for
credit
under
these
rules.
Credit
for
such
service
will
be awarded
on
the
first
presentation
only,
unless
a program
has
been
substantially
revised.
- In
addition,
a
lecturer
or
speaker
may
claim
up
to
two
hours
of credit
for
advance
preparation
for
each
teaching
hour
awarded
in §1309.C.1,
provided
the
time
is
actually devoted
to
preparation
- The
maximum
credit
for
teaching
and
preparation,
cannot
exceed
50
percent
of
the three-year
requirement
under
these rules.
D. Writing of Published
Articles, Books, CPE programs, etc.
- Credit
for
writing
published
articles,
books,
and
CPE
programs
will
be
awarded
in an
amount
determined
by
the
board
representative
provided
the
writing
contributes
to
the
professional
competence
of
the
certificate
holder.
The
board
and
author
shall
mutually
approve
this
representative.
CPAs
requesting
this
service
will
be
charged
a
fee; the
fee
is
to
be
negotiated
and
agreed upon
prior
to
the
engagement.
- The
maximum
credit
for
preparation
of
articles
and
books
cannot
exceed
25
percent of
the
three-year
requirement under
these
rules.
- Credit,
if
any,
will
be
allowed only
after
the
article
or book
is published.
E. Committee Meetings,
Dinner and Luncheon Meetings, Firm
Meetings
- Credit
will
be
awarded
for
participation
in
committee
meetings,
dinner
and
luncheon
meetings, etc.,
provided
the
program
portion
thereof
meets
the
other requirements
of
these rules.
- Credit
will
be
awarded
for
firm
meetings
or
meetings
of
management
groups
if they
meet
the
requirements
of
these
rules.
Portions
of
such
meetings
devoted to
administrative
and firm
matters
cannot
be
included.
F. CPE for Completion
of Exams
- CPE
credit
may
be
allowed
for
the
successful
completion
of
exams
for
Certified Management
Accountant
(CMA),
Certified
Information
Systems
Auditor
(CISA),
Certified
Financial
Planner
(CFP), as
well
as other
similar
exams.
- Credit
will
be
awarded
at
a
rate
of
5
times
the
length
of each
exam
taken
and
limited
to
50%
of
the three-year
requirement.
G. CPE Credit for Reviewers. Credit
will be granted for actual time expended
reviewing reports for the board's positive
enforcement programs as determined by
the board and approved by the board's
practice monitoring administrator provided
the reviewer completes and returns the
assigned checklist(s), in a timely manner.
§1311. Maintenance
of Records and Control
A. Participants
in formal CPE programs shall retain
the documentation of their participation
in CPE programs for a period of five
years after the end of the calendar
year in which the program is completed.
Participants in formal CPE programs
shall also retain advance materials,
which should include the requirements
set forth in §1303.B.1,
and other promotional material which
reflects the content of a course
and the name of the instructor(s)
in the event the participant is requested
by the board to substantiate the
course content.
B. Acceptable evidence
of completion includes, but is not limited
to, the following:
- For
group
programs,
a
certificate
of
attendance
or
other
verification
supplied
by
the sponsor
which
includes:
a.
Sponsorship
organization;
b.
Location
of
course;
c.
Title
and/or
description
of
content;
d.
Dates
attended;
and
e.
The
qualifying
hours
recommended by
the course
sponsor.
- For
individual
study
programs,
a
certificate
supplied
by
the
sponsor
after
satisfactory
completion of
a
workbook,
an
examination,
or
an
interactive
course
that
confirms
the
name
of
the
sponsor,
the
title
and/or
description
of
the
course
contents,
the date
of
completion
and
the
qualifying
hours recommended
by
the
course
sponsor;
- For
a
university
or
college
course
that
is
successfully
completed
for
credit,
an official
transcript
reflecting
the grade
earned;
- For
instruction
credit,
evidence
obtained
from
the
sponsor
of
having
been
the
seminar lecturer
or
speaker
at
a
program
in
addition
to
the
items
required
by §1311.B.1;
and
- For
published
articles,
books,
or
CPE programs,
evidence
of
publication.
- For
completion
of
exams,
evidence
of satisfactory
completion
and
qualifying
hours of
length of
exam
taken.
C. Sponsors
shall furnish a record of attendance
or completion to participants, which
includes the requirements set forth
in §1311.B
and retain same information.
D. Practitioners,
partners, members, or shareholders and
employees of a firm of certified public
accountants will not be required to maintain
the above records personally if the firm
has a policy of maintaining such records
for its members and professional employees
and does maintain the records required
herein for the required time and reports
such information to each person at least
once each year.
E. Each sponsoring
organization shall maintain records of
programs sponsored which shall show:
- That
the
programs
were
developed
and
presented
in
accordance
with
the
standards
set forth
in §1303-1305.
If
a
program
is
developed
by
one
organization
and
sponsored
by
another,
the
sponsoring
organization
shall
not
be
responsible
for
program
development standards
and related
record
maintenance
if:
a. It has reviewed the
program and has no reason to believe
that program development standards have
not been met; and
b. It has on record certification
by the developing organization that the
program development standards have been
met and that the developing organization
will maintain the required records relative
thereto.
F. The CPE program
sponsor shall maintain records and information
required under these rules for a period
of five years after the end of the calendar
year in which the CPE course was completed.
G. Records
required under this rule shall be
maintained for five years and shall
be made available to the board or
its designee(s) for inspection at
the boardÌs request.
H. Failure of a
CPE program sponsor to comply with the
CPE standards shall be cause for the
board to deny credit for courses offered
by the CPE sponsor until such time as
the CPE sponsor can demonstrate to the
board that the compliance standards are
being met.
I. The board specifically
reserves the right to approve or disapprove
credit for all continuing education under
this state boards rules.
If you have any questions
regarding the requirements for Continuing
Professional Education, contact the State
Board of Certified Public Accountants
of Louisiana, (504) 566-1244.
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