WAC 4-25-400   What is the authority for and the purpose of the board's rules?  The Public Accountancy Act (act), chapter 18.04 RCW, establishes the board as the licensing and disciplinary agency for certified public accountants (CPA), CPA-Inactive certificateholders, CPA firms, and owners of CPA firms. The act authorizes the board to promulgate rules to carry out the purpose of the act, which include:

     • Protecting the public interest;

     • Enhancing the reliability of information used for guidance in financial transactions or for accounting for or assessing financial status or performance;

     • Establishing one set of qualifications to be a licensee of this state;

     • Assuring that CPAs practicing in Washington have substantially equivalent qualifications to those practicing in other states;

     • Regulating ownership of CPA firms;

     • Publishing consumer alerts and public protection information regarding persons and firms who violate the act or board rules; and

     • Providing general consumer protection information to the public.

     The board's rules, contained in chapter 4-25 WAC, encompass these subjects:

     • Definitions;

     • Administration of the board;

     • Ethics and prohibited practices;

     • Entry and renewal requirements;

     • Continuing competency; and

     • Regulation and enforcement.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.04.055. 08-18-016, § 4-25-400, filed 8/25/08, effective 9/25/08; 05-01-137, § 4-25-400, filed 12/16/04, effective 1/31/05; 01-22-036, § 4-25-400, filed 10/30/01, effective 12/1/01; 00-11-067, § 4-25-400, filed 5/15/00, effective 6/30/00; 93-12-063, § 4-25-400, filed 5/27/93, effective 7/1/93.]