All Roll Calls
Yes: 152 • No: 0
South CarolinaS 0176126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-2-30, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR USE OF PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS FOR CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, SO AS TO APPLY THESE REQUIREMENTS TO USAGES IN ELECTRONIC FILES AND METADATA; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-2-35, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY, SO AS TO REVISE THE EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS, TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING THE UNIFORM CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT EXAM REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-2-40, RELATING TO ENTITIES REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE BOARD TO PRACTICE AS CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS, SO AS TO REQUIRE SUCH REGISTRATION OF FIRMS THAT PERFORM COMPILATION SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE OWNERSHIP OF SUCH FIRMS MAY BE HELD THROUGH A REVOCABLE GRANTOR TRUST; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-2-70, RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD, SO AS TO ADD REVIEW AND PROVIDE INPUT ON PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES RELATED TO THE PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTING AS A POWER OF THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-2-80, RELATING TO INVESTIGATIONS OF COMPLAINTS OR OTHER INFORMATION SUGGESTING VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE INSPECTOR-INVESTIGATORS MUST HAVE BEEN LICENSED AS CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR AT LEAST THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-2-240, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS LICENSED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO OBTAIN LICENSURE BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE RECIPROCITY LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-2-245, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS LICENSED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO PRACTICE IN THIS STATE WITHOUT LICENSURE BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 40-2-20(18) RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY, SECTION 40-2-35(H) RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY, AND SECTION 40-2-35(I) RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY.
Sponsored By: Wes Climer (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Certified Public Accountants
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
New rules for SC CPA licensure
The law sets clear steps to get a South Carolina CPA license, starting June 30, 2025. You need a bachelor’s degree and at least 24 accounting credits and 24 other business credits. Your transcript on file must show 120+ credits or the conferred degree. Pass all CPA exam sections within 36 months; each passed section stays valid 36 months. Experience: two years with only a bachelor’s, or one year with 150 credits or a graduate degree; 2,000 hours equals one year. If your experience is 7+ years old, add six months of recent work. A CPA must verify your experience. Part‑time counts, but not faster than 40 hours a week.
Board can weigh in on laws
The Board of Accountancy can now review and give input on proposed accounting laws in South Carolina. This adds expert advice before rules change. Takes effect June 30, 2025.
Stricter registration for CPA firms
Firms may not call themselves CPA firms or use CPA titles, signs, or metadata unless registered and meeting ownership rules. A firm with no South Carolina office must register if it provides attest or compilation work to a South Carolina client, unless an exemption applies. Non‑CPA owners may use titles like partner or owner, but not “CPA.” Firm equity may be held through a revocable grantor trust if the owner keeps control and ownership shifts to qualified owners if the owner stops active work. Takes effect June 30, 2025.
Broader rules for attest and compilations
The law updates what counts as “attest” work: audits under SAS, reviews under SSARS, PCAOB audits, and examinations or agreed‑upon procedures under SSAE. It also says issuing financial statement reports and doing compilations is the practice of accounting. Using “Certified Public Accountant” or “CPA” in any way, including in electronic files or metadata, is regulated. Accountants and firms doing these services must follow Board rules. Takes effect June 30, 2025.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Wes Climer
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/1/2025
(Certified Public Accountants)Passage of Bill
Yes: 111 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/11/2025
(Certified Public Accountants)2nd Reading
Yes: 41 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act No. 34
5/19/2025legislatureEffective date 06/30/25
5/19/2025legislatureSigned By Governor
5/12/2025GovernorRatified R 52
5/8/2025legislatureConcurred in House amendment and enrolled
5/6/2025SenateScrivener's error corrected
5/5/2025legislatureRead third time and returned to Senate with amendments
5/2/2025HouseUnanimous consent for third reading on next legislative day
5/1/2025HouseRoll call Yeas-111 Nays-0
5/1/2025HouseRead second time
5/1/2025HouseAmended
5/1/2025HouseCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Labor, Commerce and Industry
4/30/2025HouseScrivener's error corrected
4/9/2025legislatureScrivener's error corrected
4/1/2025legislatureReferred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
3/20/2025HouseIntroduced and read first time
3/20/2025HouseRead third time and sent to House
3/12/2025SenateScrivener's error corrected
3/12/2025legislatureRoll call Ayes-41 Nays-0
3/11/2025SenateAmended
3/11/2025SenateCommittee Amendment Adopted
3/11/2025SenateScrivener's error corrected
3/5/2025legislatureCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Labor, Commerce and Industry
2/26/2025SenateReferred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
1/14/2025SenateIntroduced and read first time
1/14/2025Senate
Bill Text
Introduced
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