Title 31, Professions
8 chapters · 160 sections in this title.
A.S.C.A. § 31.0201 Short title
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This chapter may be cited as the “Public Accountancy Law of 1978”. History: 1978, PL 15-75.
A.S.C.A. § 31.0202 Purpose
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It is the policy of this Territory, and the purpose of this chapter to promote the dependability of information which is used for guidance in financial transactions or for accounting for or assessing the status or performance of commercial and noncommercial enterprises, whether p…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0203 Definitions
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When used in this chapter: (a) “Board” means the Territorial Board of Public Accountancy established in 31.0204. (b) “State” includes any State, Territory, or Insular Possession of the United States, and the District of Columbia. History: 1978, PL 15-75.
A.S.C.A. § 31.0204 Board-Members
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There is a Board of Public Accountancy to be known as the Territorial Board of Public Accountancy, which consists of 3 members appointed by the Governor. All members of the Board must be citizens or nationals of the United States and residents of this territory. Two members there…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0205 Board-Removal
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The Governor shall remove or suspend any member of the Board for cause including any member thereof: (1) who ceases to engage in active practice as a Certified Public Accountant or as a public accountant, as the case may be; or (2) whose certificate of Certified Public Accountant…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0206 Board-Organization
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The Board shall elect annually a chairman and a secretary-treasurer from its members. The Board shall conduct its meetings and keep records of its proceedings. History: 1978, PL 15-75.
A.S.C.A. § 31.0207 Board-Compensation and expenses
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Members of the Board of Accountants may not receive any compensation for performance of the duties imposed upon them by this chapter. History: 1978, PL 15-75.
A.S.C.A. § 31.0208 Board-Powers
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The Board may: (1) conduct investigations and hearings, either upon complaint or on its own motion on any matter involving the conduct of Certified Public Accountants or public accountants or the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter; and (2) adopt, amend, and repeal…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0209 Board-Annual report
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The Board shall prepare and present an annual report to the Governor which shall include a statement of the Board’s activities and its receipts and expenditures during the preceding year together with such recommendations as the Board shall determine to be appropriate. History: 1…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0210 Certificate-CPA-Issuance
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(a) A Certificate of “Certified Public Accountant”, upon application to the Board, must be issued to a person: (1) who has attained 18 years of age, or more; (2) who is of good moral character; and (3) who meets the educational and examination requirements provided in 31.0211 thr…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0211 Certificate-Educational requirements
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A person applying for a certificate of certified public accountant: (1) before 1 January 1979, shall be required to have obtained a baccalaureate degree conferred by a college or university recognized by the Board; and (2) after 31 December 1988, shall be required to have obtaine…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0212 Certificate-Exemption from educational requirements
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A person who holds and has continued to hold a valid Certificate of Certified Public Accountant of another state for a period of not less than 10 years preceding the date of his application under 31.0210, and who is and continues to be in the active practice of public accountant …
A.S.C.A. § 31.0213 Certificate-Examination requirements
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A person applying for a Certificate of Certified Public Accountant is required to have satisfactorily completed an examination in accounting, auditing, and other related subjects as the Board determines to be appropriate. The examination shall be held by the Board and shall take …
A.S.C.A. § 31.0214 Certificate-Admission to examination
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(a) A person shall, upon application to the Board, be admitted to the examination who: (1) has met the applicable educational requirements prescribed in 31.0211; or (2) expects to meet the educational requirements within 120 days following the examination prescribed in 31.0213; o…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0215 Certificate-Reexamination
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The Board may by rule prescribe the terms and conditions under which an applicant who has taken the examination described in 31.0213, but who has not satisfactorily completed that examination, may be given credit for any part thereof he has satisfactorily completed. The Board may…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0216 Certificate-Exemption from examination requirements
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A person shall, upon application to the Board, be exempt from the examination requirements specified in 31.0213, who is the holder of: (1) a valid certificate of certified public accountant issued under the laws of another state; or (2) a valid certificate, license, or degree in …
A.S.C.A. § 31.0217 Certificate of public accountant- Issuance
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A person shall be issued a Certificate of Public Accountant who: (1) has attained 18 years of age, or more; (2) is of good moral character; and (3) meets other requirements as the Board may from time to time prescribe by rule. History: 1978, PL 15-94 § 3.
A.S.C.A. § 31.0218 Existing registrations
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A person who, on 1 January 1978, holds registration of public accountant under the laws of this territory theretofore existing; or who holds a valid Certificate of Certified Public Accountant issued under the laws of another state; and who holds a registration to practice public …
A.S.C.A. § 31.0219 Permits to practice
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(1) A person must, upon application to the Board, be issued a permit to practice public accountancy in this Territory, who: (A) is holding a current Certificate of Certified Public Accountant or a current registration as a public accountant; (B) has had at least 1 year’s experien…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0220 Fees
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(a) An applicant for admission to the examination described in 31.0213 shall pay a fee with the application for admission in the amount as the Board shall prescribe by rule. The Board may also prescribe by rule the terms and conditions upon which an applicant who is unable to att…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0221 Disciplinary action-Reinstatement
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(a) The Board may: (1) cancel, revoke, suspend for a period not exceeding 2 years, or refuse to renew any Certificate of Certified Public Accountant, registration of public accountant or permit to practice issued under this chapter; or it may (2) censure a person holding any such…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0222 Prohibited use of titles
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(a) No person may assume or use the title or designation “Certified Public Accountant” or the abbreviation “CPA” or any other title, designation, words, letters, sign, card, or device likely to be confused with “Certified Public Accountant” or “CPA” or tending to indicate that th…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0223 Prohibited acts-Special knowledge
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(a) A person may not sign or affix his name or any trade assumed name used by him in his profession or business with any wording indicating, suggesting, or implying that he is an accountant or auditor, or with any wording indicating, suggesting, or implying that he has special kn…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0224 Exceptions
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Nothing contained in this chapter prohibits any person: (1) who holds a current Certificate of Certified Public Accountant issued under this chapter from assuming and using the title and designation “Certified Public Accountant” or “CPA” provided, that if that person does not als…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0230 Injunctions
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Whenever the Board has reason to believe that any person has engaged, or is about to engage, in any act or practice which constitutes, or will constitute, a violation of 31.0222 through 31.0224, the Board may certify the facts underlying that belief to the Attorney General of thi…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0231 Criminal penalties
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Any person who violates any provision of 31.0222 through 31.0224 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Whenever the Board has reason to believe that any person is liable to punishment under this section, it may certify the facts underlying that belief to the Attorney General who sh…
A.S.C.A. § 31.0232 Evidence of practice
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The display or uttering by a person of a card, sign, advertisement, or other printed, engraved or written instrument or device bearing a person’s name in conjunction with the words “Certified Public Accountant” or any abbreviation thereof, of the words “Public Accountant” or any …
A.S.C.A. § 31.0233 Ownership of accountant’s working papers
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All statements, records, schedules, working papers, and memoranda made by a Certified Public Accountant or Public Accountant incident to or in the course of professional service to clients by that accountant, except reports submitted by a Certified Public Accountant or Public Acc…