HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2979

(1)  THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS, CONFORMING
WITH THIS SECTION, TO ESTABLISH CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
AS A CONDITION TO THE RENEWAL OF LICENSES UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

(2)  THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS SHALL NOT
APPLY TO THE INITIAL RENEWAL OF A LICENSE.

(3)  (I) TO QUALIFY FOR ANY FURTHER RENEWAL OF A
LICENSE UNDER THIS SECTION, A LICENSEE SHALL COMPLETE AT LEAST 80
HOURS DURING EACH 2-YEAR TERM IN PROGRAMS THAT THE BOARD
APPROVES.

(II) IF A LICENSEE COMPLETES MORE THAN 80 HOURS
DURING A 2-YEAR LICENSE TERM, THE BOARD SHALL CREDIT THE EXCESS
HOURS TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING TERM.

(4)  A LICENSEE MAY MEET A PART OF THE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENT, NOT TO EXCEED 40 HOURS PER LICENSE TERM, BY:

(I)  PARTICIPATION IN COURSES OF HOME STUDY THAT
THE BOARD APPROVES; OR

(II)  SERVICE AS A TEACHER, LECTURER, OR
DISCUSSION LEADER IN COURSES APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN ACCOUNTING
OR RELATED SUBJECTS.

(5)  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER ITEM (6) OF THIS
SUBSECTION, A LICENSEE MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO TAKE AN EXAMINATION
TO QUALIFY FOR LICENSE RENEWAL UNDER THIS SECTION.

(6)  ON REQUEST OF A LICENSEE, THE BOARD MAY ALLOW THE
LICENSEE TO SUBSTITUTE THE PASSAGE OF AN EXAMINATION FOR A NUMBER
OF PROGRAM HOURS. IF THE BOARD GRANTS A LICENSEE'S REQUEST UNDER
THIS PARAGRAPH, THE BOARD SHALL DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF PROGRAM
HOURS THAT MAY BE SATISFIED BY PASSAGE OF THE EXAMINATION.

(B) CRITERIA FOR ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS.

THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE
BOARD UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL:

(1)  BE SET TO ENSURE REASONABLE KNOWLEDGE RELATING TO
THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTANCY BY CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS, THEREBY ENSURING A HIGH STANDARD OF PRACTICE IN THE
PROFESSION;

(2)  PROVIDE FOR PROGRAMS IN THE VARIOUS SPECIALIZED
AREAS OF ACCOUNTANCY IN WHICH CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
PRACTICE;

(3)  PROVIDE FOR ALTERNATIVE WAYS FOR A LICENSEE TO
QUALIFY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE:

(I) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS;