Practice Privilege/Mobility

Read NCGS 93-10 Practice Privileges

Many US jurisdictions have adopted mobility legislation–a practice privilege that permits a licensed CPA to practice outside of their principal place of business without obtaining a CPA license in another US jurisdiction. “CPA license” means a license granted by a Board of Accountancy after all education, CPA Exam, and experience requirements have been met. A CPA performing services through mobility may only perform the same level of services (attest or non-attest) in the mobility US jurisdiction as they are permitted to perform in the home US jurisdiction.

To help CPAs and CPA firms understand the implications of CPA mobility, the AICPA and NASBA have developed a free online tool to answer the common question, “Does mobility apply to me?” The tool, CPAmobility.org, focuses on services that are most likely to trigger a firm registration requirement in a target US jurisdiction. In just four clicks, CPAs can determine if their CPA license will allow them to work in another US jurisdiction without additional notice or fees, or if they need to obtain a reciprocal license.

Under NCGS 93-10(c), Practice Privileges, a CPA firm that does not have its principal place of business or an office in North Carolina may be eligible to perform services to North Carolina clients without registering as a North Carolina firm. In exercising the practice privilege, the firm must comply with the laws, rules, and regulations of North Carolina and the Board, and is subject to the disciplinary authority of the Board.

However, if any individual with the firm exercises the individual practice privilege and performs, or offers to perform a financial statement audit or other engagement performed in accordance with the Statements on Auditing Standards; an examination of prospective financial information performed in accordance with the Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements, or an engagement performed in accordance with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board auditing standards, the firm must provide notice without a fee (Notice of Intent to Practice) to the Board.