Guest Author
As the head of the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA), I represent over 40,000 Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) who live and work in communities across Florida, serving clients throughout the state and beyond.
Each of these CPAs is impacted by Florida House Bill 991 and its new companion, SB 110. This bill contains many worthwhile components, but parts of the proposed legislation will certainly harm Florida’s economy and the public.
This proposal admirably aims to cut red tape, but goes too far by eliminating continuing education standards that are critical to professional development and alignment with national standards. Let me be clear, CPAs are pro-business and support efficiencies; frankly, we don’t know any other way.
This proposal takes a one-size-fits-all approach that eliminates education standards for engineers, architects, CPAs, and other high-impact professionals. It actually adds red tape and bureaucracy. And it puts the burden on the public to determine if the professional they hire is qualified and up to date on the latest best practices in their fields.
High-impact, technical professions require education and strong, efficient peer oversight from their peer Boards for good reason. Rigorous standards exist to protect the public from substandard work.
CPAs are guardians of trust and transparency. When you hire a CPA or entrust them with your finances, you want the most qualified professional with thorough knowledge of recent laws and changes in those laws. You want the CPA who employs the very best practices. Last year alone, there were more than 400 changes to the Internal Revenue Code. This year will be no different.
Moreover, Florida-licensed professionals will lose credibility nationally (and internationally) and will encounter problems when trying to use their license to practice outside of Florida.
Removing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements would place Florida at odds with nearly every other state and create unnecessary burdens, including loss of practice privileges in other jurisdictions. It could also jeopardize firms’ compliance with national quality standards, increasing the likelihood of federal scrutiny and limiting access to audit work.
There’s a responsible way to improve licensing in Florida and addressing efficiencies within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is a good idea. But there is simply no reason to go further than that by legislating out reasonable standards for education and eliminating Boards of subject matter experts that oversee their respective professions to protect the public.
The Florida Board of Accountancy plays a critical role in upholding the integrity and reliability of the CPA profession within the state. From providing expertise to enforcing licensing standards and investigating ethical violations, the Board protects consumers, businesses, and the overall financial health of Florida’s economy. Board members – particularly licensed CPAs – bring subject matter expertise and ethical judgment that staff members do not possess, given the highly technical nature of their work. This expertise is crucial for interpreting complex cases, setting policy, and ensuring fair, consistent regulation of the profession.
Eliminating or weakening this oversight body would risk diminishing public trust, increasing financial misconduct, and undermining the accountability of professionals who manage billions in assets, taxes, and public funds. The Florida Board of Accountancy is 100% self-funded and does not require general revenue to operate. Replacing it with general DBPR staff oversight would increase costs, reduce subject matter competency, and isolate Florida from national collaboration.
We urge the Legislature to preserve the Board of Accountancy and maintain CPE requirements for CPAs. While we support efforts to modernize and streamline CPA licensure, we strongly oppose the elimination of the Florida Board of Accountancy and the removal of CPE requirements. These changes would break from national standards, undermine professional consistency, and create barriers for Florida CPAs operating across state lines. We want Florida to lead, not be left out.
___
Shelly Weir is the president and CEO of the Florida Institute of CPAs.
One comment
EARL PITTS "America's Go To Political Czar" AMERICAN
April 24, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Good evening Florida,
This weaking of standards for Florida’s CPA’s is all a part of enemies of Ron and The Beautiful Casey’s opponats to “Dumb Down” Florida’s CPA’s so the CPA’s begin “Willie-Nillie” €FFIN up everyones audits and tax returns at great expense to Florida’s Business and Citizens.
Then these same dishonest Dook-A-Crats will ride in like the Calvary to save Florida by reinstating everything they previously did away with in Continueing CPA Education.
This political scam would have gone “Un-Noticed had not I, EARL PITTS “America’s Go To Political Czar” AMERICAN, not personally called-out the Guilty Parties.
No need to thank me, Florida, this is just what I, EARL PITTS “America’s Go To Political Czar” AMERICAN, do out of love,
EARL PITTS “America’s Go To Political Czar” AMERICAN