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325.380 Restrictions on use of title.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
No person shall assume or use the title or designation "certified public
accountant," "public accountant," or the abbreviation "CPA" or any other title,
designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to
indicate that the person is a certified public accountant, unless the person
holds a license issued under this chapter or qualifies for a practice privilege
under KRS 325.282.
No firm shall assume or use the title or designation "certified public
accountants," "public accountants," or the abbreviation "CPA's" or any other
title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to
indicate that the firm is composed of certified public accountants, unless the
firm:
(a) Holds a license issued under this chapter which has not been revoked or
suspended, and all offices of the firm in this state are maintained as
required under this chapter; or
(b) Is authorized to do so as provided for in KRS 325.301.
No individuals or firm shall assume or use the title or designation "certified
accountant," "chartered accountant," "enrolled accountant," "licensed
accountant," "registered accountant," "accredited auditor," "accounting
practitioner," "accredited accountant," "expert accountant," "expert auditor,"
"certified auditor," or any other title or designation likely to be confused with
"certified public accountant" and "public accountant" or any of the abbreviations
"CA," "AP," "PA," "RA," "LA," or "AA" or similar abbreviations likely to be
confused with "CPA."
No person or firm shall sign or affix his name or a firm name to any document
or prepare or issue any document which indicates that the person or firm
performed attest services or a compilation or that includes any language which
indicates that the person or the firm has expert knowledge in performing attest
services or a compilation, unless the person or firm holds a license to practice
issued under this chapter or is exempt from having to obtain a license pursuant
to KRS 325.301. This prohibition shall be applicable to issuance by any
unlicensed person or firm of a report using any form of language conventionally
used by licensees with respect to a compilation of financial statements. The
board shall issue safe harbor language, to be defined by the promulgation of
administrative regulations, that nonlicensees may use in connection with a
compilation of financial information. The provisions of this subsection shall not
prohibit any officer, employee, partner, or principal of any organization from
affixing his signature to any statement or report in reference to the financial
affairs of the organization with any wording designating the position, title, or
office which he holds in the organization, nor shall the provisions of this
subsection prohibit any act of a public official or public employee in the
performance of his duties.
No person shall assume or use the title or designation "certified public
accountant" or "public accountant" in conjunction with names indicating or
implying that there is a firm, or in conjunction with the designation "and
Company" or "and Associates" or a similar designation if there is in fact no
bona fide firm licensed under this chapter or exempted from licensure under
(6)
(7)
KRS 325.301.
No person or firm holding a license under this chapter shall use a professional
or firm name or designation which contains the names of any nonlicensees, is
misleading as to the legal form of the firm, or as to the persons who are
partners, officers, shareholders, or any other owners of the firm, or as to any
other matters. If more than one (1) certified public accountant has an
ownership interest in the firm, the names of one (1) or more deceased, retired,
or withdrawn partners, shareholders, or other certified public accountants with
an ownership interest may be included in the name of a firm or its successor.
If the death or retirement of a certified public accountant results in a firm having
only one (1) certified public accountant with an ownership interest, the board
may permit the firm to continue to use the firm name for no more than two (2)
years from the certified public accountant's respective death or retirement.
Effective:July 15, 2008
History: Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 7, effective July 15, 2008. -Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 62, sec. 3, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended
2000 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 13, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1996 Ky.
Acts ch. 24, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 248,
sec. 10, effective July 15, 1994. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 285, sec. 12,
effective July 13, 1990. --Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 117, sec. 15, effective July
13, 1984. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 116, sec. 13. -- Amended 1968 Ky.
Acts ch. 143, sec. 9. -- Created 1946 Ky. Acts ch. 210, sec. 13.
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