2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §32-747  Unlawful use of designation or abbreviation; classification

A. A person who has received from the board a certificate to practice as a certified public accountant, or as a public accountant issued under the laws of the state, shall be known as a "certified public accountant" or "public accountant", in accordance with the certificate and may also use the abbreviation "C.P.A.", "CPA", "P.A." or "PA", in accordance with the certificate. No other person or firm shall assume or use any title, designation or abbreviation or any other title, designation, sign, card or device tending to indicate that the person or firm using it is authorized to practice public accounting or is a certified public accountant or a public accountant in this state.

B. No person or firm shall when referring to accounting or accounting practices assume or use the title or designation "chartered accountant", "certified accountant", "enrolled accountant", "registered accountant", "licensed accountant", "certified tax accountant", "certified tax consultant" or any other title or designation likely or intended to be confused with "certified public accountant" or "public accountant". No person or firm shall assume or use any of the abbreviations "C.A.", "E.A.", "R.A.", "C.T.A.", "C.T.C.", "L.A." or similar abbreviations likely or intended to be confused with "C.P.A.", "CPA", "P.A." or "PA". A person qualified as a certified public accountant in this state who also holds a comparable title under the laws of another country may use the title in conjunction with the title "certified public accountant", "C.P.A." or "CPA", and a person enrolled to practice before the internal revenue service and recognized as an enrolled agent may use the abbreviation "E.A."

C. This section does not apply to or affect or limit the right to continuous use of a partnership name, or a modification thereof, by successor firms formed by the remaining partner or partners or added partner or partners even though the persons whose names are included in the partnership name are not partners, but the successor firm shall conform to all other provisions of this chapter. The provisions of this section do not apply to or affect or limit the right to continuous use of a professional corporation's name as provided pursuant to this chapter or title 10, chapter 20 or a professional limited liability company's name pursuant to this chapter or title 29, chapter 4.

D. No corporation or professional limited liability company shall be permitted to practice public accounting in this state, provided that this subsection shall not apply to a professional corporation incorporated under the laws of this state or to a professional limited liability company, either of which is properly qualified to do business within this state and which is otherwise qualified to practice accounting under the provisions of this chapter.

E. If a person violates this chapter, or represents himself to the public as having received a certificate or registration to practice after a certificate or registration has been revoked or suspended, the person is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor unless another classification is specifically prescribed in this chapter. Each day an offense is committed shall constitute a separate offense.

F. The displaying or uttering by a person of any card, sign, advertisement or other printed, engraved or written instrument or device bearing a person's name and intended to be confused with the words "certified public accountant" or "public accountant" or an abbreviation of either shall be prima facie evidence in a prosecution, proceeding or hearing brought under this section that the person whose name is so displayed caused or procured the displaying or uttering of the card, sign, advertisement or other printed, engraved or written instrument or device.