On July 5, 2011 the portion of the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy's Rules [0020-2-.02(3)] which allowed graduate courses to be recognized as carrying 1.5 the number of hours awarded by the education institution was eliminated. For those already licensed or those who had already begun the CPA testing process, there is no effect. Any individual who was not approved to take the examination prior to July 5, 2011 must complete a full 150 hours of college/university credit. The 200 day rule is not affected by this Rule change.

On May 6, 2011 the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy held a RuleMaking Hearing after which the proposed changes were reviewed by the Tennessee Attorney General's Office and sent to the Secretary of State's office where an effective date of the rule changes was established as June 24, 2012 (click here for filed rules).

While some of the rule changes are considered "housekeeping" (removing references to the old Paper and Pencil CPA exam which was abolished years ago), others are of importance to CPA licensure candidates and currently licensed CPAs.

Changes Requested for Rules Concerning Education:

Pre-License Education

Upon the effective date of the Rule Change which has been established as June 24, 2012, the minimum number of successfully completed pre-license accounting semester hours will change from 24 to 30 and of those 30, 24 must be in upper division courses.

Continuing Professional Education

Upon the effective date of the Rule which has been established as June 24, 2012, the required biennial ethics CPE education requirement will change from a minimum of 4 hours of ethics education with at least 1 of those hours being state specific hours to a minimum of 2 hours of ethics education with both hours being state specific ethics.

The Board at its May 3, 2012 Meeting voted to allow CPA licenses expiring 12/31/12 to be renewed by completing either 4 hours of ethics with one being Tennessee State Specific OR 2 hours of Tennessee State Specific Ethics. CPA Licenses expiring 12-31-13 will need Two Hours of State Specific Ethics Education to be renewed.