1. No person shall assume or use the title or designation "certified 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 has received and holds a valid certificate as a certified public accountant under section 542C.5. However, a foreign accountant who has registered under the provisions of section 542C.17 may use the title under which the foreign accountant is generally known in the foreign accountant's country, followed by the name of the country from which the foreign accountant received the certificate, license, or degree.
2. A partnership, corporation, or limited liability company shall not assume or use the title or designation "certified public accountant" or the abbreviation "CPA" or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that the partnership, corporation, or limited liability company is composed of certified public accountants unless it is registered as a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company under section 542C.18, holds a current permit issued under section 542C.20, and all offices of such partnership, corporation, or limited liability company in this state for the practice of public accounting are maintained and are registered as required under section 542C.19.
3. A person shall not assume or use the title or designation "public accountant" or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that the person is a public accountant, unless the person has received a certificate as a certified public accountant under section 542C.5.
4. A partnership, corporation, or limited liability company shall not assume or use the title or designation "public accountant" or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that the partnership, corporation, or limited liability company is composed of certified public accountants, unless the partnership, corporation, or limited liability company is registered as a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company of certified public accountants under section 542C.18.
5. No person shall assume or use the title or designation "accounting practitioner" or the abbreviation "AP" or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that the person is a licensed accounting practitioner, unless the person has received and holds a license as an accounting practitioner issued under either section 542C.7 or 542C.8.
6. A partnership, corporation, or limited liability company shall not assume or use the title or designation "accounting practitioner" or the abbreviation "AP" or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviation, sign, card, or device, tending to indicate that the partnership, corporation, or limited liability company is composed of licensed accounting practitioners except as a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company under section 542C.18 holding a permit issued under section 542C.20, and all offices of the partnership, corporation, or limited liability company in this state are maintained and are registered as required under section 542C.19.
7. A person, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company shall not assume or use the title or designation "certified accountant", "chartered accountant", "enrolled accountant", "licensed accountant", "registered accountant", or any other title or designation likely to be confused with "certified public accountant" or "public accountant" or any of the abbreviations "CA", "PA", "EA", "RA", or "LA", or similar abbreviations, likely to be confused with "CPA". However, a foreign accountant registered under section 542C.17 may use the title under which the foreign accountant is generally known in the foreign accountant's country, followed by the name of the country from which the foreign accountant received the certificate, license, or degree. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use of the title or designation "accountant" by persons other than those holding a current permit issued under section 542C.20.
8. No person shall sign or affix the person's name or any trade or assumed name used by the person in the person's profession or business, to any opinion attesting to the reliability of any representation in regard to any person or organization embracing either financial information or facts respecting compliance with conditions established by law or contract, including but not limited to statutes, ordinances, regulations, grants, loans and appropriations, unless the person holds a current permit issued under section 542C.20, and all of the person's offices in this state for the practice of public accounting are maintained and registered under section 542C.19. However, the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit any officer, employee, partner or principal of any organization from affixing the person's signature to any statement or report in reference to the financial affairs of said organization with any wording designating the position, title, or office which the person 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 the person's duties.
9. A person shall not sign or affix a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company name to any opinion attesting to the reliability of any representation in regard to any person or organization embracing financial information or facts respecting compliance with conditions established by law or contract, including but not limited to statutes, ordinances, regulations, grants, loans and appropriations, except the name of a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company holding a current permit issued under section 542C.20 and with all of its offices in this state for the practice of certified public accounting maintained and registered as required under section 542C.19.
10. A person shall not assume or use the title or designation "certified public accountant" or "public accountant" in conjunction with names indicating or implying that there is a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company or in conjunction with the designation "and company", "and co.", or a similar designation, if in any such case, there is in fact no bona fide partnership, corporation, or limited liability company registered under section 542C.18; however, a sole proprietor or partnership lawfully using such a title or designation on July 1, 1975, may continue to do so if the sole proprietor or partnership otherwise complies with the provisions of this chapter.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, § 116.25]
91 Acts, ch 97, §18
C93, § 542C.25
93 Acts, ch 19, §9
Referred to in § 542C.2, 542C.21, 542C.28, 542C.29
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