Section 1400.55  Admission to the Examination; Issuance of Reciprocal Certified Public Accountant Certificates

a)         The Executive Director, on behalf of the Board, shall:

1)         issue a letter of approval to any applicant who has timely filed an application, along with the required fee and evidence of compliance with all requirements of the Act and this Part, and forward notification of eligibility to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) National Candidate Database (NCD);

2)         issue a certificate as a certified public accountant to any individual who holds a valid, unrevoked certificate as a certified public accountant issued under the laws of any other state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, upon receipt of an application, along with the required fee and evidence showing compliance with Section 5 of the Act;

3)         issue a certificate as a certified public accountant to any individual who holds a foreign designation, granted in a foreign country, entitling the holder thereof to engage in the practice of public accounting, upon receipt of an application, along with the required fee and evidence showing compliance with Section 5.1 of the Act.

b)         In cases in which the Executive Director has denied an application under subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this Section, and in cases in which an applicant requests special consideration under any other provision of the Act or this Part, or under any other applicable law, the Executive Director shall refer the case to the Candidacy Committee established under Section 1400.50(c)(4).

c)         The Candidacy Committee shall review all applications referred to it under Section 1400.50(b), including all documents and evidentiary exhibits submitted by the applicant, within 15 days after receipt of requests for special consideration by the Executive Director.

d)         The Candidacy Committee may, in cases in which expert testimony is submitted by an applicant, require that an applicant undergo evaluation by an expert retained by the Board, at the Board's expense.  The evaluation shall be at a time and place reasonably convenient to the applicant.  A copy of the results of the evaluation shall be made available to the applicant upon the applicant's request.

e)         A vote of a majority of the members of the Candidacy Committee shall be necessary to take any action.  The Executive Director shall advise each applicant by mail, to the address listed on the application, within 15 days after the determination by the Candidacy Committee.

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 19524, effective November 21, 2005)