California Board of Accountancy panel backs removing five‑year active requirement for retired status

The California Board of Accountancy’s Committee on Professional Conduct voted unanimously March 20 to direct staff to include a proposal in a future rulemaking to remove the five‑year active‑status requirement for retired license status.

Sarah Benedict, manager of the License Renewal and Continuing Competency unit, told the committee that Business and Professions Code section 5070.1 authorizes the Board to establish a retired status and minimum qualifications. Current regulation requires 20 years of licensure and at least five years in active status; Benedict said staff recommends removing the five‑year active requirement because it “does not contribute to consumer protection and may be perceived as an arbitrary barrier to licensees who wish to be placed in retired status.”

Committee members asked whether a California licensee who is active and licensed in another jurisdiction could retire their California license while continuing practice elsewhere. Benedict said the Board will still collect annual renewal forms and conviction disclosures and that reciprocal enforcement typically notifies the Board if a licensee is disciplined in another state. She said practicing in California under another state’s privilege is possible but uncommon.

Several committee members voiced support for the staff recommendation, saying the five‑year active requirement can deter licensees who are effectively retired from using a formal retired designation. Chair Doug Aguilera summarized the discussion and asked for a motion to include the staff recommendation in a rulemaking package; Miss Karen moved to adopt the recommendation, Yen Tu seconded, and roll call showed all members voting yes.

The committee’s action directs staff to draft regulatory language for future rulemaking; it does not itself change the regulations. The Board will return to the formal rulemaking process before any change takes effect.