(a) Each person who is engaged in the practice of certified public accountancy and whose principal place of business is in this State, whether as a principal or employee of a firm, shall be required to obtain and maintain a valid permit to practice certified public accountancy. The permit to practice as a certified public accountant shall be granted to persons who meet the education, experience, lack of disqualifying conviction and examination requirements of the following subsections of this section and rules adopted thereunder and who make application therefore pursuant to § 108 of this title.

(b) The applicant has not been convicted of a crime that is substantially related to the practice of accountancy; however, after a hearing or review of documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets the specified criteria for a waiver, the Board, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, may waive this subsection, if it finds all of the following:

(1) For waiver of a felony conviction, more than 5 years have elapsed since the date of the conviction. At the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.

(2) For waiver of a misdemeanor conviction or violation, at the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.

(3) The applicant is capable of practicing accountancy in a competent and professional manner.

(4) The granting of the waiver will not endanger the public health, safety or welfare;

(c) The applicant has completed at least 150 semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college or university acceptable to the Board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule to be appropriate;

(d) The applicant has successfully passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and/or such successor examinations as may be required to qualify for a permit to practice, provided that the applicant may not sit for said exams until that applicant has successfully completed at least 120 semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college or university acceptable to the Board, the total educational program to include an accounting concentration or equivalent as determined by Board rule to be appropriate;

(e) The applicant has successfully passed the AICPA self-study course and examination in professional ethics; and

(f) The applicant has had 1 year of experience. This experience shall include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills all of which was supervised by a United States certified public accountant, meeting requirements prescribed by the Board by rule. This experience would be acceptable if it was gained through employment in government, industry, academia or public practice.

27 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 3; Code 1915, § 982; 32 Del. Laws, c. 48, §§ 2, 3; Code 1935, § 1093; 45 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 1; 24 Del. C. 1953, § 104; 50 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 2; 55 Del. Laws, c. 193; 58 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 49; 60 Del. Laws, c. 198, § 1; 65 Del. Laws, c. 167, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 139, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 468, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 262, § 3; 75 Del. Laws, c. 128, § 3; 75 Del. Laws, c. 436, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 418, §§ 4-12; 77 Del. Laws, c. 199, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 44, §§ 1, 2; 80 Del. Laws, c. 247, § 1.