(a) A license to engage in the practice of public accountancy in this state shall be issued by the executive director, at the direction of the board, to each individual who is certificated as a certified public accountant under Code Section 43-3-9 or 43-3-12 or who shall have furnished evidence, satisfactory to the board, of compliance with the continuing professional education requirements of Code Section 43-3-19, and to firms licensed under Code Section 43-3-16, provided that such firms are maintained and licensed as required under Code Sections 43-3-16 and 43-3-17. There shall be a biennial license fee in an amount to be determined by the board.

(b) Individuals may practice under substantial equivalency practice privileges as follows:

(1) An individual whose office location designation by such individual for purposes of substantial equivalency and reciprocity is in any other state shall be presumed to have qualifications substantially equivalent to this state's requirements, shall have all the privileges of license holders of this state, and may practice public accountancy in this state without the requirement to obtain a license under this chapter or to otherwise notify the board or pay any license fee if the individual:

(A) Holds a current license as a certified public accountant from any other state which requires, as a condition of licensure, that an individual:

(i) Has at least 150 semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university;

(ii) Achieves a passing grade on the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination; and

(iii) Possesses at least one year of experience, including providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills, which may be obtained through government, industry, academic, or public practice all of which was verified by a licensee; or

(B) Holds a current license as a certified public accountant from any other state which does not meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph but such individual's certified public accountant qualifications are substantially equivalent to those requirements. Any individual who passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and holds a current license issued by any other state prior to January 1, 2012, may be exempt from the education requirement in division (1)(A)(i) of this subsection for purposes of this subparagraph;

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual who offers or renders professional services, as such services are defined in the board's rules or regulations, whether in person or by mail, telephone, or electronic means, under this Code section shall be granted substantial equivalency practice privileges in this state and no notice, license, fee, or other submission shall be provided by any such individual. Such an individual shall be subject to the requirements of paragraph (3) of this subsection;

(3) An individual licensee of any other state exercising the privilege afforded under this subsection, and any firm that employs such individual, shall simultaneously consent, as a condition of exercising this privilege:

(A) To the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and disciplinary authority of the board;

(B) To comply with the provisions of this chapter and the board's rules or regulations;

(C) That in the event the individual's license issued by any other state designated by such individual for purposes of substantial equivalency and reciprocity is not current, the individual shall cease practicing public accountancy in this state individually and on behalf of a firm; and

(D) To the appointment of the board that issued the individual's license as the individual's agent upon whom process may be served in any action or proceeding by this state's board against the individual;

(4) An individual who qualifies for the substantial equivalency practice privileges under this Code section who, for a client who specifies a location in this state to which any service under subparagraph (A), (C), or (D) of paragraph (2) of Code Section 43-3-2 is directed, may only perform such services through a firm that is licensed with the board under Code Section 43-3-16; and

(5) An individual qualifying for the substantial equivalency practice privileges under paragraph (1) of this subsection may provide expert witness services in this state and shall be deemed to be in compliance with Code Section 24-7-702 for purposes of such services.

(c) Subsection (b) of this Code section shall not be applied or construed to allow an individual to engage in the practice of public accountancy in this state based on substantial equivalency practice privileges unless such individual holds a current license as a certified public accountant in any other state which grants similar reciprocity to license holders in this state.