(a) The certificate of certified public accountant shall be granted to persons of good moral character who meet the education, experience and examination requirements of subsections (b)-(g) and who make application for the certificate pursuant to § 62-1-107.

(b) “Good moral character” for purposes of this section means lack of a history of dishonest or felonious acts.

(c)

(1) The education requirement for a certificate that must be met before an applicant is eligible to receive the certificate described in § 62-1-107 shall be at least one hundred fifty (150) semester hours of college education, including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a 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.

(2) The board may admit to the examination prescribed in subsection (d) any candidate who has completed a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a 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.

(3) The board may report the results of an examination to the applicant before the educational requirements established by this subsection (c) have been completed, but in no event shall an applicant be eligible for a certificate until the applicant has:

(A) Completed the educational requirements set forth in subdivision (c)(1); and

(B) Passed the examination required by subsection (d).

(d) The examination required to be passed as a condition for the granting of a certificate shall be held at least twice a year and shall test the applicant's knowledge of the subjects of accounting and auditing and other related subjects that the board may specify by rule, including, but not limited to, business law and taxation. The time for holding the examination shall be determined by the board and may be changed from time to time. The board shall prescribe by rule the methods of applying for and conducting the examination, including methods for grading papers and determining a passing grade required of an applicant for a certificate; provided, that the board shall, to the extent possible, see to it that the examination itself, grading of the examination and the passing grades are uniform with those applicable in all other states. The board may make such use of all or any part of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and Advisory Grading Service of the AICPA and may contract with third parties to perform such administrative services with respect to the examination as it deems appropriate to assist it in performing its duties under this chapter.

(e) The board may charge each applicant an examination fee or authorize a third party administering the examination to charge each applicant an examination fee in an amount prescribed by the board.

(f) An applicant for initial issuance of a certificate under this section shall show that the applicant has had one (1) year of experience. This experience shall include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills, all of which were verified by a licensee. This experience will be acceptable if it is gained through employment in government, industry, academia or public practice.

(g) All persons holding a valid certificate as a certified public accountant issued by this state prior to October 1, 1998, shall be deemed to have met the requirements of this section.