Impact of Revisions to the Standards

Prior to the recommended revisions to the Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs (Standards), the National Registry and QAS self study sponsors were held to the same requirements with the exception of the following:

QAS Sponsors were required to:

• Include the participation of at least one CPA in the development of every program in accounting and auditing
• Include the participation of a CPA, tax attorney, or IRS enrolled agent in the development of each program in taxation
• Include no more than 25 percent true/false questions on the final examination
• Not qualify personal development courses as part of its membership

There were also administrative differences between the National Registry and QAS programs primarily in frequency of renewals, number and selection of programs reviewed and the basis of the application and reviewer fees.

The final revised Standards will raise the standards for all self study providers and will eliminate the differences between the QAS and National Registry self study requirements. Accordingly, NASBA has reviewed the administration of these programs and foresees changes to simplify the programs upon the effective date of the revised Standards. We have given significant thought to how these revisions will affect the National Registry and QAS process and believe we have created an approach that will streamline the implementation of the changes brought about by the revisions to the Standards.

As previously announced, in January 2012, the NASBA and AICPA Boards of Directors gave final approval of the revised Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs (Standards).  The revised Standards will be effective as follows:

• For group programs and independent study – July 1, 2012
• For self-study programs in development as of December 31, 2011 and/or being published for the first time – July 1, 2012
• For self-study programs already in existence as of December 31, 2011 – March 1, 2014

The revised Standards raise the requirements for all self-study providers and eliminate the differences between the QAS and Registry self-study requirements.  NASBA is initiating changes to the administration of these programs to simplify the programs by offering one designation for self-study programs – “QAS Self-Study.”

Changes to the QAS and Registry Programs—Transition to the QAS Self-Study Designation

Current QAS Sponsors

There will be a transition process for current QAS sponsors to the “QAS Self-Study” designation to ensure that the revised Standards have been implemented to program offerings.  The process will begin by completing a Transition Initiation Form that will be available on this website beginning May 1, 2012.

Upon submission of the Transition Initiation Form, the sponsor will be requested to submit a program list of self-study programs for which it plans to award “QAS Self-Study” CPE credits.  NASBA will select programs from the submitted program listing and request additional information from the sponsor.  These programs will be reviewed for compliance with the revised Standards.

For those QAS sponsors who are not also members of the Registry, you will be issued a six-digit Registry sponsor ID number at the time you complete the Transition Initiation Form.

Approvals for those sponsors who successfully completed the “QAS Self-Study” designation transition process will be issued on and subsequent to July 1, 2012.

Current Registry Self-Study Sponsors

There will be a similar transition and upgrade process for those “Registry-only” self-study sponsors to receive the “QAS Self-Study” designation. The process will begin by completing a Transition Initiation Form that will be available on this website beginning May 1, 2012.

Upon submission of the Transition Initiation Form, the sponsor will be requested to submit a program list of self-study programs for which it plans to award “QAS Self-Study” CPE credits.  NASBA will select programs from the submitted program listing and request additional information from the sponsor.  These programs will be reviewed for compliance with the revised Standards.

Approvals for those sponsors who successfully completed the “QAS Self-Study” designation transition and upgrade process will be issued on and subsequent to July 1, 2012.

Current Sponsors Approved for Both QAS and Registry Self-Study

If you are a QAS sponsor and approved for the self-study delivery method on the Registry, you only need to complete the transition process to the QAS Self-Study designation once.  You will be requested to submit a program list of all of the self-study programs for which you plan to award “QAS Self-Study” CPE credits.  NASBA will select programs from the submitted program listing to review for compliance with the revised Standards.

Fee for Transition to the QAS Self-Study Designation

There will be a fee assessed for the transition and upgrade process to the QAS Self-Study designation.  The fee is based on the number of self-study programs for which you plan to award “QAS Self-Study” CPE credits.  The fee schedule is graduated similarly to the initial, ADM and renewal applications.  The fee is being assessed only to cover the cost of reviewer fees, as selected programs will be reviewed for technical accuracy.  The fee will start at $250 for a sponsor with 0-15 self-study programs.

Sponsors Interested in Applying for the Self-Study Delivery Method

For those providers who will be applying for the self-study delivery method in the future, the Initial application for membership on the National Registry, as well as the Additional Delivery Method application will be updated to reflect the revised Standards and will include the “QAS Self-Study” designation.  The updated Initial application and Additional Delivery Method application will be available May 1, 2012 and will be reviewed for compliance with the revised Standards. Approvals for applications submitted on the new form will be issued on and subsequent to July 1, 2012.

Submissions of the currently available Initial application and Additional Delivery Method application must be made by 5pm Central time on April 15, 2012. After that time, the application process will be closed to allow time to implement the new forms and processes associated with the revised Standards. New applications will be available beginning May 1, 2012. Those providers that have applications in progress, but not yet submitted must do so prior to the April 15^th date or they will be required to begin the process again using the newly issued form on May 1, 2012.

Updates to this information will be made on a periodic basis as the details about changes to our operational processes are defined and the Standards become effective. NASBA will also include additional information in emails to QAS and National Registry sponsors and in the CPE Monitor newsletter. Please complete this online form to subscribe to the CPE Monitor.