CPA Certificate Renewal
Your professional responsibility
Updated Oct. 14, 2011
Whether active or inactive, certificate renewal is an obligation for every CPA in Minnesota. Certificate renewal is based on a three-year cycle set by the Minnesota Board of Accountancy (BOA).
CPAs renew based on the first letter of their last name. Last names are grouped as follows: A-H, I-P and Q-Z.
2012 certificate renewal
Deadline: Dec. 31, 2011
For renewal year 2012, the deadline to renew your certificate is Dec. 31, 2011. Two groups must comply with this deadline:
- CPAs with last names that start with letters I through P.
- New CPAs who received their initial certificate any time in 2011.
First year certification requirements
BOA individual certificate links
There are two ways to renew your CPA certificate: online or by mail. Renewing online is recommended, as it's faster and reduces the risk for error. The BOA sends certificate renewal reminders in October.
Online renewal form for renewal year 2012
Printable form (2012)
Find your certificate number in the BOA database
BOA certificate renewal fees
The cost of renewing your certificate depends on whether you're active or inactive. An active certificate costs $148.50 while an inactive certificate is $35. Both are based on renewing for three years and include a state required surcharge.
Firm permit renewal information
Dec. 31, 2011 is also the deadline for firms and sole practitioners to renew their firm permits for 2012. Find additional information regarding firm permit renewal as well as links to the BOA's firm permit online forms.
CPE reporting in 2011
Acitve CPAs must now report their CPE annually to the BOA. When they report is based on the BOA's certificate renewal and CPE reporting cycle.
In general, report your CPE by:
- Dec. 31 if it's also a certificate renewal year for you.
- July 31 if it's not a certificate renewal year for you.
Use the chart below to help plan what you will need to do throughout the 2011 certificate year.
| |
Deadline:
July 31, 2011 |
Deadline:
Dec. 31, 2011 |
| A-H |
Report CPE
(years ending '09, '10, '11) |
|
| I-P |
|
Renew certificate for 2012
Report CPE (years ending '09, '10, '11)
|
| Q-Z |
Report CPE
(Years ending '09, '10, '11) |
|
Additional CPE reporting details
Utilize the MNCPA BOA Reporting Summary, part of the CPE Log
Changing your name?
Notify the BOA of your new surname within 30 days of making the legal name change. You will then renew your certificate at the appropriate time for one, two or three years based on your former last name. It is upon this renewal that you will be placed in the proper renewal cycle for your new last name.
Contact the Board of Accountancy
The Minnesota BOA is the regulatory body that certifies all CPAs in the state of Minnesota. If you have a specific question regarding your certificate, contact the Minnesota BOA at 651-296-7938.
The MNCPA can help
The MNCPA strives to understand the rules and regulations that affect CPAs. The MNCPA membership department can be reached at 952-831-2707 x2 or membership@mncpa.org with questions.
What's the difference between certificate renewal and registering for a PTIN?
Renewing your CPA certificate with the BOA is different than the IRS's PTIN registration. CPAs renew their certificates with the Minnesota BOA and register for their PTIN through the IRS as part of the registered tax preparer regulation that went into affect Jan. 1, 2011.
Learn more about the IRS registered tax preparer regulation
Register for your PTIN