ACCOUNTANTS/CPA: Provides for the regulation of certified public accountants and the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG RV)

HB 548 updates Louisiana's rules for certifying and regulating certified public accountants (CPAs), directly affecting current license holders, applicants seeking licensure, and out-of-state CPAs wanting to practice in Louisiana. It sets new education requirements (150 semester hours including an accounting concentration) and experience rules (1-2 years depending on education), while creating a "substantial equivalency" system to recognize other states' licensing standards. The bill expands the State Board's authority to investigate violations, issue subpoenas, and adopt rules governing CPAs, and establishes clear pathways for out-of-state CPAs to practice without reapplying if their credentials match Louisiana's standards. These changes aim to standardize licensing and simplify cross-state practice for qualified professionals.