Perspective on the Future of the Accounting Profession

Survey Instrument

[In May 2001, the Office of the Professions mailed this survey to approximately 34,700 currently licensed New York certified public accountants and public accountants.]

1. Are you a licensed ___ Certified Public Accountant or ___ Public Accountant?
   
   
2. What is your current place of employment: ___ public accounting firm ___ private industry ___ government ___ academia
   
   
3. How many years you have been licensed: ___ < 5 years ___ 5-10 years ____ 10-15 years ___ 15-20 years ___ 20-30 years ___>30 years
   
   
4. Should the scope of practice of CPAs and PAs be amended to include all professional services they provide to the public or just attest and compilation services, no matter where employed? (See scope of practice, for more information) ___YES ____NO
   
   
5. Should CPAs and PAs working in private industry be allowed to perform compilat services for the public on behalf of their corporate employers? (See scope of practice, for more information) ____YES ____NO
   
   
6. Due to the decrease in students graduating from registered accounting programs, should the Rules of the Board of Regents be amended to require candidates for licensure to graduate from only a 120-hour education program rather than a 150-hour education program? (See requirements for licensure, for more information) ____YES ____NO
   
   
7. Should New York continue to require all candidates for licensure to obtain audit and review engagement experience as a requirement for licensure? (See requirements for licensure, for more information) ____YES ____NO
   
   
8. Should New York embrace the concept of substantial equivalency to make it easier for out-of-state CPAs to practice in New York even if this means lowering some of New York's licensing standards? (See substantial equivalency, for more information) ____YES ____NO
   
   
9. Should New York's Education Law be amended to allow non-licensed individuals to become up to 49% owners of public accounting firms? (See non-licensee ownership, for >more information) ____YES ____NO
   
   
10. Should New York State Education Law be amended to eliminate the 24-hour concentration option for continuing professional education? (See continuing professional education, for more information) ____YES ____NO
    
    
11. Should the exemption from mandatory continuing education for CPAs and PAs working in private industry, government, or academia be removed from Education Law?(See continuing professional education, for more information) ____YES ____NO
    
    
12. Should there be mandatory peer review for all firms registered to practice public accountancyin New York State? (See peer review, for more information) ____YES ____NO
    
    
13. Should sole-proprietorships, which are professional practice structures authorized by law in NYS,be required to register with the NYS Education Department? (See peer review, for more information) ____YES ____NO
    
    
14. Should CPAs and PAs be allowed to accept commissions and referral fees when the client is not associated with an attest or compilation engagement? (See commissions, for more information) ____YES ____NO
    
    
15. Should Public Accountants (PAs) be grandfathered into the certified public accountancy profession? (See grandfathering of public accountants into certified public accountants, for more information) ____YES ____NO