# Title 3 — Accountancy, Board of

## Article 3-01 — General Administration

## Chapter 3-01-02 — Definitions

### § 3-01-02-01. Definitions.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the following definitions are applicable throughout this title:
1. "Accountant" means either a certified public accountant (CPA) or a licensed public accountant
(LPA), except as provided in section 3-01-02-02.
2. "Accounting concentration" means twenty-four semester credits or equivalent of accounting
courses, plus twenty-four semester credits or equivalent of other business courses. Principles
of accounting or equivalent courses do not count toward the required accounting or business
courses. Internship credits do not count toward the required accounting courses and may
account for no more than three semester credits or equivalent of other business courses.
3. "AICPA" means the American institute of certified public accountants.
4. "Bookkeeping" means the maintaining of financial records and preparation of tax returns.
Bookkeeping does not include the preparation of any financial statement or similar such
documents on which language similar to that utilized by certified public accountants or
licensed public accountants is placed including compilation and review language.
5. "Enterprise" means any person, persons, or entity, whether or not organized for profit, for
which an accountant provides services.
6. "Financial statements" means a presentation of financial data, including any accompanying
notes, intended to show financial position at a point in time or changes in financial position for
a period of time in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or another
comprehensive basis of accounting. Incidental financial data included in management
advisory services, reports to support recommendations to a client, and tax returns and
supporting schedules are not financial statements.
7. "NASBA" means the national association of state boards of accountancy.
8. "Practice of public accounting" does not include reviews conducted under peer review
programs. The term includes "public practice", "practice", "practice of public accountancy",
and "practice public accounting".
History: Amended effective January 1, 1987; July 1, 1991; March 1, 1995; October 1, 1999;
December 1, 2003; July 1, 2006; July 1, 2008; April 1, 2018; April 1, 2024; January 1, 2026.
General Authority: NDCC 43-02.2-03
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-02.2-03
### § 3-01-02-02. Use of words "accountant" and "accounting".

Except as provided in subsections 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the North Dakota Century Code section
43-02.2-12, a person or firm assuming or using any title, designation, acronym, or abbreviation that
includes the words "accountant" or "accounting" does not imply the person or firm holds a valid
certificate, license, or permit issued under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-02.2 or has special
competence as an accountant or auditor, if the words are accompanied by a suitable disclaimer. For a
person the disclaimer must state the person is not a CPA or LPA. For a firm the disclaimer must state

the firm is not a CPA firm or LPA firm. The disclaimer is suitable if its location, size or volume, and form
clearly informs the public.
History: Effective July 1, 2006; amended effective April 1, 2018.
General Authority: NDCC 43-02.2-03
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-02.2-03, 43-02.2-12
