AICPA Council Places XYZ Credential on Hold

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 2, 2001) - A California-led resolution directing the AICPA to consult its membership on key provisions of its proposed global credential before bringing it to a vote passed today at the association's council meeting here.

The resolution, which directs the AICPA to intensify its membership education campaign to increase knowledge of the global credential proposal and, more specifically, to study members' attitudes towards the eligibility of non-CPAs to obtain a global credential, was adopted by the AICPA Council after a proposal to eliminate the global credential program was defeated.

Drafted and proposed by California members of the AICPA Council, the adopted proposal is sponsored by the California and Texas State CPA societies. The resolution authorizes development of the global credential program to continue until the October meeting of the AICPA Council. At that meeting, results of the AICPA education campaign will be evaluated as well as input from members about the credential. Member input will be taken into consideration as the Council reevaluates the proposal and prepares it for a possible vote by the AICPA membership.

According to California Council members, the resolution reflects that, in general, CPAs want more information regarding the global credential proposal. "In our conversations with members and leaders in California and elsewhere, it has become clear that the global credential has not been adequately communicated to the membership," said Don Gursey, CPA and president of the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA). "Our intent is to ensure that members' knowledge is increased and that true grassroots input is obtained by the AICPA before it moves forward with the proposal."

"Feedback from members will be taken into consideration and all relevant and helpful input will be incorporated into the program before the Council authorizes the AICPA to continue with the next phase," added David George, CPA/PFS, first vice president of CalCPA. "We're gratified colleagues from other states agreed to adopt it."

The resolution adopted today instructs the Board and Management of AICPA not to mail the membership referendum on the global credential to the members until after the fall meeting of Council in October 2001.

For a copy of the adopted resolution, visit the CalCPA Web site.