I remember sitting at my desk on a rainy Thursday afternoon, checking my CPEs before renewing my license.
I had completed all the hours. I had the email confirmation. I was confident.
Until I wasn’t.
That’s when I noticed the fine print: The Virginia Board of Accountancy requires a state specific ethics course not just any ethics course.
- I had taken a generic ethics course, thinking it covered all bases.
- It didn’t. And that tiny oversight nearly cost me everything I’d worked for.
- Years of study. The pride in calling myself a CPA. The clients who trusted me.
- All of it was suddenly hanging by a thread not because I was careless with numbers, but because I didn’t read the rules.
Here’s the truth they don’t teach you in textbooks:
- Compliance isn’t just about knowing accounting standards, it’s about knowing your state’s fine print.
- Every state board is different. What’s acceptable in Texas might get flagged in Virginia.
- Your CPA license isn’t just national, it’s local. And assuming otherwise is dangerous.
That mistake taught me a lesson I now live by:
- Never outsource the responsibility of knowing your state’s requirements. Own it.
- Check the Board’s website.
- Bookmark it.
- Read updates.
- Stay close.
Because what you don’t know can cost you more than just money, it can cost you your industry credibility.
💼 CPA-to-CPA Wisdom:
- Before your next license renewal, pull up your state board’s latest CPE requirements.
- Don’t assume, confirm.
- Double-check your ethics course provider.
- And don’t wait until the deadline is breathing down your neck.
Lesson 2 drops tomorrow. Don’t miss it.
Book your free 15 minutes clarity session today: 757-977-8911 or email [email protected]
If we haven’t met,
I am Dr. Lilly Mbinglo, CPA,
❤️Daddy YONGKA’s Nyomshiliv,
💃🏾Abakwa’s FINEST and SMARTEST CPA,
💸Tax Strategist and Tax Alchemist Extraordinaire,
👩🏽💼Regent University MBA Professor,
I serve through The Ark NPS, a full-service Accounting Firm, where we provide Accounting services, Bookkeeping, Payroll, Tax Preparation, Planning, Resolution and Consulting, as well as Startup services to Individuals, Businesses and Nonprofits.
Let’s Connect!
#cpa #cpafirm #taxaccountant
