How Do I Check a CPA’s License in California?

Checking a CPA’s license is the quickest piece of homework in the whole search, and the California Board of Accountancy puts it at the top of its tips for choosing a CPA. The Board regulates more than 115,000 licensees, and its public record answers three questions in a minute: is this person licensed, is the license active, and has there been any discipline.

How do I run the search?

• Go to the Board’s website, cba.ca.gov, and choose the option to verify a license.
• Search by the CPA’s name or license number. You can also search for an accounting firm.
• Open the record and confirm the name, city and license status match the person you plan to hire.
• Look for any disciplinary action or license restriction listed on the record.

If the office you are considering uses a firm name, search the firm as well as the individual CPA who will sign your work.

What does A or G mean?

When you open More Details on a record, you will see an Experience Completed indicator. According to the Board, an A means the licensee has the authority to sign reports on attest engagements, and a G means they do not. Attest engagements are work where the CPA gives an opinion or conclusion on financial statements, such as audits and reviews.

For most households and small farms, the indicator matters only if a lender, landlord or buyer asks for reviewed or audited financial statements. Tax returns do not require attest authority. The Board also cautions that an A does not by itself mean a CPA is qualified for every service, so match their experience to what you need.

What if the CPA is licensed in another state?

Some CPAs who serve California clients hold licenses elsewhere. The Board suggests checking the licensing state’s board or CPAverify.org to review that license, and confirming the person is authorized to practice in California.

What if I cannot find the person?

Check the spelling and try the license number. If they still do not appear, ask them directly what credential they hold. They may be an enrolled agent or a registered tax preparer rather than a CPA; What Is the Difference Between a CPA, an Enrolled Agent and a Tax Preparer? explains the difference and where each is verified. Anyone who calls themselves a CPA in California should appear on License Lookup.

What else should I check at the same time?

Item	How to check
Peer review	Required for firms that issue compiled, reviewed or audited financial statements. Ask for the most recent result. Tax practice is not covered.
Professional liability insurance	Ask whether they carry it.
Continuing education	Ask what courses they have taken recently.
Other licenses	Ask whether they are licensed in another state.
Outsourcing	Ask whether any work is sent outside the office and how your information is protected.

The Board’s guide explains that a peer review has three outcomes: pass, pass with deficiencies and fail. If the result was not a pass, ask for the letter of findings and whether corrective action is complete.

What if something goes wrong later?

The Board investigates complaints about violations of the California Accountancy Act, including poor quality work and unprofessional conduct such as dishonesty or negligence. It says it acknowledges a complaint within 10 days and assigns it for investigation if it falls within its jurisdiction. Fee disputes and employer-employee matters are outside that jurisdiction. You can file from the Board’s website and may stay anonymous, though that can limit how much the Board can help.

What about the rest of the office?

Most CPA offices have staff who are not CPAs: bookkeepers, tax preparers and assistants. That is normal and often keeps your fees lower. What matters is who reviews and signs your work. Ask the CPA directly: who will prepare my return, who will review it, and whose name will be on it as the paid preparer? If a non-CPA preparer in the office prepares returns for a fee under their own name, California requires them to be registered with the California Tax Education Council unless they are an enrolled agent or attorney.

It is also fair to ask how long the CPA has been licensed in California and whether they have worked with clients like you. A long license history does not guarantee quality, but a newly licensed CPA working under an experienced one may be a good fit for a straightforward return at a lower fee.

With a license verified, the next step is putting the work in writing: What Should a CPA’s Engagement Letter Say, and What Should I Bring?.