Use of title, terms, or abbreviations indicating person is certified public accountant; prohibited conduct; display or uttering of certain instrument or device as prima facie evidence that person caused or procured display; use of certain designations in connection with firm name; violation; fine; investigation and enforcement.
MCL 339.723
in effect339.723. Use of title, terms, or abbreviations indicating person is certified public accountant; prohibited conduct; display or uttering of certain instrument or device as prima facie evidence that person caused or procured display; use of certain designations in connection with firm name; violation; fine; investigation and enforcement.
Sec. 723.
(1) Each individual having complied with the requirements described in section 720(1)(b) shall be known as a certified public accountant and any other person shall not use that title or the abbreviation "CPA" or any other word, words, letters, or figures to indicate that the person using them is a certified public accountant unless the use is specifically approved by the board. Use of the terms "certified accountant", "chartered accountant", "public accountant", and "registered accountant" and the abbreviations "C.A.", "P.A.", and "R.A." is specifically prohibited as being prima facie misleading to the public.
(2) Except as provided in section 724, a person shall not engage in the practice of public accounting either in the person's own name, under an assumed name, or as a member of a firm or as an employee, unless the person holds a Michigan license as a certified public accountant issued under this article or is practicing public accounting in this state pursuant to section 727a.
(3) Unless use of a term is specifically approved by the board, the display or uttering by a person of a card, sign, advertisement, directory listing, or other printed, engraved, or written instrument or device bearing a person's name in conjunction with a title described in subsection (1) shall be prima facie evidence that the person whose name is so displayed caused or procured the display or uttering of the card, sign, advertisement, directory listing, or other printed, engraved, or written instrument or device. Evidence of the commission of a single act prohibited by this section is sufficient to justify an injunction or a conviction without evidence of a general course of conduct.
(4) Each licensed firm may use the designation "certified public accountants" in connection with the firm name, except that a licensed firm having only 1 member may use only the designation "certified public accountant". An unlicensed firm shall not use the designation "certified public accountants", "certified accountants", "chartered accountants", "public accountants", or "registered accountants" or the abbreviation "C.P.A.", "CPA", "CPAs", "C.A.", "P.A.", or "R.A." in connection with the firm name unless the firm is licensed under the laws of another licensing jurisdiction and is permitted to practice in this state without obtaining a license as described in section 728.
(5) A person that violates this section or a rule or order promulgated or issued under or related to this section is liable for an administrative fine payable to the department of not more than $25,000.00 per violation.
(6) The department may conduct an investigation and proceed under article 5 to enforce this section.
Add. 1997, Act 10, Imd. Eff. May 16, 1997; Am. 2005, Act 278, Imd. Eff. Dec. 19, 2005; Am. 2008, Act 161, Imd. Eff. June 11, 2008
[PopularName] Act 299
Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-339-723Fetched: 10/20/2026