(a) A person may not engage in the practice of public accountancy unless he holds a valid license or qualifies under a practice privilege. A person may not use the title or designation "certified public accountant," the abbreviation "CPA," or any other title, designation, word, letter, abbreviation, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that the person is a CPA unless he holds a valid license issued by the board or qualifies under a practice privilege. A license is not valid for any date or for any period prior to the date it is issued by the board and it automatically expires and is no longer valid after the end of the period for which it is issued.
(b) Any licensee of this board in good standing as a CPA or public accountant may use such designation whether or not the licensee is in the client, industry, or government practice of public accountancy. However, a licensee who is not in the client practice of public accountancy may not in any manner, through use of the CPA designation or otherwise, claim or imply independence from his employer or that the licensee is in the client practice of public accountancy.
(c) Interpretive Comment: This section incorporates the definitions of the practice of public accountancy and professional services and accounting work found in §501.52(8) and (22) of this chapter (relating to Definitions) as well as §901.003 of the Act (relating to Practice of Public Accountancy).
(d) Interpretive Comment: This section incorporates §§901.451 - 901.453 of the Act (relating to the Use of Title or Abbreviation for "Certified Public Accountant;" Use of Title or Abbreviation for "Public Accountant;" and Use of Other Titles or Abbreviations).

Source Note: The provisions of this §501.80 adopted to be effective June 11, 2000, 25 TexReg 5339; amended to be effective February 4, 2004, 29 TexReg 964; amended to be effective June 9, 2004, 29 TexReg 5626; amended to be effective February 17, 2008, 33 TexReg 1095; amended to be effective December 7, 2011, 36 TexReg 8235; amended to be effective June 10, 2015, 40 TexReg 3565; amended to be effective June 3, 2020, 45 TexReg 3633