---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 7212"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "7212"
heading: "Registration with the Board"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/7212"
units:
  - "Chapter 98 — Public Company Accounting Reform and Corporate Responsibility"
  - "Subchapter I — Public Company Accounting Oversight Board"
---

# §7212. Registration with the Board

- (a) **Mandatory registration—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) that is not a [registered public accounting firm](/usc/15/7201.md?p=12) to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or issuance of, any [audit report](/usc/15/7220.md?p=2) with respect to any [issuer](/usc/15/7201.md?p=7), [broker](/usc/15/7220.md?p=3), or [dealer](/usc/15/7220.md?p=4).
- (b) **Applications for registration—**
  - (1) **Form of application—** A [public accounting firm](/usc/15/7201.md?p=11) shall use such form as the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) may prescribe, by rule, to apply for registration under this section.
  - (2) **Contents of applications—** Each [public accounting firm](/usc/15/7201.md?p=11) shall submit, as part of its application for registration, in such detail as the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) shall specify—
    - (A) the names of all [issuers](/usc/15/7201.md?p=7), [brokers](/usc/15/7220.md?p=3), and [dealers](/usc/15/7220.md?p=4) for which the firm prepared or issued [audit reports](/usc/15/7220.md?p=2) during the immediately preceding calendar year, and for which the firm expects to prepare or issue [audit reports](/usc/15/7220.md?p=2) during the current calendar year;
    - (B) the annual fees received by the firm from each such [issuer](/usc/15/7201.md?p=7), [broker](/usc/15/7220.md?p=3), or [dealer](/usc/15/7220.md?p=4) for [audit](/usc/15/7220.md?p=1) services, other accounting services, and [non-audit services](/usc/15/7201.md?p=8), respectively;
    - (C) such other current financial information for the most recently completed fiscal year of the firm as the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) may reasonably request;
    - (D) a statement of the quality control policies of the firm for its accounting and auditing practices;
    - (E) a list of all accountants associated with the firm who participate in or contribute to the preparation of [audit reports](/usc/15/7220.md?p=2), stating the license or certification number of each such [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6), as well as the [State](/usc/15/7201.md?p=16) license numbers of the firm itself;
    - (F) information relating to criminal, civil, or administrative actions or disciplinary proceedings pending against the firm or any associated [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) of the firm in connection with any [audit report](/usc/15/7220.md?p=2);
    - (G) copies of any periodic or annual disclosure filed by an [issuer](/usc/15/7201.md?p=7), [broker](/usc/15/7220.md?p=3), or [dealer](/usc/15/7220.md?p=4) with the [Commission](/usc/15/7201.md?p=6) during the immediately preceding calendar year which discloses accounting disagreements between such [issuer](/usc/15/7201.md?p=7), [broker](/usc/15/7220.md?p=3), or [dealer](/usc/15/7220.md?p=4) and the firm in connection with an [audit report](/usc/15/7220.md?p=2) furnished or prepared by the firm for such [issuer](/usc/15/7201.md?p=7), [broker](/usc/15/7220.md?p=3), or [dealer](/usc/15/7220.md?p=4); and
    - (H) such other information as the [rules of the Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=13) or the [Commission](/usc/15/7201.md?p=6) shall specify as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
  - (3) **Consents—** Each application for registration under this subsection shall include—
    - (A) a consent executed by the [public accounting firm](/usc/15/7201.md?p=11) to cooperation in and compliance with any request for testimony or the production of documents made by the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) in the furtherance of its authority and responsibilities under this subchapter (and an [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) to secure and enforce similar consents from each of the associated [persons](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) of the [public accounting firm](/usc/15/7201.md?p=11) as a condition of their continued employment by or other association with such firm); and
    - (B) a statement that such firm understands and agrees that cooperation and compliance, as described in the consent required by [subparagraph (A)](#b-3-A), and the securing and enforcement of such consents from its associated [persons](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6), in accordance with the [rules of the Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=13), shall be a condition to the continuing effectiveness of the registration of the firm with the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5).
- (c) **Action on applications—**
  - (1) **Timing—** The [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) shall approve a completed application for registration not later than 45 days after the date of receipt of the application, in accordance with the [rules of the Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=13), unless the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5), prior to such date, issues a written notice of disapproval to, or requests more information from, the prospective registrant.
  - (2) **Treatment—** A written notice of disapproval of a completed application under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) for registration shall be treated as a disciplinary sanction for purposes of sections [7215(d)](/usc/15/7215.md?p=d) and [7217(c)](/usc/15/7217.md?p=c) of this title.
- (d) **Periodic reports—** Each [registered public accounting firm](/usc/15/7201.md?p=12) shall submit an annual report to the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5), and may be required to report more frequently, as necessary to update the information contained in its application for registration under this section, and to provide to the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) such additional information as the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) or the [Commission](/usc/15/7201.md?p=6) may specify, in accordance with [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2).
- (e) **Public availability—** Registration applications and annual reports required by this subsection, or such portions of such applications or reports as may be designated under [rules of the Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=13), shall be made available for public inspection, subject to [rules of the Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=13) or the [Commission](/usc/15/7201.md?p=6), and to applicable laws relating to the confidentiality of proprietary, personal, or other information contained in such applications or reports, provided that, in all events, the [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) shall protect from public disclosure information reasonably identified by the subject accounting firm as proprietary information.
- (f) **Registration and annual fees—** The [Board](/usc/15/7201.md?p=5) shall assess and collect a registration fee and an annual fee from each [registered public accounting firm](/usc/15/7201.md?p=12), in amounts that are sufficient to recover the costs of processing and reviewing applications and annual reports.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–204, title I, § 102, July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 753; Pub. L. 111–203, title IX, § 982(c), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1928.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–203, § 982(c)(1), substituted “It” for “Beginning 180 days after the date of the determination of the Commission under section 7211(d) of this title, it”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–203, § 982(c)(2)(A), substituted “issuers, brokers, and dealers” for “issuers”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B), (G). Pub. L. 111–203, § 982(c)(2)(B), substituted “issuer, broker, or dealer” for “issuer” wherever appearing.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective 1 day after July 21, 2010, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.