Event Registration Policies

The VSCPA is a comprehensive and multi-faceted lifelong learning provider that helps individuals develop and grow professionally. We strive to provide superb customer service and innovative continuing education for VSCPA members and other lifelong learners.

• Registration Information
• CPE Credit and Registration Fees
• Registration Forms
• Registration Policies
• Overview of Current Continuing Education Requirements

Registration is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Full payment or government voucher must accompany all registrations before the VSCPA will reserve a place for you.

• Checks should be made payable to the Virginia Society of CPAs and mailed to: 
                      Virginia Society of CPAs 
                      P.O. Box 758988 
                      Baltimore, MD 21275-8988
• Credit card payments (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa) can be sent through the CPE Catalog, faxed to (804) 273-1741 or phoned in at (800) 341-8189.
• Government vouchers are accepted.

How to Register

• Visit the CPE Catalog for secure online registration.
• E-mail your registration with credit card payment to cpe@vscpa.com.
• Fax the registration form with credit card payment to (804) 273-1741.
• Mail the registration form with check or credit card payment to: 
                      Virginia Society of CPAs 
                      P.O. Box 758988 
                      Baltimore, MD 21275-8988
• Hand or special deliver your registration to: 
                      Virginia Society of CPAs 
                      4309 Cox Road 
                      Glen Allen, VA 23060
• Call us at (800) 341-8189 to register using a credit card.

NOTE: Walk-in registrations on the day of the program will be accepted only if:

• Space allows.
• There are enough course materials.
• Full payment accompanies the registration.
  • When paying on-site, the VSCPA only accepts check or credit card payments. Cash payments are not accepted.

• 2 CPE hours — $55 for VSCPA members, $70 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials and instruction. Beverage and lunch service is not available. 
• 4 CPE hours — $149 for VSCPA members, $199 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction and beverage breaks. Lunch service is not available.
• 8 CPE hours — $299 for VSCPA members, $399 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, lunch and beverage breaks. Excluding the Virginia Beach cluster July 21 - 23; $325 for members, $425 for nonmembers.
• 16 CPE hours — $479 for VSCPA members, $554 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, lunch and beverage breaks.
• 24 CPE hours — $649 for VSCPA members, $799 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, lunch and beverage breaks.

Conferences

• 7th Annual Government & Nonprofit Conference 
  8 CPE hours — $349 for VSCPA members, $424 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, continental breakfast, lunch and beverage breaks.
• 7th Annual Industry Conference
  16 CPE hours — $425 for VSCPA members, $575 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, continental breakfast, lunch, networking reception and beverage breaks.
• 9th Annual Business Valuation, Fraud & Litigation Services Conference 
  16 CPE hours — $549 for VSCPA members, $699 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, continental breakfast, lunch, networking reception and beverage breaks.
• 18th Annual Professional Development Conference 
  16 CPE hours — $455 for VSCPA members, $605 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, continental breakfast, lunch, networking reception and beverage breaks.
• 38th Annual Accounting & Auditing Conference
  Co Sponsored by Virginia Tech and VSCPA
  Roanoke - September 22 - 23 - $465 for VSCPA Members/nonmembers.  Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, continental breakfast, lunch, networking reception and beverage breaks.
  VA Beach - November 20 - 21   - $515 for VSCPA Members/nonmembers.  Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, continental breakfast, lunch, networking reception and beverage breaks.
• 2008 Tax & Financial Planning Expo 
  16 CPE hours — $455 for VSCPA members, $605 for nonmembers. Registration fee includes the cost of materials, instruction, continental breakfast, lunch, networking reception and beverage breaks.

Webcasts

• 2 CPE hours — $55 for VSCPA members, $65 for nonmembers
• 4 CPE hours — $99 for VSCPA members, $125 for nonmembers
• 8 CPE hours — $199 for VSCPA members, $249 for nonmembers

SmartPros self-study subscriptions (Click here for more information.)

• The CPA Report — $274 for VSCPA members, $409 retail
• FMN Online — Update Courses for Accounting & Finance Professionals — $274 for VSCPA members, $409 retail
• Government/Nonprofit CPA Report Subscription — $169 for VSCPA members, $205 retail
• SmartPros Advantage (SP Advantage) Subscription — Skills-Based Courses for Accounting & Finance Professionals — $274 for VSCPA members, $409 retail

Seminar and conference registration forms are located on page 87 of the VSCPA 2008 CPE Catalog. You may also download our registration form (.PDF) and mail it, with payment, to VSCPA, P.O. Box 758988, Baltimore, MD 21275-8988.

Only one registration form per person, please. You may photocopy as many forms as you need.

Attendance Verifications

The VSCPA will e-mail your attendance verification three weeks after the event. It is your responsibility to maintain a current e-mail address with the VSCPA. If you do not have an e-mail address, the VSCPA will mail your attendance verification to you.

Cancellation of a Program by the VSCPA

All registrations should be received by the VSCPA at least 10 business days before the program. If a sufficient number of registrations have not been received by that time, the course may be cancelled. If this occurs, the VSCPA will issue a full refund for those registered for the course.

Cell Phones

As a professional courtesy, please silence your cell phone while attending any VSCPA program.

Children, Pets and Non-Registered Guests

Children, pets and non-registered guests are not allowed at seminars or conferences. In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, service animals are allowed for visually or physically challenged registrants.

Confirmation

An e-mail confirmation is sent to all participants registered for a program, assuming registration is received in time to do so. You will receive your confirmation after the VSCPA has received your registration and processed your payment.

If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation at least three days before a program, contact us at (800) 341-8189 to confirm your registration. If you register late, you may not receive an e-mail confirmation prior to the program.

Discounts

• $100 VSCPA member discount on 8-hour programs: The $100 VSCPA member discount is available to all members of the VSCPA or any other state CPA society. Members of the AICPA who are not members of a state CPA society are NOT entitled to the member discount and should pay the regular course fee as published. For all 4 hour programs the discount is $50 for VSCPA members and any other state CPA society.
• $50 early registration discount: All registrations received 28 days prior to the course date will receive a $50 discount. Multiple-day events count as one program. Conferences have separate pricing structures. All 4 hour courses will receive a $25 discount 28 days prior to the course date.
• 10% discount for VSCPA members who are educators: VSCPA members who are educators receive 10% off all seminar and conference registrations (excluding webcasts and self-study subscriptions).
• $30 AICPA member discount on designated programs: The AICPA logo is used throughout the VSCPA 2007 CPE Catalog to denote AICPA-sponsored events. AICPA members who register for an AICPA/VSCPA-sponsored program will receive a $30 discount on the lowest applicable course fee. This discount may be used in conjunction with other VSCPA registration discounts; however, you cannot combine two 4-hour AICPA programs to earn the discount. This discount is available until the date of the course and cannot be applied retroactively. AICPA/VSCPA-sponsored programs are identified in all marketing pieces.
• Multiple registration discount on conferences — save $100: When you register four or more people from the same company at the same time for any VSCPA conference (excluding the Accounting & Auditing Conference), you can take $25 off per person. You'll save at least $100!

Distribution of Course Materials

Materials prepared by a vendor or the VSCPA are designed specifically for use during the program and are available only to participants attending the program. Materials are ordered seven days prior to each course. Materials, or portions thereof, are not otherwise available for sale to individuals or educational institutions and may not be reproduced in any way. Registrants will receive course materials on the morning of the course.

Dress Recommendations

Attire is business casual. Participants may want to wear layered clothing to allow for comfort throughout the day, as the temperature in the meeting room fluctuates.

Government Vouchers

Government vouchers will be accepted if a complete training form with a purchase order number and signature is received by the VSCPA prior to the course date.

Inappropriate Conduct

The VSCPA believes that all employees, members and customers should enjoy an environment free of disruptive and inappropriate conduct. Inappropriate conduct refers to behavior that personally offends, impairs morale and interferes with the work effectiveness of employees, members and customers. Inappropriate conduct includes, but is not limited to, abusive or profane language, inappropriate physical contact and rude or destructive actions. The VSCPA reserves the right to pursue appropriate disciplinary action against any individual who conducts him or herself inappropriately.

Inclement Weather

If the weather warrants any concern for your travel safety, or if you wish to verify that your course will be held as scheduled, please call us at (800) 341-8189. You will have the option of attending the event when (or if) it is rescheduled or registering for another event at the time of cancellation.

If the event is rescheduled due to inclement weather and you are unable to attend the rescheduled event or another event, the VSCPA will issue a full refund.

If the event has not been cancelled and you are unable to travel due to inclement weather, you must notify the VSCPA on the day of the scheduled event. Cancellations will not be accepted before or after the event. Rather, the VSCPA will issue a credit that may be used toward another scheduled event within one year of the original event date.

Please note: If you do not attend the event or fail to call the VSCPA on the day of the event, you will forfeit your entire fee.

IRS Deduction on Food and Beverage Costs

In complying with the IRS ruling effective January 1, 1989, the VSCPA does not state food and beverage costs separately for each seminar. For tax purposes, the average per person food and beverage cost is $25 for each 2007–2008 CPE seminar day.

Model Release

By attending any VSCPA event, you give the VSCPA permission to use your name and photographic likeness in all forms and media for advertising, trade and any other lawful purposes. You waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product or products and the advertising copy or other matter that may be used in connection therewith or the use to which it may be applied. You hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless the photographer, legal representatives and assigns, and all persons acting under his/her permission or authority or those for whom he/she is acting, from any liability by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion or use in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of said picture or in any subsequent processing thereof, as well as any publication thereof, including without any limitation any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.

Refunds

The VSCPA issues refunds in the same form of tender as the original purchase. Payments made by cash or check will be refunded via check within 30 days of cancellation.

Responsibility Waiver

The VSCPA is not liable for losses incurred through cancellations or changes in air or hotel reservations for whatever reason, including cancellation of programs. The VSCPA recommends postponing air travel arrangements until sufficient registrations are received to ensure the program will be held as scheduled.

Smoking

All VSCPA events are non-smoking — whether they are held at either CPA Center or off-site.

Specific Needs

The VSCPA strives to make all facilities accessible to everyone. If you have any specific needs, please contact us at (800) 341-8189 at least two weeks before the event. Please note that lunches can be prepared to accommodate special medical diets with 48 hours' advance notice and hearing impaired individuals can contact us through the Virginia Relay Center.

Transfers, Cancellations and Substitutions

We accept transfers and cancellations by phone. If you do not notify the VSCPA of your transfer/cancellation before 5 p.m. on the business day prior to the event, you will forfeit your entire registration fee. The following schedule and options are in effect: 

14 (or more) business days before the program:

• Send a substitute in your place.*
• Transfer the full balance to another course registration.**
• Receive a refund, minus a $20 processing fee.
• Transfer the balance to the appropriate account (person or firm) to be held for future VSCPA purchases** — this is non-refundable.

13 (or less) business days before the program:

• Send a substitute in your place.*
• Transfer the full balance to another course registration, minus a $50 processing fee.**
• Receive a refund, minus 50% of the registration fee paid.
• Transfer the balance to the appropriate account (person or firm), minus a $50 processing fee***, to be held for future VSCPA purchases** — this is non-refundable.

* If you are a member, but your substitute is a nonmember, then your substitute must pay the difference between the member and nonmember fee. If you are a nonmember, but your substitute is a member, then your account will be credited the difference.

** Any balance after a transfer or cancellation must be used within one year towards future VSCPA CPE purchases. (excluding webcasts and self-study subscriptions) If your account balance is not used within a year, you will forfeit your entire balance.

*** The processing fee for transferring a balance on Ethics 2008 — Your License Depends On It! is $25.

For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund please contact the VSCPA at (800) 341-8189.

• Virginia Board of Accountancy: 120 hours for three years, 20 hours per year minimum (two hours per year must satisfy the Virginia ethics requirement).
• VSCPA requirement: No requirements.
• AICPA requirement: 120 hours every three years.
• GAO — "Yellow Book": For individuals performing government audits. 80 hours every two years, 20 hours per year minimum (24 of those hours in government subjects).

CPAs Not in Public Practice

• Virginia Board of Accountancy: 90 hours from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008, 15 hours per year minimum (two hours per year must satisfy the Virginia ethics requirement). Effective January 1, 2009, the requirement will be 120 hours per rolling 3-year cycle.
• VSCPA requirement: No requirements.
• AICPA requirement: 120 hours every three years.
• GAO — "Yellow Book": For individuals performing government audits. 80 hours every two years, 20 hours per year minimum (24 of those hours in government subjects).

Virginia law no longer requires CPAs to use specific sponsors or to take specific courses (i.e. tax or A&A).