Chapter 4701-17 | Education Assistance Fund Program

Rule 4701-17-01 | Education assistance program definitions.

• Effective: December 31, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

The following terms are used with the same meanings throughout this chapter:

(A) "Contract" is defined in relation to the education assistance program as a fully-executed, single-source contract made between the board and an Ohio-based statewide membership organization representing certified public accountants in this state.

(B) "Nontraditional student" is defined as a student whose entry to college or university was delayed by at least one year; that is a single parent or has dependents; that is employed full-time; that is attending post-secondary education part-time; that is financially independent; that is older than twenty-five years of age; or that completed high-school level education outside of the United States.

(C) "Workforce development program" is defined as a structured program designed to improve individual's skills to meet the needs of the CPA profession through enhancing employability and aligning workforce capabilities with industry demands through training, education, and partnerships.

(D) "Workforce attraction program" is defined as a structured program designed to recruit and retain skilled talent to meet the needs of the CPA profession through targeted marketing, incentives, and partnerships.

(E) A "college or university located in this state" means an accredited college or university located in Ohio that has been issued a certificate of authorization to grant degrees by the Ohio department of higher education or is part of the "University System of Ohio."

(F) "Scholarship" is defined as a one-time award of moneys to a qualifying student who meets the requirements or a program approved by the board that supports CPA workforce development and attraction programs as defined in Chapter 4701-17 of the Administrative Code.

(G) "Study materials for the certified public accountant examination" is defined as structured preparatory coursework offered by a specialized educational provider delivering comprehensive study programs, interactive lectures, practice exams, and personalized support tailored to meet the specific requirements of the uniform CPA examination.

(H) "Education assistance committee" is defined per paragraph (A)(5) of rule 4701-1-10 of the Administrative Code.

(I) "Scope of work" is defined as the specific tasks, responsibilities, deliverables, and results expected to be performed over the duration of an education assistance program contract year.

Last updated January 5, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4701.03, 4701.26
Amplifies: 4701.26
Five Year Review Date: 12/31/2030
Prior Effective Dates: 9/19/1994

Rule 4701-17-02 | Education Assistance Program Requirements.

• Effective: December 31, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The contract required by division (B) of section 4701.26 of the Revised Code shall comport with Ohio department of administrative services contract policies and procedures. The contract shall be made between the board and the contractor and shall commence upon the issuance by the department of administrative services of a valid purchase order. The contract may be approved by the board and renewed each fiscal year by the executive director of the board and the chief executive of the contractor. If the parties do not renew, the contract shall expire on the last day of the state fiscal year. The board may modify the contract in accordance with the Ohio department of administrative services contract policies and procedures.

(B) The contractor shall submit details on programming, finances, outcomes, or other information as mandated by the contract upon request of the board's education assistance committee, and at least thirty days prior to the end of the state fiscal year.

(C) The contractor shall comply with all contracted provisions and scope of work; the requirements outlined in section 4701.26 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4701-17 of the Administrative Code; and the recommendations, guidance, and performance requirements of the board.

(D) The executive director, subject to board approval, must approve any payment from the education assistance fund for necessary expenses related to the education assistance program.

Last updated January 5, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4701.03, 4701.26
Amplifies: 4701.26
Five Year Review Date: 12/31/2030

Rule 4701-17-03 | Education assistance program objectives and scope.

• Effective: December 31, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The objectives of the education assistance program are:

(1) To increase engagement with high school and college students, non-traditional students, and members of economically disadvantaged groups to increase awareness of public accounting as a career option;

(2) To create and implement workforce development and attraction programs specific to the public accounting profession;

(3) To provide scholarships to students attending a college or university in this state who are citizens of the United States or who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act;

(4) To provide financial assistance to individuals who meet educational requirements to sit for the uniform CPA examination for associated costs, including study materials for the uniform CPA examination and examination fees to take or for one re-take of the uniform CPA examination;

(5) To defray administrative costs incurred in carrying out the purposes of the education assistance programs described in this chapter, and those incurred in undertaking a biennial financial audit.

(B) To accomplish the objectives of the education assistance program, and per the contract required by division (B) of section 4701.26 of the Revised Code, the contractor must provide the following information:

(1) Detailed descriptions of how the contracting organization has or will create and implement programming, including defining parameters of such programming, descriptions of programming content, target population(s), outcome objectives, and reporting of outcomes for each program;

(2) Detailed descriptions of how the contracting organization has or will create and implement workforce attraction programs specific to the public accounting profession, including defining the parameters of any such programming, and descriptions of programming;

(3) Detailed implementation plans for all funded programs that provide financial assistance and examination preparation materials to students preparing to sit for the CPA examination, including qualification metrics, limitations on assistance, and reporting of outcomes;

(4) The requirements and per-person award amounts for its scholarship program;

(5) Detailed information demonstrating sufficient operational capacity to manage fund activities, including adequate facilities, technical support, financial stability, and staffing resources needed to implement and manage programming in accordance with approved requirements and timelines;

(6) A comprehensive budget detailing implementation, operations, audit costs, and adherence to a methodology that limited administrative costs to no more than thirty per cent of the total allocation. The contractor shall maintain a dedicated financial structure to sequester education assistance funds;

(7) Methodologies used to maintain complete records of funded programs in a manner that will facilitate open communication and accurate data analysis by the board, and how those methodologies accurately evaluate programs funded completely or in part by the education assistance program;

(8) Methodologies used to evaluate, modify, and re-allocate or return education program assistance program funding for programs that fail to meet criteria set by the board;

(9) Methodologies used to demonstrate quantitatively how the implemented workforce attraction program(s), scholarship program, and other CPA examination assistance programs directly resulted in a net positive outcome in the number of program participants sitting for the CPA examination.

Last updated January 5, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4701.03, 4701.26
Amplifies: 4701.26
Five Year Review Date: 12/31/2030

Rule 4701-17-04 | Education assistance fund outreach and promotion.

• Effective: December 31, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The board's contractor shall develop and implement a comprehensive outreach plan to promote the education assistance fund and its programming. This plan may include, but is not limited to:

(1) Disseminating information through the board's or contractor's social media, websites and newsletters, paid advertisements, and press releases;

(2) Hosting informational webinars and participating in career development programming at Ohio high schools, colleges, and universities;

(3) Collaborating with community organizations, especially those serving non-traditional students to raise awareness of scholarship, workforce attraction, and workforce development program opportunities;

(4) Collaborating with college and university accountancy department chairs, or accounting department faculty members to raise awareness of scholarships, workforce attraction, and workforce development program opportunities.

(B) Board members, the executive director of the board, and board staff may create and participate in education assistance fund outreach and promotion activities, and the board may create its own outreach and promotional programming and communications, including activities outlined in paragraph (A) of this rule.

(C) The board shall evaluate annually the effectiveness of outreach and promotion efforts related to the education assistance fund. This evaluation, provided by the contractor, should include metrics such as the number of individuals reached, online engagement metrics, demographic information captured, and feedback from participants. Reporting of metrics and outcomes shall be provided upon request of the board's education assistance committee, and at least thirty days prior to the end of the state fiscal year.

Last updated January 5, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4701.03, 4701.26
Amplifies: 4701.26
Five Year Review Date: 12/31/2030

Rule 4701-17-06 | Education assistance surcharge.

• Effective: December 31, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) The board, in accordance with the provisions of division (H)(1) of section 4701.10 of the Revised Code, shall assess an education assistance surcharge in addition to the triennial Ohio permit and Ohio registration fee imposed pursuant to divisions (A) and (B) of section 4701.10 of the Revised Code, respectively, in the amount of thirty dollars.

(B) The board may prorate the education assistance surcharge in cases where it issues Ohio permits or Ohio registrations for less than three years.

(C) The total amount of education assistance surcharges shall be designated for deposit in the certified public accountant education assistance fund, in accordance with the provisions of division (H)(2) of section 4701.10 of the Revised Code.

Last updated January 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4701.03, 4701.26
Amplifies: 4701.10, 4701.26
Five Year Review Date: 12/31/2030