Recently, in order to standardize the continuing education of accounting professionals, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and continuously enhance their professional competence, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly issued the "Regulations on the Continuing Education of Accounting Professionals" (Cai Hui [ 2018 ] 10 No. (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants”). Officials from the Accounting Department of the Ministry of Finance and the Specialized Technical Personnel Department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security answered questions from reporters regarding relevant issues of the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants.”

　　 Q: What is the significance of the issuance of the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants”?

　　 Answer: The Party Central Committee and the State Council have consistently attached great importance to the continuing education of accounting professionals and have made explicit provisions at the legal level. Article 39 of the amended Accounting Law, adopted at the 30th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, stipulates: “ Education and training for accounting personnel should be strengthened. ” The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China explicitly required that... “ Promote continuing education, accelerate the building of a learning-oriented society, and vigorously enhance the overall quality of the nation. 2015 Year 8 In the month, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security issued the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Professional and Technical Personnel” (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security Order No. [number]). 25 No.), it sets forth clear requirements regarding the principles, demands, and management system for continuing education of professional and technical personnel. Accounting professionals constitute an important part of China’s pool of professional and technical personnel and currently number nearly... 2000 With a membership numbering in the tens of thousands, accountants are widely distributed across various enterprises, institutions, state organs, social organizations, and other entities in China. They play a vital role in guiding the rational allocation of resources, maintaining the order of the market economy, and promoting the sustained, healthy development of the economy and society. In order to effectively implement the Accounting Law as well as the relevant guidelines issued by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, it is necessary to formulate the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” and strengthen the continuing education efforts for accounting professionals.

　　The revised Accounting Law has abolished the administrative licensing requirement for accounting qualifications, necessitating a transformation and upgrade in the management of accounting personnel. Strengthening continuing education for accounting professionals is an important component of effectively managing accounting personnel in the new era. It also serves as a systemic approach to guiding and urging accounting professionals to fulfill their continuing education obligations, enhance their professional competence and expertise, and ultimately improve the quality of accounting information.

　　 Q: What was the process behind the formulation of the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants”?

　　 Answer: To enhance the scientific rigor and democratic nature of the drafting process for the “Regulations on Continuing Education in Accounting,” we have strictly adhered to the relevant work procedures issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, following a meticulously structured and scientifically sound drafting workflow. The drafting and formulation of the “Regulations on Continuing Education in Accounting” took over a year and primarily went through the following stages:

　　First, during the stage of research and drafting, in the course of cooperating with the national effort to streamline occupational qualification licensing and certification procedures, we immediately began studying the management issues for accounting personnel following the abolition of the administrative license for accounting practice qualifications. 2016 Year 11 This month, we conducted a special research study on accounting qualification management policies in Hebei Province, listening to the views and suggestions of local finance departments regarding various aspects of accounting personnel management, including continuing education for accountants. Based on gathering local feedback and systematically reviewing best practices and experiences in continuing education for accounting personnel, and in accordance with the "Accounting Law" and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security’s Order No. [number omitted],... 25 In accordance with relevant requirements and after multiple rounds of discussion and revision, the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” (Discussion Draft) has been formulated.

　　Second, the stage of publicly soliciting comments. 2017 Year 6 Moon 1 On [date], we issued the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” (Draft for Comments) and publicly solicited comments from the public. At the same time, we sought opinions separately from relevant departments within the Ministry of Finance, provincial-level finance departments, and human resources and social security departments. Based on the feedback received from all parties, we further revised and refined the draft for comments, resulting in the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” (Submission Draft).

　　Third, the adjustment and improvement phase. 2018 Year 5 The “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” (draft for review) will be officially released after undergoing the approval procedures by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

　　 Q: What is the scope of application of the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants”?

　　 Answer: Continuing education for accounting professionals is a systematic arrangement designed to help these professionals update their knowledge, expand their skills, refine their knowledge structure, and enhance their overall competence and quality. It should be open to all individuals engaged in accounting work. Therefore, personnel holding accounting professional qualifications from state organs, enterprises, public institutions, and social organizations—as well as those without such qualifications but who are nonetheless involved in accounting work—are all included within the scope of continuing education.

　　Individuals holding accounting professional qualifications shall begin participating in continuing education from the year following the year they obtain such qualifications and must earn the required number of credits within the prescribed time frame. Individuals who do not hold accounting professional qualifications but are engaged in accounting work shall begin participating in continuing education from the year following the year they start engaging in accounting work and must earn the required number of credits within the prescribed time frame.

　　 Q: What innovations does the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accounting Professionals” introduce regarding the content and format of continuing education for accounting professionals?

　　 Answer: The “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” clearly stipulate that the content of continuing education for accounting professionals includes both general required courses and specialized courses. The general required courses cover basic knowledge—such as laws and regulations, policy theories, professional ethics, and technical information—that all accounting professionals should universally master. The specialized courses encompass the specialized knowledge that accounting professionals must acquire to perform their accounting duties, including financial accounting, management accounting, financial management, internal control and risk management, accounting informatization, accounting professional ethics, fiscal and tax finance, and accounting laws and regulations. The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, regularly issues guidelines for general required courses and specialized courses based on the competency framework for accounting professionals, thereby providing guidance on the content of continuing education for accounting professionals.

　　With regard to the aforementioned continuing education content, the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” stipulate flexible forms of continuing education. In addition to attending continuing education programs organized by continuing education administrative authorities, accounting continuing education institutions, and employers, these forms also include participating in high-end accounting talent training programs organized by fiscal departments at all levels, taking national accounting professional qualification examinations and other accounting-related exams, attending accounting-related professional conferences, pursuing higher education (degrees) in accounting specialties, undertaking accounting research projects, publishing accounting papers, and publishing accounting books. These diverse forms of continuing education are closely integrated with the practical work of accounting professionals, thereby enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of continuing education.

　　 Q: What are the specific credit requirements for continuing education of accounting professionals under the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants”? How should accounting professionals register their credits?

　　 Answer: The “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” clearly stipulate that continuing education for accounting professionals will be managed under a credit system. Meanwhile, in accordance with Order No. [number] issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, ... 25 In accordance with relevant regulations, it is clearly stipulated that accounting professionals must earn no fewer than [number] continuing education credits each year. 90 Credits, of which the credits for specialized courses generally account for no less than two-thirds of the total credits.

　　Considering the actual conditions of continuing education in various regions, the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” clearly stipulate that for accounting professionals participating in training-based continuing education, the credit-assignment standards shall be formulated jointly by the provincial-level financial authorities together with the human resources and social security authorities and the relevant central supervisory bodies. Localities and relevant central supervisory bodies may, where appropriate, adjust the correspondence between credits and class hours as well as the related recognition and measurement methods. For participation in other forms of continuing education, the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” sets forth nationally unified credit-assignment standards.

　　The participation of accounting professionals in continuing education is subject to registration management. The "Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants" fully implement this approach. “ Delegation, regulation, and service ” The reform requires simplifying, as much as possible, the registration procedures for continuing education of accounting professionals. Specifically, the following approaches can be adopted:

　　(1) When accounting professionals participate in continuing education and accounting-related examinations organized by the continuing education administrative authorities, the financial departments of local people's governments at or above the county level, the Financial Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, or the central supervisory authorities shall directly handle the registration of continuing education activities for these accounting professionals.

　　(2) When accounting professionals participate in continuing education organized by accounting continuing education institutions or their employers, the financial departments of local people's governments at or above the county level, the Financial Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, or the central supervisory authorities shall, based on the continuing education information submitted by the accounting continuing education institutions or employers, register the continuing education activities for accounting professionals.

　　(3) Accounting professionals who participate in continuing education through forms other than those specified in (1) and (2) above shall, within the calendar year, log onto the website designated by the financial department of the local people's government at or above the county level, the Financial Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, or the central supervisory authority, and upload the required supporting documents to apply for registration of their continuing education activities. Alternatively, they may submit the relevant supporting documents directly to their respective continuing education management authorities to apply for registration of their continuing education activities.

　　 Q: What are the management requirements for continuing education institutions for accountants?

　　 Answer: To ensure the quality of continuing education, the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” clearly defines the establishment requirements, faculty qualifications, and operational standards for accounting continuing education institutions. It emphasizes that accounting continuing education institutions must not engage in any activities prohibited by the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants.” At the same time, it stresses the need to fully leverage the key role played by the National Academy of Accounting, accounting industry organizations (associations), and various continuing education training bases (centers) in providing continuing education for accounting professionals. Furthermore, it encourages and guides higher education institutions and research institutes to actively participate in the continuing education of accounting professionals.

　　 Q: How are accounting professionals assessed and evaluated in their continuing education efforts?

　　 Answer: The “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” fully embody the fundamental principle of integrating continuing education with practical application. First, it emphasizes that employing units should establish incentive mechanisms linking the continuing education of accounting professionals with their employment, promotion, and career advancement. Participation in continuing education should be taken as an important basis for assessing and evaluating accounting professionals, as well as for their appointment to posts. The participation of accounting professionals in continuing education should also serve as a key requirement for being appointed to professional accounting positions or for applying for higher-level qualification assessments. Second, it stresses that continuing education management authorities should strengthen the assessment and evaluation of accounting professionals’ participation in continuing education, using the assessment and evaluation results as one of the criteria for taking the accounting professional qualification examination or review, selecting outstanding accounting professionals, and identifying high-end accounting talents—and including these results in their credit information records. For accounting professionals who fail to participate in continuing education as required or who do not earn the prescribed number of credits upon completing such education, the continuing education management authorities shall order them to make corrections within a specified time limit. Third, it highlights that continuing education management authorities shall, in accordance with the law, supervise the implementation of these regulations by continuing education institutions and employing units. They shall also regularly organize or entrust third-party assessment agencies to evaluate the teaching quality of local continuing education institutions, with the assessment results serving as an important reference for determining the institutions’ responsibilities for providing continuing education services in the following year.

　　 Q: What is the management system for continuing education of accounting professionals?

　　 Answer: Continuing education for accounting professionals is jointly overseen by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Specifically, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for formulating national policies on continuing education for accounting professionals and, in coordination with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, for supervising and guiding the implementation of continuing education programs for accounting professionals nationwide. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, meanwhile, is responsible for the comprehensive management and overall coordination of continuing education efforts for accounting professionals across the country.

　　The financial departments and human resources and social security departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall jointly be responsible for the continuing education of accounting professionals in their respective regions.

　　 Q: What are the requirements for implementing the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants”?

　　 Answer: To implement the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants,” fiscal departments, human resources and social security departments, and central supervisory authorities in various regions should focus on the following tasks: First, conduct thorough publicity and interpretation. Fiscal departments, human resources and social security departments, and central supervisory authorities in each region should leverage their respective government websites, newspapers, magazines, and other media to publicize and interpret the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants,” thereby creating a favorable atmosphere for their implementation. Second, formulate specific implementation measures. Provincial-level fiscal departments, in collaboration with human resources and social security departments and central supervisory authorities, should promptly develop detailed implementation measures for carrying out the “Regulations on Continuing Education for Accountants” and submit them for filing with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Third, initiate system development. Provincial-level fiscal departments and central supervisory authorities should launch the construction of an information management system for continuing education of accounting professionals, thereby preparing the groundwork for the registration of continuing education credits for accounting professionals. Fourth, deploy and carry out... 2018 Annual continuing education efforts. Fiscal departments and human resources and social security departments across various regions should, in accordance with their respective responsibilities, closely coordinate and work together to promptly plan and carry out these efforts. 2018 Annual continuing education for accounting professionals.