A DWI arrest doesn’t just create a criminal case for a CPA. The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy has its own reporting requirements and its own disciplinary process, and a conviction can put your license and your ability to practice at risk entirely apart from what happens in court.
What the Texas State Board Requires
- A 30-day deadline that starts at the charge. Rule 501.91(a) of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy rules requires a licensee to report in writing to the Board within 30 days of learning of the event, and the triggering events include the filing of criminal charges, not only a conviction or deferred adjudication. Rule 519.7(a)(3)(J) places any misdemeanor involving intoxication under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance on that list, so an ordinary Houston DWI arrest starts the 30-day clock long before the criminal case is resolved. See 22 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 501.91(a)(1)(D) and 519.7(a)(3)(J).
- Board review is separate from your criminal case. Even a plea deal that resolves the criminal charge favorably doesn’t automatically resolve the Board’s review.
- Possible outcomes range widely. Depending on severity and history, the Board can issue anything from a private reprimand to license suspension or revocation.
Why the Criminal Case Comes First
How your DWI case resolves, whether it’s a conviction, a reduction, or a dismissal, shapes what the Board sees and how it responds. A conviction gives the Board a straightforward record to act on. A dismissal or a favorable resolution gives your license a much stronger chance of coming through intact.
Facing a DWI as a Licensed CPA? Contact Blass Law Now
Contact Blass Law for a confidential case evaluation or call (713)-664-4000. Your license deserves the same urgency as your criminal case.