Licensing and Discipline of Fiscal Professionals in the State of Florida: Attorneys, Certified Public Accountants, and Real Estate Professionals

The purpose of this article is to compare the regulation of several professions within the state of Florida. In Florida, attorneys are self-regulated through the Florida Bar. As a branch of the Supreme Court of Florida, The Florida Bar serves as the licensing agency of attorneys within the state. Two other professions--real estate professionals and certified public accountants--in which the public also places fiscal trust and responsibility, are regulated through a different agency, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. This article seeks to examine and explain the different methods of licensing and regulation between these professional groups and looks at empirical date regarding the discipline of such members.