Quality control materials (QCM) are materials that are suitable for adoption by a firm as an integral part of that firm’s system of quality control. Such materials provide guidance to assist firms in performing and reporting in conformity with professional standards and may include (but are not limited to):
- Engagement aids, including accounting and auditing manuals, checklists, questionnaires, work programs, computer-aided accounting and auditing tools, and similar materials intended for use by accounting and auditing engagement teams
- Personnel manuals, inspection checklists, hiring forms, and client acceptance and continuance forms.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs are educational activities that assist firms in achieving and maintaining quality in professional services.
A QCM or CPE Program Peer Review is a type of peer review that is a study and appraisal by an independent evaluator, known as a peer reviewer, of an organization’s (hereinafter referred to as provider) system of quality control to develop and maintain QCM or CPE programs. The system represents the provider’s policies and procedures that the provider has designed, and is expected to follow, when developing and maintaining the materials.
The peer reviewer’s objective is to determine whether the system is designed and whether the organization is complying with its system appropriately so that users of the materials, primarily CPA firms and their peer reviewers, can place some degree of reliance on the design of the materials.
The National Peer Review Committee (NPRC) is responsible for the administration of QCM and CPE program peer reviews on behalf of the entire AICPA Peer Review Program. The QCM & CPE Task Force provides an additional layer of involvement in the administration and acceptance of QCM and CPE peer reviews, performing oversight reviews prior to acceptance, developing practice aids, and recommending enhancements to the guidance related to QCM and CPE peer reviews.
Links to additional information and tools are provided below.
If you have any questions regarding the scheduling or performance of QCM and/or CPE Program peer reviews, please contact Carl Mayes (Staff Liaison) or Chris Ellis (Operations Manager).
Information for CPA Firms and their Reviewers
QCM & CPE Peer Review Results
Information & Guidance for Providers and Reviewers
Instructions to Providers Having a QCM or CPE Review
August 2009 Communication of Important Changes To Providers and Reviewers
QCM & CPE Program Review Alerts (coming soon)
Forms & Schedules for Providers
Provider Scheduling Form
Posting of QCM and CPE Peer Review Results Opt-In Form
Fee Schedule
Practice Aids for Peer Reviewers of QCM & CPE Programs
Team Captain’s Checklist
Summary Review Memorandum