In order to be eligible for licensing under this article as an accounting practitioner, an applicant may not hold another license granted under this chapter and must:
(1) not have any history of dishonest or felonious acts;
(2) be a resident of this State or have a place of business in this State, or as an employee, be regularly employed in this State;
(3) be at least eighteen years of age; and
(4) meet these requirements:
(a) pass an examination approved by the board, which is designed to test the applicant's basic knowledge of the subjects described in Section 40-2-510(1) and which may consist of parts of the examination administered to certified public accountant applicants or another examination as the board may prescribe; and
(b)(i) have a bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a college or university holding an accreditation from an accreditation body approved by the United States Department of Education; or
(ii) have transcripts or a degree determined by the board to be substantially equivalent to the foregoing standards.
(5) surrenders, if licensed and holds a current annual permit to practice in this State as a certified public accountant or public accountant, his license and permit to practice as a certified public accountant or public accountant upon being licensed as an accounting practitioner.