Peer Review Standards

The Clarified Standards for Performing and Reporting on Peer Reviews (Clarified Standards) provide information on administering, planning, performing, reporting on and the acceptance of peer reviews of CPA firms (and individuals) enrolled in the AICPA Peer Review Program.

• Clarified AICPA Standards for Performing and Reporting on Peer Reviews, effective for peer reviews commencing on or after May 1, 2022, as amended (the standards).

  • Updated through issuance of Peer Review Standards Update (PRSU) No. 3, Modernizing Peer Review Administration Requirements, effective for peer reviews scheduled on or after February 28, 2026, with clerical revisions pertaining to engagement reviews effective upon publishing.

• PR Summary, referred to in a report from the Standards

• Clarified Standards – Peer Reviewer Quick Reference Guide

The Peer Review Board (PRB) may approve amendments to the standards by issuing Peer Review Standards Updates (PRSUs). Users may refer to PRSUs approved by the PRB for a summary and explanation of recent changes to the standards:

• Peer Review Standards Update No. 3, Modernizing Peer Review Administration Requirements

  • Effective for system reviews scheduled on or after February 28, 2026.

  • Clerical revisions pertaining to engagement reviews in section 220 and section 320 are effective upon publishing.

• Peer Review Standards Update No. 2, Reviewing a Firm's System of Quality Management and Omnibus Technical Enhancements

  • Omnibus technical enhancements are effective for peer reviews commencing on or after December 1, 2024.

  • Quality management–related revisions to the standards are effective for peer reviews with years ending on or after December 31, 2025.

• PRSU No. 1, Omnibus Enhancements and Technical Corrections, effective for peer reviews commencing on or after June 1, 2023.

Archives (superseded by the standards, as amended)

• Clarified Standards (as amended through PRSU No. 2, Omnibus and QM)

• Clarified standards (as amended through PRSU No. 2, Omnibus Technical Enhancements Only)

• Clarified standards (as amended through PRSU No. 1, Omnibus Enhancements and Technical Corrections)

• Clarified standards (pre-amendments by PRSU No. 1)

Visit the PRPM page to download the latest AICPA Peer Review engagement checklists and other practice aids.

Visit the Peer Review Exposure Drafts page to view a listing of exposure drafts or comment letters related to an exposure draft.

SQCS were issued by the AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board (ASB) until the ASB renamed the standards with the issuance of SQMS Nos. 1 and 2 in 2022.

Firms enrolled in the Peer Review Program are obligated to adhere to the SQCS until the SQMS become effective on or after December 15, 2025.

• Access QM section 10A, A Firm’s System of Quality Control (formerly QC section 10), effective May 2023

• Access SQCS 8, effective January 1, 2012

• Access SQCS Practice Aids – for Sole Practitioners or Small to Medium Firms

Visit the A Journey to Quality Management web page for QM resources.