Independent and Qualified public Accountants Definition
Public accountants are independent when neither they nor any of their family have a material, direct or indirect financial interest in the borrower other than as an accountant. They are qualified, unless there is contrary evidence, when they are either (1) certified, licensed, or otherwise registered if so required by the state in which they work, or(2) have worked as a public accountant for at least five years and are accepted by SBA.