(a) Upon application, a licensee may have his/her license placed in an inactive status.

(b) The holder of a license in an inactive status shall not engage in the practice of public accountancy as defined in Section 5051 of the Business and Professions Code. This section does not prohibit a holder of a license in an inactive status from receiving a share of the net profits from a public accounting firm or other compensation from a public accounting firm, provided that the licensee does not otherwise engage in the practice of public accountancy.

(c) A license in an inactive status shall be renewed during the same time period in which a license in an active status is renewed. The renewal fee for a license in an inactive status shall be the same as the renewal fee for a license in an active status.

(d) The continuing education requirements described in Section 87 are not applicable at the time of renewal for a licensee renewing a license in an inactive status.

(e) At the time of renewal, the holder of a license in an inactive status may convert his/her license to an active status by paying the renewal fee and complying with the continuing education requirements as described in Section 87, with the exception of Section 87(a)(1). A minimum of 20 hours of continuing education shall be completed in the one-year period immediately preceding the time of renewal, 12 hours of which must be in technical subject areas described in Section 87(a)(2).

(f) The holder of a license in an inactive status may convert to an active status prior to the next renewal by meeting the continuing education requirements as described in Section 80.1.