Accounting firms must register with the PCAOB to issue an audit report for a public company, other issuer, or a broker-dealer, or to play certain roles in those audits. The PCAOB seeks to engage with registered accounting firms to raise awareness of PCAOB standards and rules and to assist auditors in complying with them by providing staff guidance, publications, videos, and other communications.

Standards and Rules

The Board establishes and amends auditing, and related attestation, ethics and independence, and quality control standards.  

Auditing Standards

Attestation Standards

Ethics and Independence Rules

Quality Control Standards

Implementation of PCAOB Standards and Rules 

The PCAOB supports the implementation of our standards and rules to improve the quality of audit services. The PCAOB also issues guidance to aid the implementation efforts for audit firms and auditors.

Implementation of PCAOB Standards and Rules

Staff Guidance

Recent Updates

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Apr. 29, 2025

The PCAOB Office of the Investor Advocate is alerting investors to the opportunity to provide the PCAOB Investor Advisory Group with examples of critical audit matters or key audit matters for analysis.

Information for Investors
Apr. 28, 2025

The PCAOB has made available new downloadable datasets providing multiyear information related to PCAOB inspection findings.

Inspections