Oklahoma, Philly roll out Web services

Oklahoma Accountancy Board

Oklahoma introduced an online service to help accountants apply for and renew their licenses, and Philadelphia has added more geographic information systems data to its public Web site.

Launched last week by the Oklahoma Accountancy Board — a state organization that oversees the accounting profession there — the new service allows accountants to apply for certification examinations and renew their professional licenses and permits.

So far, 10 percent of individual accountants have submitted online license renewals, and 21 percent have renewed their permits to practice. Seventeen percent of accounting firms have renewed electronically. The online licensing renewal period runs from mid-July to early September.

The public can also search for licensed accountants and firms statewide via name, city or ZIP code. The service also lists disciplinary actions taken against individual accountants and firms.

The accountancy board and YourOklahoma, the state portal group managed by NIC Inc., developed the application.

In other news, Philadelphia relaunched a Web site for access to maps and neighborhood information.

By entering an address or city intersection, residents can see an overview of an area, reference zoning districts and codes, or find facilities such as police precincts, recreation centers, libraries or hospitals. The new version includes voting districts, schools, public health centers, and bus and rail stops.

Managed by the city's GIS Services Group, the site, originally unveiled early last year, contains more than 100 layers of geospatial data, digital orthophotography, or aerial photographs, and land records.