The ASB estimates the project will take two to three years to complete, according to Charles Landes, AICPA vice president of professional standards and services. 

"For the last several years, we have been considering ways to make the standards more understandable and, we hope, less complex," said Landes. "The clarity project is all about making the format and language of the standards more consistent."

Among the changes, requirement paragraphs will be separated from the application text, so the auditor can identify the requirements more easily. Each standard will contain an objective to help the auditor better understand what the standard is meant to accomplish. All "clarified" standards will carry the same effective date, which will be set far enough in the future to allow firms sufficient time to update their methodologies and training programs.
 
In addition, the ASB will consider removing unnecessary differences with the International Standards on Auditing. "This is part of our plan to harmonize our standards with those of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, which is undertaking a similar clarity rewrite," said Harold Monk, ASB chair.

The ASB does not plan to issue any new auditing standards in the old format except to complete projects that are already near conclusion or as necessary to address urgent issues.