To meet Washington CPA requirements, follow these steps to become a licensed CPA in Washington.
- Education Requirements:
- Complete 150 semester hours of education, including a degree at the undergraduate or graduate level.
- Ensure your coursework includes accounting subjects and business administration subjects.
- CPA Exam:
- Pass the CPA exam. The Washington CPA exam requirements mandate passing all four sections of the CPA exam.
- Schedule and prepare for your CPA exam.
- Experience Requirements:
- Gain relevant work experience in accounting. This usually involves working under a licensed certified CPA.
- Ethics Exam:
- Pass the AICPA Ethics Exam as required by the Washington Board.
- Application:
- Submit your application for licensure, including verification of accounting courses and experience.
Following these steps ensures you meet the Washington CPA requirements and are well-prepared for a career as a licensed CPA.
Table of Contents
| CPA Exam Requirements Washington – Overview | |
| Educational Hours Required for Exam | 120 Semester Hours |
| Educational Hours Required for Licensure | 150 Semester Hours |
| Residency Required | Not required |
| Degree Required | Bachelor’s or Master’s |
| Minimum Age | Not required |
| Application Fee | $93 (Education Evaluation Application Fee) |
| Additional Requirements | Washington Board of Accountancy Site |
Washington CPA Exam Requirements
Undergraduate or Graduate Level
To sit for the CPA exam in Washington, you need a bachelor’s degree with at least 120 semester hours of coursework.
- To qualify for licensure, you need at least 150 semester hours.
- Master’s degrees in accounting are not required but can help fulfill the 150-credit stipulation.
- Accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s accounting programs offer a streamlined path to meeting the elevated credit requirements.
Your degree must include a major or concentration in accounting, covering accounting subjects and business administration subjects.
Ensure your coursework aligns with the CPA exam requirements set by the Washington Board. For further details, consult the CPA examination service, which.
Eligibility to Take the Exam
- To sit for the Uniform CPA Examination in Washington, you must have a bachelor’s degree covering at least 120 semester hours.
- Ensure your education meets the education requirements recognized by the Washington State Board of Accountancy.
- Submit official transcripts verifying your degree and coursework.
- Your degree must include upper-level accounting and business administration subjects.
Passing the CPA exam is a crucial step toward CPA licensure. Washington’s thriving economy offers numerous opportunities for certified public accountants with these qualifications.
Work Experience Requirements
To become a certified public accountant in Washington State, you must complete at least one year of relevant professional experience. This experience frequently carries a completion of 2,000 hours of employment, which can be either paid or unpaid. The Washington State Board of Accountancy accepts experience gained in both industry and public accounting.
- Ensure your experience aligns with the education requirements and licensure process.
- Experience should involve upper or graduate-level work, meeting the semester hours requirement.
Submit official college transcripts to verify your college education. This will complement the calculator on a desk and photo of a laptop images often associated with the profession. Completing the Washington CPA exam and gaining relevant experience are crucial steps in becoming a Washington CPA.
CPA License Requirements for Washington
CPA License Application Process
- To apply for your CPA in Washington, follow these steps after you pass the Uniform CPA Examination and meet all other requirements:
- Ensure you have a baccalaureate or higher degree with at least 150 semester hours of coursework, including upper-level accounting and business subjects.
- Apply through the CPA examination services on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) website.
- Complete continuing professional education (CPE) courses as required by Washington state.
- Attest that you meet the state’s character requirements.
Continuing Education and License Renewal
Your Washington state CPA license expires every three years. To maintain your credential, you must renew it between January 1 and April 30, ensuring you include documentation of completed continuing professional education (CPE).
CPA candidates must obtain 120 CPE hours every three years for renewal.
CPE courses often focus on upper-level accounting topics, which can be visualized as a coffee plant and calculator on your desk or a computer cup of coffee beside a laptop computer cup.
Whether you hold a baccalaureate or higher degree, the American Institute frequently highlights the importance of ongoing education.
Renewal ensures your knowledge remains current, supporting your CPA licensure and professional development.
Washington CPA Exam Fees
To sit for the CPA exam in Washington, candidates must pay several fees. These include an education evaluation fee, re-examination fees, and separate fees for each section of the CPA exam.
Education Evaluation Fee: $93
This non-refundable fee is required when applying to determine if you meet the educational requirements for the CPA exam.
Re-Examination Fee: $50
If you need to retake any exam sections, a $50 re-examination fee will apply, in addition to the standard exam section fee.
CPA Exam Section Fees:
Each section of the CPA exam has its own fee, and you may take one or more sections at a time. The fees per section are as follows:
- Exam Section Fee: $365.64 per section
- Total for all four sections: $1,462.56
FAQ’s for Washington State CPA Exam and Licensure Requirements
What Are the Costs Associated with Taking the CPA Exam and Maintaining a CPA License in Washington?
Aspiring CPAs in Washington should be aware of the various costs involved in both taking the CPA Exam and maintaining licensure.
Each section of the CPA Exam currently costs $365.64, and first-time candidates must also pay a $93 education evaluation fee. These fees are paid through NASBA as part of the application and scheduling process.
After passing all four exam sections and meeting Washington’s education and experience requirements, candidates must pay additional fees to obtain and maintain their CPA license.
CPA licenses in Washington must be renewed every three years at a cost of $230. If the renewal is submitted late—between May 1 and June 30 of the renewal year—an additional $100 late fee applies.
Washington also accepts international candidates through its participation in NASBA’s International Evaluation Services (NIES). International applicants should anticipate additional fees for credential evaluations and various stages of the licensing process.
Understanding these costs is important for anyone pursuing a career in accounting or a related financial field in Washington State.
Additional Information
While we do our best to keep all of this information up to date you are welcome to visit and or contact the Washington Board of Accountancy with any other questions you might have.
Washington State Board of Public Accountancy
Address: PO Box 9131 Olympia WA 98507
Phone: (360) 753-2586 Fax: (360) 664-9190
Email: customerservice@acb.wa.gov
Web: acb.wa.gov
Application form: Washington CPA Application Form