Learn The 7 Simple Steps to Qualifying To Become A Licensed CPA in Washington:
- Meet The Education Requirements in Washington
- Submit Your CPA Exam Application in Washington
- Request Your College Transcripts in Washington
- Pay Your NASBA CPA Schedule Fees in Washington
- Schedule Your CPA Exam Sections At A Prometric Center in Washington
- Find A CPA Exam Mentor To Help You Pass
- Find A CPA Review Course To Study
If you would like a more detailed checklist to make this process even easier, please download your Free CPA Exam Application Checklist PDF below:
Washington Requirements Overview:
Washington's (WA) CPA exam requirements are very specific relating to accounting and business courses that are required to be taken prior to sitting for the exam. Once you are within 180 days of attaining your 150 credit hours you should try to sit for your first section.
Follow each caption below to ensure that you are qualified to sit for the exam.
Disclosure: Please note that I do my best to keep these requirements up to date but seeing as there are more than 50 states and nations with individual requirements it is difficult for me to keep up with them all. Please verify each requirement with your state board of accountancy to ensure 100% accuracy!
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Education Requirements
What are the education requirements in Washington?
150 Hours Requirement
WA requires 150 hours or graduate degree prior to sitting for the CPA exam.
NOTE: Educational requirements must be met no later than 180 days following the date the applicant sat for the first section of the exam.
Accounting Course Requirements
Accounting courses: 24 semester units, of which 15 should be in “upper division” (i.e. 3rd and 4th year classes):
- Introductory/Elementary Accounting
- Intermediate Accounting
- Advanced Accounting
- Cost/Managerial Accounting
- Audit
- U.S. Federal Taxation/ Accounting law (this does not include business law)
- Accounting Information System
Business Course Requirements
WA requires the following Business courses: 24 semester hours of which can include the following:
- Macro- and Micro-economics
- Budgeting
- Investments
- Business law
- Statistic (no more than 6 undergraduate semester hours)
- Money & Banking
- Finance course
- Management and administration,
- Accounting courses in excess of the required 24 semester hours
Business Law Requirements
WA does not have a specific business law requirement.
Ethics Exam
Required to take AICPA Ethics Exam
Age & Residency Requirements
What are the age and residency requirements in Washington?
US Citizenship Requirement
You are NOT Required for Washington to be US Citizen to sit for the CPA exam
Residency Requirement
Washington does NOT require you to be a resident, employee, OR have an office in the state for you to take the CPA exam.
Minimum Age to Sit for the CPA Exam
Washington does not have a minimum age requirement to sit for the CPA exam
Washington CPA Exam Fees
How much does it cost to take the CPA exam in Washington?
Washington has fairly standard exam fee rates. If you need to re-take a part there is a varying re-application fee that you will have to pay.
Initial Application Fee: |
$155 |
Audit: |
$195.35 |
Financial: |
$195.35 |
Regulation: |
$176.25 |
Business: |
$176.25 |
Total: |
$898.20 |
Special Fees: |
Re-exam registration fee (varying amounts based on number of parts) |
Already Passed The CPA Exam in Washington? Here Are The CPA License Requirements
Work Experience:
- 1 year of public accounting work experience
- At least 2,ooo hours of work experience
- Role can be in accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, tax advisory or consulting
- The experience has to verified by:
- A CPA in Washington; or
- A CPA qualified for practicing privileges for a min of 5 years prior to the verification
- Note that the verifier does not need to be your supervisor
- Part-time and even volunteer work can be counted
- Additional CPE courses are required if the license application has passed the CPA exam for more than 4 years.
Washington State Board Contact Info
Washington State Board of Accountancy
PO Box 9131
Olympia, WA
98507-9131
Web: www.cpaboard.wa.gov
Phone: 360-753-2586
Fax: 360-664-9190
Email: CPAES-WA@nasba.org
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bryan Kesler, CPA is the founder of Kesler CPA Review & Ultimate CPA Exam Guide which earned him a spot on CPA Practice Advisor's Top 20 Under 40.
He has helped thousands of CPA candidates pass the CPA exam since 2013. You can contact him via email bryan@cpaexamguide.com
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