Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / District of Columbia
2026 data District of Columbia board official source

District of Columbia Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Provides accounting and auditing services. Requires Uniform CPA Exam.

What the District of Columbia data shows for Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s

District of Columbia's path to certified public accountant (cpa) licensure runs through board-approved instruction, 1 year of supervised work experience, and a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. District of Columbia folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours".

Budget $308 to get started, plus $251 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 80-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
13/100
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · District of Columbia

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$308
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$126/yr
$251 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
40.0 hrs/yr
80 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
1 year
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in District of Columbia

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Uniform CPA Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$308
Renewal Fee
$251
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
80 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
1 year

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) All District of Columbia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with District of Columbia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia requires, passing an exam (Uniform CPA Examination), and an initial fee of $308. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in District of Columbia? ▼
To become a licensed certified public accountant (cpa) in District of Columbia, you must meet the state's requirements and 1 year of work experience. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the District of Columbia licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to District of Columbia from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for certified public accountant (cpa)s nationally works like this: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into District of Columbia. Verify the specifics with the District of Columbia licensing board.
Does District of Columbia require a background check for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the certified public accountant (cpa) licensing process in District of Columbia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in District of Columbia? ▼
To stay licensed as a certified public accountant (cpa) in District of Columbia, plan on 80 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $251.

Related Guides

What to do with this certified public accountant (cpa) license

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in District of Columbia, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a certified public accountant (cpa)-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the District of Columbia licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.