Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / Washington
2026 data Washington board official source

Washington 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 Washington data shows for Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s

Washington sets the entry bar for certified public accountant (cpa)s at board-approved training and a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, with 1 year of supervised work experience expected. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Washington's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours".

Upfront cost is $415, with renewal running $334 on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 80 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
11/100
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Washington

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
$415
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$167/yr
$334 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 Washington

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Uniform CPA Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$415
Renewal Fee
$334
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 Washington licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Washington licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Washington? ▼
Washington's requirements cover, the Uniform CPA Examination exam, and an initial fee of $415. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Washington? ▼
To become a licensed certified public accountant (cpa) in Washington, you must meet the state's requirements and 1 year of work experience. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Washington licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to Washington 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 Washington. Verify the specifics with the Washington licensing board.
Does Washington require a background check for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the certified public accountant (cpa) licensing process in Washington. 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 Washington? ▼
Licensed certified public accountant (cpa)s in Washington must complete 80 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $334.

Related Guides

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

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Washington, 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 Washington 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.