Certified public accountants (CPAs) stand among the most trusted professionals in finance. Earning your CPA license in Washington unlocks opportunities that go far beyond tax preparation. You can advise small businesses on strategy and forecasting, guide individuals through complex financial decisions, and represent clients before the IRS with confidence.
This guide outlines the step-by-step process for how to become a CPA in Washington state. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from education and exam requirements to licensing and renewal.
Key Points
- In Washington, you need 120 semester hours with an accounting concentration to sit for the CPA Exam and 150 hours with 24 accounting (15 upper-level) and 24 business credits to get licensed.
- The CPA Exam has 4 parts, and you must score 75 or higher on each within 36 months of your first pass.
- You’ll need 1 year (at least 2,000 hours) of verified work experience within the past 8 years, supervised by a CPA licensed for 5 or more years.
- To keep your license in active status, you’ll need to renew every 3 years and complete 120 hours of continuing professional education (CPE).
What a CPA Does and Why It Matters in Washington
Businesses and individuals across Washington rely on CPAs for high-stakes money decisions. As a CPA, you might help clients prepare for upcoming financial audits, navigate a complex business or investment tax return, or develop a tax or business strategy. At its core, your role as a CPA is to turn complex rules into clear direction and spot risks before they become roadblocks.
In Washington, that work fuels the state’s most vibrant industries, including tech in Seattle and Bellevue, aerospace in Everett, health systems statewide, and a growing creative and small-business scene from Spokane to Tacoma. Companies across industries need clean audits, innovative tax planning, and sharp cash-flow insight to help them scale with confidence.
Learn more: Curious where this credential can take you long term? Explore the broader tax preparer career path to see roles, growth tracks, and what skills help you move up.
Education Requirements for Washington State CPAs
To sit for the CPA Exam in Washington, you need:
- 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) of college education
- A bachelor’s degree
- An accounting major or concentration that includes 24 semester hours in accounting subjects (15 at the upper or graduate level) plus 24 semester hours in business courses
To qualify for your CPA license, you’ll round that up to 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) with the same accounting and business mix.
“The doors that open as a CPA in WA, and nationally, are plentiful. When you feel challenged, just keep going; the rewards keep coming for the rest of your working life.” ~Merry McNutt, CPA, WA State
CPA Exam and Ethics Requirements
The Uniform CPA Exam has 4 parts—3 Core sections and 1 Discipline section.
The Core sections are:
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
- Taxation and Regulation (REG)
And then you choose 1 Discipline section that best matches your career goals:
- Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
- Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
- Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)
Each section is scored 0-99, and you need a 75 or above to pass each section. Washington gives you 36 months from your first passing score to finish all 4 sections. That’s 1 of the longest windows in the country. Applications run through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
For initial Washington licensure, you must also pass an 8-hour AICPA Code of Professional Conduct ethics course with a 90% score or better. After that, you must complete an approved 4-hour course in professional ethics and regulations specific to Washington every 3 years to renew your license.
Experience and Licensing Process
Washington requires 1 year (at least 2,000 hours) of relevant work experience within the past 8 years to qualify for your CPA license. Your experience must be verified by a CPA who has held a valid license for at least 5 years and is active at the time they sign your experience affidavit. They can be licensed in Washington or another US jurisdiction if they qualify for practice privileges.
Here’s what counts as qualifying experience:
- Work in public accounting, industry, or government counts; certain experience in academia can qualify, too. The work can be paid or unpaid and either full time or part time. You can also combine roles and employers.
- Your work should involve core skills like accounting for transactions, budgeting, data analysis, internal audit, tax filings, controllership, financial analysis, and performance auditing.
When you’ve completed your work experience hours, you’ll submit an experience affidavit with your initial license application.
<h2>Maintaining Your CPA Licensure in Washington State</h2>
To stay active, you’ll need to complete ongoing continuing professional education and renew your license through the Washington State Board of Accountancy’s online portal.
Here’s how Washington’s CPE requirements break down. You must complete:
- 120 hours every 3 years, with at least 20 hours each year
- 4 hours of board-approved Washington ethics and regulations during the reporting period
Tip: Keep your CPE records for 3 years after the period ends.
Keeping your CPA license active is a strong foundation. From here, you can build on it. Explore credentials like the enrolled agent (EA) designation and find the path that best supports your next stage of growth.
FAQs
Can CPAs prepare tax returns in multiple states?
Yes. A CPA licensed in 1 state can generally prepare federal and state returns for clients anywhere. You’ll use your IRS preparer tax identification number (PTIN) for federal filings and follow each state’s specific rules for paid preparers.
How much can I expect to earn as a CPA?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), CPAs in Washington earn between $64,440 and $143,210, but compensation can vary widely depending on the role, location, and industry.
How often can I retake the CPA Exam?
There’s no lifetime cap. Under continuous testing, you can retake a failed section as soon as your score posts and you receive a new Notice to Schedule (often the next testing window or earlier, depending on processing). Each attempt requires new fees, and Washington’s 36-month clock to pass all 4 sections still applies, so plan retakes with your timeline in mind.
How do you maintain your CPA license?
In Washington, CPA licenses renew every 3 years and require 120 hours of CPE, with at least 20 hours each year. Be sure to include a board-approved, 4-hour Washington ethics and regulations course in your 3-year total. Log your CPE in the board’s CPE Tracker and keep your documentation for 3 years in case it’s requested for review.
Your Path to Becoming a CPA in Washington State
Becoming a CPA in Washington takes time, but every milestone brings you closer. Stay focused on the essentials: Complete your education, pass all 4 CPA Exam sections, complete Washington’s ethics course, and log 12 months of verified experience. Once those steps are done, you’ll be ready to apply for your license through the Washington State Board of Accountancy.
Once you’ve earned your license, your options open wide. Apply now for Intuit CPA roles in Seattle and beyond, and use your expertise to help people and businesses across Washington achieve financial confidence and prosperity.