Washington CPA Requirements (2026): Exam and License
Washington exam entry, license pathways, coursework, and fees, with researched changes for your 2027 plan.
Checkpoint 1
Can I take the exam?
Degree + 24/24
Washington exam entry requires a qualifying bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s degree with 24 accounting and 24 business credits. NASBA lists a 36-month exam-credit period.
Check exam entryCheckpoint 2
Can I obtain the license?
Washington’s board lists bachelor’s/two-year, post-bachelor’s/one-year, and bachelor’s-plus-30/one-year routes. The extra-30 option ends December 31, 2035.
Degree, concentration, qualifying experience, and any additional application conditions must be checked together.
Review license choicesPermission to sit
Washington CPA Exam eligibility
Washington exam entry requires a qualifying bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s degree with 24 accounting and 24 business credits. NASBA lists a 36-month exam-credit period.
- The degree and concentration supply the exam-entry answer; the credit window is a separate scheduling constraint.
- Do not infer licensing ethics or experience-form details from the NASBA exam page.
Map your transcript
Washington accounting and business coursework
Read each row as a separate checkpoint. Course level, required subjects, degree status, and exceptions can matter as much as the total. The board or designated evaluator determines which courses qualify.
| Checkpoint | Accounting | Business / related subjects | Degree and other conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | 24 credits | 24 credits | Qualifying bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s degree |
| License | Qualifying concentration | Qualifying concentration | Degree/extra-credit option selects the experience requirement |
Collect the evidence
Degree award, official transcript, course descriptions, and any required evaluation.
Map accepted subjects
Separate accounting, business, ethics, and other required subjects without assuming overlap.
Resolve the exact gap
Ask about the disputed course or condition before paying for another class or application.
Education plus experience
Washington CPA license pathways
Washington’s board lists bachelor’s/two-year, post-bachelor’s/one-year, and bachelor’s-plus-30/one-year routes. The extra-30 option ends December 31, 2035.
| Route / availability | Education | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s route | Qualifying bachelor’s degree and concentration | 2 years / 4,000 hours |
| Post-bachelor’s route | Qualifying post-bachelor’s degree | 1 year / 2,000 hours |
| Additional-30 route | Qualifying bachelor’s degree plus 30 credits; ends December 31, 2035 | 1 year / 2,000 hours |
- The routes became available under the November 20, 2025 framework.
- Use current board experience and ethics forms to confirm the detailed verification conditions for your chosen route.
Dates that affect your decision
Planning for Washington CPA requirements in 2027
For 2027, start with the degree and 24/24 exam concentration, then compare the license routes and their longer-term sunset.
November 20, 2025
EffectiveCurrent pathway framework
These are existing routes for 2027 planning, not a new January-only change.
December 31, 2035
DeadlineExtra-30 option ends
The longer-term endpoint applies specifically to the bachelor’s-plus-30 route.
Worked planning example
Comparing extra education with extra experience
Illustrative candidate scenario, not an eligibility determination.
Starting point
You have a qualifying bachelor’s degree and are deciding whether to add 30 credits.
What the rules mean
The published route comparison is two years/4,000 hours versus one year/2,000 hours with qualifying additional education. Coursework and verification conditions still apply.
Next action
Confirm the accepted education and experience forms, then plan the four exam sections within the official 36-month credit period.
From education to an appointment
How to apply and prepare in Washington
- 1
Confirm the application owner
Use the official exam instructions linked above to identify the board or designated exam service. Exam and license applications may go to different owners.
- 2
Prepare the education record
Arrange official transcripts and any required evaluation, degree evidence, course descriptions, identity, and state-specific records. Resolve the exact eligibility question before paying.
- 3
Apply for a section you can prepare for
After the responsible authority confirms eligibility, follow its section application and payment instructions. Keep the actual application and examination charges separate.
- 4
Use the Notice to Schedule
Check the authorized section, name, and expiration on the NTS. Book the testing appointment through the official scheduling process within that authorization.
- 5
Complete the exam and license file
Pass AUD, FAR, REG, and one Discipline, then complete the selected license route’s education, experience, ethics, and documentation requirements. Track each official deadline separately.
This sequence organizes your planning. The state-specific facts and exceptions in the sections above take priority; the official application instructions establish the required filing order.
Budget separate charges
Washington CPA exam and application fees
These are individually sourced charges, not a complete licensing budget or an official 2027 fee schedule. Evaluation, section applications, testing, ethics, background checks, international testing, rescheduling, and licensing can be separate costs.
| Charge | Published amount | What it covers | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education evaluation | $96.00 | Evaluation charge listed by NASBA. Foreign-education evaluation may be separate. | Verify this charge |
| Exam section application | $103.00 | Follow the jurisdiction’s section-application rules. Do not assume one application charge covers all four sections. | Verify this charge |
| Each exam section | $268.59 | One section’s examination charge, separate from its application charge. | Verify this charge |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the Washington CPA Exam requirements in 2026?
- Washington exam entry requires a qualifying bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s degree with 24 accounting and 24 business credits. NASBA lists a 36-month exam-credit period. The degree and concentration supply the exam-entry answer; the credit window is a separate scheduling constraint. Do not infer licensing ethics or experience-form details from the NASBA exam page.
- Does Washington require 150 hours for CPA licensure in 2026?
- Washington’s board lists bachelor’s/two-year, post-bachelor’s/one-year, and bachelor’s-plus-30/one-year routes. The extra-30 option ends December 31, 2035. Bachelor’s route: Qualifying bachelor’s degree and concentration; 2 years / 4,000 hours. Post-bachelor’s route: Qualifying post-bachelor’s degree; 1 year / 2,000 hours. Additional-30 route: Qualifying bachelor’s degree plus 30 credits; ends December 31, 2035; 1 year / 2,000 hours.
- How should I plan for Washington CPA requirements in 2027?
- For 2027, start with the degree and 24/24 exam concentration, then compare the license routes and their longer-term sunset.
- Are Washington exam eligibility and licensing the same?
- They are separate checkpoints. The published route comparison is two years/4,000 hours versus one year/2,000 hours with qualifying additional education. Coursework and verification conditions still apply. Confirm the accepted education and experience forms, then plan the four exam sections within the official 36-month credit period.
- What should I confirm before applying in Washington?
- Expanded ethics and experience-verification details require the current board forms; this review does not infer them from the exam page.
- Does a CPAPass account apply for my Washington license?
- No. CPAPass provides CPA Exam practice and study planning. The state board and its designated services evaluate education, approve exam applications, and issue licenses or permits.
Evidence and review dates
Official Washington requirements sources
Core research date: . Licensing review date: . Proposed rules, effective dates, and unresolved details remain labeled in the relevant sections. Official authorities decide eligibility; this guide helps you prepare the questions and records.