Washington State

Before applying for an Academic Credential Evaluation through NASBA’s Licensing Service, please familiarize yourself with this jurisdiction’s educational requirements below. Please Note: NASBA’s Licensing Service evaluates only the educational requirement for licensure in this state. All other licensure inquiries are to be directed to the State Board of Accountancy.

To apply for an educational evaluation, you will be asked to create a user account upon your first usage of our licensing online application tool. Registering for a user account will allow you to obtain the required documents to submit with your application, apply for the evaluation, maintain your current information and check the status of your application.

Please allow up to two weeks from your file completion date (when application, fees and all additional required materials have been received) for your application to be processed. Acknowledgment of receipt of application will be sent to you via email, unless otherwise indicated. This notice is sent only as acknowledgment of receipt of application.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Effective November 20, 2025, to be eligible to sit for the CPA Exam and for CPA licensure, you must have completed one of the general education requirements:

Option A:

• Baccalaureate degree
• Accounting concentration or equivalent

Option B:

• Post-baccalaureate degree
• Accounting concentration or equivalent

Option C:*

• Baccalaureate degree
• Accounting concentration or equivalent
• Plus, an additional 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of college education

*If you sat for the CPA Exam as a Washington State Exam candidate through Option A and apply for CPA licensure through Option C, you must complete the additional hours indicated and submit your official transcript to NASBA Licensing Services for evaluation prior to applying for licensure. This option expires December 31, 2035.

Accounting Concentration or Equivalent

To qualify under any of the options above, your education must include an accounting concentration or equivalent, which is defined as:

• 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) or the equivalent in accounting subjects; and
• 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) or the equivalent in business administration subjects at the undergraduate or graduate level.
• Excess accounting hours may count towards the required business administration semester hours.

You must meet the Board’s education requirements before you apply to sit for the CPA Exam or apply for CPA licensure.

FEES

Initial – $100   

INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATES

Applicants who obtained their education outside the United States must have an evaluation report completed and submitted by one of the following companies: NASBA International Evaluation Services