NASBA National Association of State Boards of Accountancy

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.

Please review the information below carefully before submitting your application.

Applicants who have Passed all 4 Sections of the CPA Examination

If you currently hold a CPA license and previously created a CPA Portal account for examination services, simply log in using your existing account.

If you have successfully passed all four sections of the CPA Examination, and never held a CPA license, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the CPA Portal using the account you previously used for CPA Examination services.
  2. Select “Apply Now.“
  3. Choose your jurisdiction.
  4. Select the licensing application you wish to submit.

If you have never logged into the CPA Portal but have previously passed the examinations, please follow these steps:

  1. Visit NASBA.org – Sign In
  2. Instead of signing in, please click “Sign Up” to create an okta account.
  3. Verify with verification email, and accept the informed consent.
  4. Once you reach the application dashboard click on the CPA Portal and click “Existing Candidate”.
  5. Match to your previous application account using your National Candidate ID, Email, and Date of Birth.
  6. If you are licensed already, click “Link Existing License” on the home page of the CPA Portal.

Applicants Licensed in a Non-NASBA Managed Jurisdiction

If you currently hold a CPA license in a jurisdiction not managed by NASBA and would like to apply for licensure in a NASBA-managed jurisdiction, you must:

  1. Log in to your CPA Portal account. If you do not have a CPA Portal Account, please follow the directions listed above for creating an account and matching to your previous account associated with the CPA Examination.
  2. Select “Link Existing CPA License.”
  3. Complete the license-linking process before submitting your new licensure application.

Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Applicants

Some applicants from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands received an email indicating that a CPA Portal account was created on their behalf.

  • If you received this email, please refer to the PDF instructions below for guidance on setting up your account.

Licensure OKTA Instructions

  • If you did not receive an account setup email, log in using the CPA Portal account previously used for your CPA Examination services or create a new account and match as an existing candidate.

Need Assistance?

Before beginning your application, please ensure your CPA Portal account information is accurate and that any existing licenses have been linked, if applicable. Following these steps will help prevent delays in processing your licensure application.

If you are still encountering issues, please email [email protected] or call 866-350-0017.

Your CPA Portal Button

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.

    If you have completed educational requirements at institutions outside the U.S., you must:

    • Have your educational credentials evaluated by NASBA International Evaluation Services.
    • Require the agency to evaluate as follows:
      • An equivalency summary that indicates the analogous academic degrees in the U.S. you hold;
      • A credential analysis that specifies:
        • The name of the country;
        • The degree awarded;
        • The year the degree was awarded; and
        • The entity that awarded the degree;
      • A course-by-course listing; and
      • A course credit analysis that includes:
        • Total credits earned toward the degree as stated on transcripts submitted;
        • Total accounting credits earned; and
        • Total business credits earned.
    • All educational requirements must be met at the time of application. Official educational transcript(s) and/or foreign evaluations are required to be submitted to NASBA Licensing directly from the academic institution(s) or the evaluation service.
    • A copy of the international transcript must be included with the report sent to NASBA for each individual evaluation from the evaluation service. The application will be considered incomplete without these documents, and the processing of the application will not move forward until transcripts are provided.

    Note: the transcript for courses taken at a campus located outside the U.S. for a U.S. school must be issued by the registrar at the U.S. campus.

    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             

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        USEFUL LINKS

        Washington State Board

        CONTACT US

        Toll Free: (866) 350-0017
        Email: [email protected]

        Mail:
        NASBA Licensing Services
        PO Box 198589
        Nashville, TN 37219