Washington's current education and experience rules took effect on November 20, 2025. You have three options. Option A is a bachelor's with an accounting concentration plus two years of experience. Option B is a master's with a concentration plus one year.
Option C is a bachelor's plus 30 semester hours and one year. It expires December 31, 2035. Your experience must come within eight years of a complete application. An active CPA licensed for at least five years verifies it. You'll also pass an ethics course with 90 percent or better.
Check the Washington State Board of Accountancy for your option.
How to Get a CPA License in Washington
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Washington.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 2 years (Option A) | A bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration or equivalent | 2 years (24 months, 4,000 hours) | In effect since November 20, 2025 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year (Option B) | A master's or higher degree with a concentration | 1 year (12 months, 2,000 hours) | In effect since November 20, 2025 |
| Bachelor's plus 30 hours (Option C) | A bachelor's with a concentration plus 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours). This option expires December 31, 2035. | 1 year (12 months, 2,000 hours) | In effect since November 20, 2025 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Washington
Since November 20, 2025, you can sit with a bachelor's with an accounting concentration or equivalent. You can also sit with a post-baccalaureate degree. Or you can sit with a bachelor's with a concentration plus 30 semester hours.
Coursework: 24 semester hours (36 quarter) in accounting and 24 semester hours (36 quarter) in business administration
Ethics Exam
You must pass a course covering the full content of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Code of Professional Conduct with 90 percent or better.
What Changed Recently
The current education and experience rules took effect November 20, 2025. Option C expires December 31, 2035.
What Accountants Earn in Washington
Accountants and auditors in Washington earned a median of $96,550 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $79,180 and $122,480. About 34,740 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Washington
One program on our main rankings is based in Washington. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Accounting Major: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
CPA Requirements in Nearby States
Thinking about working across a state line, or studying in one state and licensing in another? Each state sets its own rules, so here's where the states near Washington stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Idaho CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Oregon CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Montana CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
Check With the Washington State Board of Accountancy
The board sets the rules and decides your application. We checked these requirements against official sources on October 12, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the details on the board's site before you apply.