Are you curious about the process of becoming a CPA in Washington, D.C.? If so, then you’re in the right spot. Welcome to your 1-stop shop for CPA requirements in Washington, D.C. Read below to learn exam and licensure requirements.
Understanding Washington, D.C., CPA Requirements
Before applying for the CPA Exam, you must satisfy the exam and licensure requirements. Here’s a quick overview of the essential requirements, such as the social security number, citizenship, residency, and other prerequisites.
| Social Security Requirements | Yes |
| Citizenship, Age, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Education Requirement for Licensure | 150 hours (including a bachelor’s degree) |
| Exam Passing Requirements | You must score 75 in each section to pass the CPA Exam. |
| Work Experience | 1 year of full-time work experience |
| Ethics Exam Requirement | None |
| International CPA Examination Program | Participant |
Educational Requirements
Candidates must obtain a bachelor’s degree of at least 120 semester hours from an accredited U.S. educational institution to sit for the CPA Exam.
Your credit hours must include 24 semester hours in accounting, with
- 3 semester hours each of Financial Accounting, Auditing, Cost of Managerial Accounting, U.S. Federal Income Tax, and Commercial or Business Law.
For licensure, candidates must meet the 150-semester-hour requirement.
Work Experience Requirements
- You must have at least 2,000 hours of work experience (1 year) in no more than 3 years.
- Your experience should be in government, business, academia, or public service.
- Providing accounting, attestation, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, and tax business services or advice is also acceptable.
Washington, D.C., CPA Exam & Licensing: Cost and Fees
While submitting a first-time application, candidates must pay an exam application fee of $96. They must also pay an education evaluation application fee of $96, which is non-refundable. After approval, candidates will pay exam section fees of $262.64 per section to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
| Washington, D.C., CPA Exam Fees | |
|---|---|
| Education Evaluation Fee | $96 |
| Exam Application Fee | $96 |
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $262.64 |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $262.64 |
| Regulation (REG) | $262.64 |
| ISC/BAR/TCP | $262.64 |
| Total: | $1,242.56 |
Pass the 3 core sections, AUD, FAR, and REG, and 1 discipline section: Information Systems and Controls (ISC), Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), or Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP).
The state board determines fees associated with applications, services, and annual license renewals. Use the structure provided for the basic costs and expenses of obtaining a CPA license in Washington, D.C. Your actual fees may vary depending on the status of your application or the timing of your previous fee submission.
| Washington, D.C., CPA License Fees | |
|---|---|
| License Fees | $175 (up to 2 years) |
| Renewal Fees | $110 (up to 2 years) |
| Late Renewal Fees | $50 |
| Reinstated License Fees | $295 (up to 2 years) |
| Inactive Status Fees | $175 |
| Duplicate License | $30 |
| Verification of Records | $30 |
| Permit to Practice | $175 (up to 2 years) |
License Renewal Requirements
All CPAs in Washington, D.C. must renew their licenses every 2 years. The renewal cycle repeats from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 biennially. You can submit your license renewal application on the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy website.
Continuing Education Requirements
Maintaining a CPA license in Washington, D.C., requires 80 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits, including 4 hours of Professional Ethics instruction. The licensee is exempt from CPE for their first renewal, provided the license was issued less than 2 years ago.
A candidate for reinstatement of a license who has not renewed the license for less than 5 years must provide proof of having completed 40 hours of approved continuing education for each year of non-renewal, up to a maximum of 120 hours, since the previous license issuance.
Washington, D.C., CPA Exam: Exam Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
After meeting the CPA Exam requirements, you’re ready to apply. However, it’s essential to know the target exam and score release dates, as well as the procedure for scheduling in Washington, D.C. Here’s an overview of these key details to keep in mind.
Exam Dates and Score Release
Candidates can apply for the CPA Exam based on their preferences in the available slots. Ensure you check the target CPA Exam and score release dates before scheduling the exam.
Scheduling the CPA Examination
Here’s a quick guide to applying for and scheduling the Washington, D.C., CPA Exam.
For initial application, candidates must create an Okta Account using the CPA Portal by NASBA. The portal will be your sole point of contact to check your CPA application, Notice to Schedule (NTS), documents, and scores.
As a participant in the International CPA Examination Program, international candidates or those who’ve completed their education outside the United States can apply for the Washington, D.C., CPA Exam.
NASBA will first determine your eligibility to sit for the CPA Exam and will require submission of an education evaluation application with a non-refundable fee of $96. If you’ve completed your education outside of the United States, use any of the following education evaluation services:
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES)
Upon approval of your education evaluation application, NASBA will issue an Authorization to Test (ATT) confirming your CPA Exam eligibility. Subsequently, you can apply for the exam section you wish to take. Remember, each exam section will require a separate application.
An NTS with a 6-month due date will be issued upon payment confirmation. Along with the NTS, each candidate will be given a Candidate Exam Section ID (CES ID) for exam scheduling purposes. Note that each exam section will have a separate NTS.
After obtaining your NTS, you can schedule your exam through the Prometric testing center’s website. You will also require your CES ID to schedule the exam along with the NTS. If you need help determining the location of the nearest Prometric center, conducting some online research can be helpful. Ensure you carry a physical copy of the NTS to the testing center on the exam day.
You are all set to take the exam after completing the application process. The only requirement is to score 75 or above in each section to pass. Your score release dates are available on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®) website.
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