Board of Accountancy Washington State | CPE for CPAs

Key Takeaway for Washington State CPAs

This page helps Washington State CPAs understand their CPE and ethics requirements while giving them a clear path to selecting and completing compliant courses, making license renewal, reporting, and ongoing compliance more straightforward and less time-consuming.

Washington State Board of Accountancy: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How

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Washington State Board of Accountancy: Setting Standards for Tomorrow’s CPAs

The Washington State Board of Accountancy is the official regulatory body for CPAs and CPA firms in Washington. Its goal is to safeguard the public interest by ensuring that accounting professionals comply with strict standards of ethics, competence, and accountability.

If you’re a CPA in the state, this page will help you gain a clear understanding of Washington State CPE credit requirements.

However, let’s quickly see the main functions of the Board before delving deeper into the requirements.

Washington State Board of Accountants: Primary Roles and Responsibilities

• It oversees eligibility and requirements for individuals appearing in the Uniform CPA Exam.
• It issues licenses to individual CPAs and public accounting firms, ensuring adherence to state and national standards.
• The Board ensures that CPAs must fulfill ongoing Washington State CPE requirements to maintain licensure.
• It enforces professional conduct rules by placing strict Washington State CPA ethics requirements.
• It investigates complaints and takes disciplinary actions whenever required.

By regulating the accounting practice in the state, the Washington State Board of Accountancy protects consumers, investors, and businesses from fraud or malpractice.

Washington State CPE Credit Requirements

First, the Board has triennial license renewal and CPE reporting periods. The reporting period runs from January 1 to December 31.

• If you’re a CPA with an active license, you must complete 120 hours for Washington State CPA license renewal.
• You need to complete a minimum of 20 hours annually.
• Your total hours must include four hours in Washington State CPA ethics CPE.
• If you have an inactive CPA license, you just need to earn four Washington ethics CPE credits every three years.
• If you’re a non-licensee firm owner, you need to get four ethics credits triennially.
• You must complete board-approved courses to meet the above requirements.
• You must join NASBA-approved CPE providers to fulfill Washington State CPE credit requirements.

Note that if you’re an active CPA, you need to take a Board-approved Washington State CPE ethics course. Or else, it may count those credits as part of your technical and total requirements.

Washington State CPE Requirements for Other CPAs

• If it has been over four years since you cleared the CPA exam, you need to meet the requirements applicable to active CPAs. However, you need to obtain the credits within three years before your application date. You must complete the ethics course within six months before your application date.
• If you’re converting your inactive status to active, you need to meet the above requirements.

Washington State CPA License Renewal Guidelines for CPAs Aiming at Their First Renewal After Converting from An Inactive Status to Active

• If your status has been converted during the first year, you need to complete 80 hours of CPE. This includes the minimum annual and Washington State CPA ethics requirements.
• If it has been done in the second year, you need to earn 40 CPE credits while fulfilling the yearly minimum and ethics requirements.
• If you receive the active status during the third year, then you only need to meet the Washington ethics CPE requirements.

Washington State Board of Accountancy: Other Policies

• You must use the CPE Tracker to report your CPE. This is available in the Board’s online services.
• You only need to attach or upload the completion certificates or other acceptable documents of the courses if you,
  • Want a CPE extension with the renewal.
  • Are completing a conversion, reinstatement, or renewal from a retirement application.

You must upload these documents to the tracker one at a time manually.

• Non-resident licensees may fulfill the CPE requirements of the Washington State Board of Accountancy by completing the CPE requirements of their principal place of business. If those jurisdictions don’t have any CPE requirements, then the licensee must comply with Washington’s CPE requirements.

Who Does This Page Help?

It helps:

• Aspiring CPAs looking for licensure in Washington.
• All licensed CPAs and public accounting firms that need to comply with regulations.
• The public who needs reliable accounting information from their CPAs and firms.

What Problems Can Be Solved with The Information About the Washington State Board of Accountancy?

This information helps you address the challenges of:

• Completing your Washington State CPE credit requirements on time.
• Having a smooth Washington State CPA license renewal process.
• Meeting your Washington State CPA ethics requirements efficiently.
• Maintaining and elevating competence in your services while remaining accountable and ethical.

When Can You Use This Information?

This information can be used:

• During your entire CPE journey (from finding the right CPE providers to choosing the correct courses). It helps ensure that your continuing education is done in accordance with the state and national standards.
• When you need to report your CPE and renew your license.
• When you need to provide your clients with the assurance of professional oversight.

Where Can You Apply the Information Regarding the Washington State Board of Accountants?

Primarily, this information applies to the entire state of Washington. However, the Board’s standards align with the national CPA standards, so you can use them when you need reciprocity or mobility across the country.

Why Should This Information Be Your Priority?

The reasons are:

• It enforces accountability and ethics, letting you act in the best interest of the public.
• With a deep understanding of the Washington State CPE requirements, you can advance your career faster than your peers.
• You can gain more confidence among your clients, as companies and businesses trust that licensed CPAs follow strict standards.

How Can You Solve the Problems with This Information?

• Follow the roadmap of the Washington State Board of Accountancy to stay compliant with CPE requirements.
• Choose National Registry Sponsors to get your credits.
• Choose approved courses from here to pursue Washington State CPA ethics CPE.
• Use the CPE Tracker to report your completed CPE.

Closing Thoughts

The Washington State Board of Accountancy plays a crucial role in maintaining the CPA profession’s integrity. By enforcing ethical conduct, setting rigorous standards, and ensuring ongoing continuing education, the Board protects both CPAs and the public. For individuals and businesses, its oversight provides confidence that licensed CPAs are qualified, trustworthy, and accountable.

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