Washington CPA CPE requirements
After earning your CPA license, the state board of accountancy requires you to maintain and grow your knowledge through continuing professional education. We're walking you through the Washington state CPE requirements and steps on how to renew your license so you can remain in good standing.
How to renew your Washington state CPA license
The Washington Board of Accountancy requires CPAs renew their license between January 1 and April 30 every three years. Follow these steps to renew your license:
- Make sure you meet your CPE requirements before December 31, the year before your license expires.
- Submit your CPE documentation into the online portal
- Complete the online renewal application in your WBOA service dashboard
- Pay the $230 renewal fee and finalize the renewal.
- Print documentation for your records
Washington CPE requirements
CPAs need to earn 120 hours in the three-year reporting period, making sure to have all hours in by December 31 of the year before you renew. Within those hours, you must also meet these criteria:
- Earn a minimum of 20 hours each calendar year (rather than trying to earn 120 hours all in one year)
- Earn four hours of ethics CPE during each three-year period
- Earn no more than 60 hours in non-technical subjects
- Earn no more than 60 hours from writing or publishing articles, books, or CPE courses
Becker's four-hour course, 2025 Ethics for Washington CPAs meets the Washington CPE requirements for ethics.
Meeting the Washington CPA CPE requirements with Becker
Becker offers the convenience and flexibility you want as well as the relevant courses you need to meet your CPE requirements.
- NASBA-approved and an approved CPE provider by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy
- Over 1,000 live webcasts annually, 750 on-demand courses, plus weekly CPE podcasts
- CPE courses in 19 fields of study, including tax, ethics, IT, personal development, and finance
- Experienced instructors who bring years of practical knowledge and real-world insights
- Monthly, quarterly, and annual update courses in tax, audit, and accounting to keep you aware and updated on the latest changes in laws, regulations, and court rulings.
Tips to meet your Washington CPE requirements
We know that meeting your CPE requirements may seem like a hassle, especially when you're also dealing with work and life responsibilities. To help make it easier to earn CPE, try these tips:
Find CPE that fits your lifestyle
For most CPAs, the biggest obstacle is simply making time for it. Fortunately, Washington doesn't set limit on the amount of hours you can earn through self-study, so consider taking on-demand CPE courses you can watch anytime or listen to an accounting podcast that is worth CPE credits.
Keep up with your progress
It’s difficult to remember how many hours you’ve completed and if you’ve met the more specific requirements, like ethics. Using Becker’s CPE Compliance Tracker keeps all your CPE in one place (including from other sources) so you can keep up with what you've already earned, what you have left, and get recommendations for courses that suit your interests.
Block out time each month
While Washington CPE requirements include a minimum of 20 hours each year, we recommend earning an equal amount each year so you’re not scrambling to fit in 60 hours before your deadline. Make time for three to four hours of CPE each month, or six or seven hours if you want to take a few months off during busy season! Pacing yourself will help you feel less overwhelmed and more likely to take courses that interest you and benefit your career instead of what you can finish up fast.
Consider what you want to learn
Instead of thinking of CPE courses as a box to check to renew your license, you may want to reposition it. CPE helps you learn new skills that can help you excel in your career. Think of how it can benefit your career! Perhaps you want to specialize in international tax after spending years in personal or business taxation — take CPE courses that help you build that foundational knowledge! Want to specialize in a particular industry? CPE courses in construction, real estate, or other areas can make that happen.