[Theresa]

Greetings!
I currently work in accounting for a small company. I am close to finishing my B.S. Accounting from WGU and am looking into taking the CPA exams. One question I have is with the experience requirement. I do not work directly for a CPA, although we do have an outside CPA that I work with for federal taxes and general business consulting. I’m considering asking him to sign off on my experience after I pass the exams. If he isn’t willing, I will have to look for another job. I’d like to stay with my current job while studying for the exams since I rarely have to work overtime and it’s only 10 minutes from my house. It’s worked out really well studying 20-30 hours per week for my degree. What I’m wondering is if there is any kind of time requirement between passing the exams and earning the experience? If I have to get a new job and it takes a few months, will the passed exams some how expire? I appreciate any insights you all have.

[Crissy]

Hi, I am also sitting for the exam in Wash State. The link below covers the experience requirements from the Wash State Board of Accountancy. It makes it seem like you have 8 years to fulfill the experience requirement, however I have also recently seen it is only 3 years. I would email the board and ask specifically just in case. Best of luck to you!

https://acb.wa.gov/individual-licensing/experience

[Madhav]

I don't think CPA exam score will expire after you completed all four parts. I am also getting my experience and yet to finish Ethics exam. You can call them.

[Madhav]

@Crissy, I think 8 years is latest experience you can use to applying for license. I don't think it is saying CPA score expires if you do not get experience by 8 years. I thought CPA exam score do not expire once you complete all parts with in 18 months windows expect FL or other state.

[Theresa]

Thank you both for your responses! I emailed the board about this and they replied pretty quickly. It sounds like there is plenty of time to complete the exams and then get a new job to fulfill the experience requirement. I don't imagine it will take me 4 or 8 years to do this, but it's good to know.

Hi Theresa,

Thank you for your email. If you don’t plan to apply for the license until 8 years after passing the exam, then yes you would have that 8 years to gain the experience. I will mention that if you take longer than 4 years after passing the last exam to apply for a license, you’ll need to take CPE as a part of your licensure.

You don’t need to work directly under or for a CPA, but your experience should show that you’ve met the competencies listed here on our website: https://acb.wa.gov/individual-licensing/experience

[Author]

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