Washington CPA CPE Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
120 hrs / 3 years
Annual minimum
20 hours/year
Ethics requirement
4 hrs Washington ethics and regulations
Issued by
Washington State Board of Accountancy
Washington runs a 120-hour, three-year cycle with a 20-hour annual floor, and its ethics requirement is state-specific: 4 hours that must address the Washington statutes and rules governing public accountancy. It also caps how much of your total can be non-technical, which is the limit most people forget to check.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is how an active Washington license works in plain English.
The base requirement: 120 hours over three years
The Washington State Board of Accountancy requires 120 hours of CPE during each three-year reporting period, with at least 20 hours completed in each calendar year. Washington accepts programs from NASBA National Registry sponsors, and interactive self-study earns full credit while non-interactive self-study earns half.
Washington ethics and the non-technical cap
- 4 hours of board-approved ethics and regulations are required, and the course must specifically address the Washington statutes and rules governing the practice of public accountancy.
- No more than 60 of the 120 hours may be in non-technical subjects.
- Nano-learning credit is limited to 12 hours per three-year period.
- The 4 ethics hours count within the 120, not on top of it.
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Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Washington CPAs renew on a three-year cycle, and the full 120 hours, the 20-hour annual minimums, and the 4-hour Washington ethics course must all be complete before you renew. A non-resident licensee may meet Washington's CPE requirements by satisfying those of their principal place of business; if that state has none, Washington's rules apply.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the three-year 120-hour total alongside the 20-hour annual minimum, with a dedicated bucket for the 4-hour Washington ethics and regulations course and a cap warning on non-technical hours.
- Store every completion certificate with its course in a private vault, so a Board audit is a one-click export.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your renewal deadline.
- Hold CPA licenses in more than one state? Each gets its own card, deadline, and progress tracking on a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Washington require?
120 hours over a three-year reporting period, with a minimum of 20 hours each calendar year.
What ethics course satisfies Washington?
A 4-hour board-approved course on ethics and regulations that specifically addresses the Washington statutes and rules governing public accountancy.
Is there a limit on non-technical hours?
Yes. No more than 60 of the 120 hours may be in non-technical subjects over the three-year period.
How does self-study credit work?
Interactive self-study earns full credit, while non-interactive self-study earns half credit, and nano learning is capped at 12 hours per cycle.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
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