Transfer Your CPA / Accounting License to District of Columbia: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) ↗

A CPA license transfers to District of Columbia by reciprocity: because District of Columbia treats every US CPA as substantially equivalent, the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) grants its license on the strength of your existing one rather than re-qualifying you. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; passage is confirmed through the applicant's existing license (candidates transferring exam credit use a $175 transfer-of-grades application). The Board does not publish a separate District ethics or law exam requirement.. Fee: $175 (DC CPA license fee (verified on the DLCP Board of Accountancy page); DC lists no separate initial-application fee. NASBA Licensing Services charges its own fee only for the exam-based pathway, which reciprocity applicants bypass.).

Moving to District of Columbia from a specific state?

Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.

Run the Reciprocity Checker →

Verdict

Full reciprocity — honors all states

Because District of Columbia recognizes substantial equivalency, the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) looks at your standing, not your origin: a CPA in good standing from any state qualifies for a reciprocal license, and the Uniform CPA Exam does not come back. Read the requirements below as the destination's own layer — a background check, a state ethics or rules-of-conduct exam where one applies, and proof your CPE is current — rather than a re-credentialing.

Settle the mobility question before you file. If District of Columbia is not becoming your principal place of business — you are serving District of Columbia clients from elsewhere, or the work is temporary — practice privilege usually lets you work there with no District of Columbia license at all. Apply for the reciprocal license when District of Columbia is where you will actually be based.

The District grants licensure by reciprocity to CPAs from substantially-equivalent US jurisdictions (the national UAA framework), and on Dec 12, 2025 the Board expanded recognition to CPAs licensed under the 2025 alternative pathway (bachelor's plus two years of experience). Separate from the license transfer, an out-of-state CPA may practice in DC under practice privilege/mobility with no DC license. Reciprocity applicants apply directly to the DLCP Board through the OPLA portal (they bypass NASBA Licensing Services, which handles the exam-based pathway).

District of Columbia requirements at a glance

Out-of-state CPA license transfer requirements for District of Columbia, verified 2026-07-21
Exam	The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; passage is confirmed through the applicant's existing license (candidates transferring exam credit use a $175 transfer-of-grades application). The Board does not publish a separate District ethics or law exam requirement.
Training hours	150 hours
Additional requirements	Hold a CPA license in good standing from another US jurisdiction that is substantially equivalent under the UAA Meet the 150-semester-hour education (for degrees earned after 1/1/2000) and one-year (2,000-hour) experience baseline, normally satisfied through the existing license Apply for licensure by reciprocity directly to the DLCP Board through the OPLA online portal (reciprocity applicants do not route through NASBA Licensing Services) As of Dec 12, 2025 the Board also recognizes reciprocity for CPAs licensed under the alternative pathway (bachelor's degree plus two years of experience)
Fees	$175 (DC CPA license fee (verified on the DLCP Board of Accountancy page); DC lists no separate initial-application fee. NASBA Licensing Services charges its own fee only for the exam-based pathway, which reciprocity applicants bypass.)
Processing time	The DLCP Board does not publish a processing time for reciprocity; the ~4-week figure on NASBA's DC page applies to NASBA's exam-based licensing service, which reciprocity applicants bypass by applying directly to the Board

Step by step

Confirm District of Columbia's current requirements on the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) website — rules change.
Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) (application linked on this page).
Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
Hold a CPA license in good standing from another US jurisdiction that is substantially equivalent under the UAA.
Meet the 150-semester-hour education (for degrees earned after 1/1/2000) and one-year (2,000-hour) experience baseline, normally satisfied through the existing license.
Apply for licensure by reciprocity directly to the DLCP Board through the OPLA online portal (reciprocity applicants do not route through NASBA Licensing Services).
As of Dec 12, 2025 the Board also recognizes reciprocity for CPAs licensed under the alternative pathway (bachelor's degree plus two years of experience).
Pay the fees ($175 (DC CPA license fee (verified on the DLCP Board of Accountancy page); DC lists no separate initial-application fee. NASBA Licensing Services charges its own fee only for the exam-based pathway, which reciprocity applicants bypass.)) and allow The DLCP Board does not publish a processing time for reciprocity; the ~4-week figure on NASBA's DC page applies to NASBA's exam-based licensing service, which reciprocity applicants bypass by applying directly to the Board.

Official links

District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) ↗District of Columbia application ↗License verification ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into District of Columbia:

California → District of Columbia Florida → District of Columbia Georgia → District of Columbia Illinois → District of Columbia Michigan → District of Columbia New Hampshire → District of Columbia New York → District of Columbia North Carolina → District of Columbia Ohio → District of Columbia Pennsylvania → District of Columbia Texas → District of Columbia

Frequently asked questions

Does my CPA license transfer to District of Columbia?

Do I have to retake the CPA Exam to get licensed in District of Columbia?

No. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; passage is confirmed through the applicant's existing license (candidates transferring exam credit use a $175 transfer-of-grades application). The Board does not publish a separate District ethics or law exam requirement..

Do I even need a District of Columbia CPA license, or does mobility cover me?

If District of Columbia is not your principal place of business, practice privilege (mobility) usually lets you serve District of Columbia clients with no District of Columbia license, notice, or fee. You apply to the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection) for a reciprocal license when District of Columbia becomes where you are principally based.

What does a District of Columbia reciprocal CPA license cost?

$175 (DC CPA license fee (verified on the DLCP Board of Accountancy page); DC lists no separate initial-application fee. NASBA Licensing Services charges its own fee only for the exam-based pathway, which reciprocity applicants bypass.) (DC CPA license fee (verified on the DLCP Board of Accountancy page); DC lists no separate initial-application fee. NASBA Licensing Services charges its own fee only for the exam-based pathway, which reciprocity applicants bypass.).

How long does the District of Columbia reciprocity process take?

The DLCP Board does not publish a processing time for reciprocity; the ~4-week figure on NASBA's DC page applies to NASBA's exam-based licensing service, which reciprocity applicants bypass by applying directly to the Board — The DLCP Board does not publish a processing time for reciprocity; the ~4-week figure on NASBA's DC page applies to NASBA's exam-based licensing service, which reciprocity applicants bypass by applying directly to the Board.

How does District of Columbia's education requirement affect a reciprocal CPA license?

District of Columbia's initial-licensure baseline is 150 semester hours. Reciprocal applicants normally satisfy education through the license they already hold rather than a fresh transcript review; if you were licensed before your state raised its education requirement, confirm your route with the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection).

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]