CPA / Accounting License from Georgia to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Washington accept a Georgia CPA license?
Yes — Washington recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Georgia. Apply to the Washington State Board of Accountancy for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Full reciprocity
Washington recognizes substantial equivalency, so your Georgia CPA license clears the bar on its own — the Washington State Board of Accountancy cares that you are a CPA in good standing, not that your license came from Georgia. What remains is Washington-side: verification through CPAverify.org, the reciprocal application and fee, a background check, and any Washington ethics or rules-of-conduct exam. Do the mobility math first, though — if Washington is not becoming your principal place of business, practice privilege may let you work there without this application at all.
What's different between Georgia and Washington
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Washington. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Georgia to Washington (this page): Full reciprocity.
Washington to Georgia (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The two directions differ: Georgia and Washington do not give each other's licensees the same route.
- Does coming from Georgia matter?
Coming from Georgia does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Washington.
- Application fee
Washington lists $330 for an out-of-state applicant and Georgia lists $220 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Education (semester hours)
Washington's first-time-applicant standard is 150 semester hours of education for initial licensure; Georgia's is 150.
The two standards are the same.
- Exam rules on record
Washington and Georgia carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Washington (this move): The Uniform CPA Examination is never retaken; passage is confirmed through the existing substantially equivalent license (NASBA NQAS / CPAverify.org). Washington requires completion of a course covering the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct (minimum 8 hours) with a score of 90% or better on its examination, unless that was already part of the applicant's initial licensing qualifications.
- Georgia (the reverse move): The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; passage is confirmed through verification of your existing license/exam scores (national lookup at CPAverify.org). Georgia does not require a separate state ethics or rules-of-conduct examination for licensure.
What changes, Georgia → Washington
| Georgia (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Education (semester hours) | 150 | 150 |
| Application fee | $220 (reciprocal license fee payable to NASBA Licensing Services (administers Georgia licensure)) | $330 (application for an initial individual license / reciprocity, set by WAC 4-30-038) |
| Processing time | Neither the Georgia board's reciprocal-license page nor NASBA's Georgia licensing page publishes a processing time | the Board of Accountancy does not publish a processing time for interstate reciprocal licenses |
| Licensing authority | Georgia State Board of Accountancy | Washington State Board of Accountancy |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Board of Accountancy website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Washington State Board of Accountancy (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active license to practice public accounting from a substantially equivalent jurisdiction (NASBA NQAS list).
- Complete an AICPA Code of Professional Conduct course (8-hour minimum) and score 90% or better on the exam.
- Be in CPE compliance with your current licensing jurisdiction.
- Apply through the Board's online application system.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the CPA Exam moving from Georgia to Washington?
No — the Uniform CPA Exam transfers with your license.
Do I need a Washington license, or does mobility cover the move?
If Washington becomes your principal place of business, you apply to the Washington State Board of Accountancy for a reciprocal license. If you are only serving Washington clients from Georgia, practice privilege usually covers you with no Washington license, notice, or fee.
Can I keep my Georgia CPA license after licensing in Washington?
Yes — CPA licenses stack, and many CPAs hold more than one. Keep the Georgia license active (its renewal and CPE run separately) and mobility covers the states where you hold none.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Washington State Board of Accountancy — Interstate Reciprocal License (three methods; AICPA ethics 90% requirement) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- WAC 4-30-038 — Board of Accountancy fee schedule ($330 initial/reciprocity application) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Washington State Board of Accountancy — Education Requirements and Experience (Options A, B and C, effective November 20, 2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Georgia State Board of Accountancy — Reciprocal License (must hold active out-of-state license and meet GA education; apply through NASBA) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NASBA Licensing — Georgia (reciprocal license fee $220; education pathways effective Jan 1, 2026 including a bachelor's degree plus two years of experience) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Georgia State Board of Accountancy — Frequently Asked Questions (reciprocal applicants; NASBA-processed) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NASBA — Substantial Equivalency (UAA framework; all 55 US jurisdictions substantially equivalent) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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