CPA / Accounting License from Ohio to Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) ↗
Yes — Virginia recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Ohio. Apply to the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
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Verdict
Full reciprocity
Virginia recognizes substantial equivalency, so your Ohio CPA license clears the bar on its own — the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) cares that you are a CPA in good standing, not that your license came from Ohio. What remains is Virginia-side: verification through CPAverify.org, the reciprocal application and fee, a background check, and any Virginia ethics or rules-of-conduct exam. Do the mobility math first, though — if Virginia is not becoming your principal place of business, practice privilege may let you work there without this application at all.
What changes, Ohio → Virginia
| Ohio (current) | Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 150 | 150 |
| Application fee | $100 (reciprocity application fee (RC 4701.06); a triennial Ohio permit fee (set by the board, up to $150) and the BCI/FBI records-check vendor fee are paid separately) | $75 (non-refundable application fee for an out-of-state / reciprocal applicant) |
| Processing time | The Accountancy Board of Ohio does not publish a processing time; issuance cannot be finalized until the criminal records check clears | VBOA does not publish a total processing time; it states each submitted document is reviewed within 2-5 business days before the online checklist updates |
| Licensing authority | Accountancy Board of Ohio | Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Virginia's current requirements on the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active CPA license in good standing from a substantially equivalent US jurisdiction.
- Create a VBOA online account and apply for a Virginia license.
- Request a Verification of Licensure be sent from the issuing state or jurisdiction.
- Be current with CPE in the issuing jurisdiction.
- Pay the fees ($75 (non-refundable application fee for an out-of-state / reciprocal applicant)) and allow VBOA does not publish a total processing time; it states each submitted document is reviewed within 2-5 business days before the online checklist updates.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Virginia accept a Ohio CPA license?
Yes — Virginia recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Ohio. Apply to the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
Do I retake the CPA Exam moving from Ohio to Virginia?
No — the Uniform CPA Exam transfers with your license. The Uniform CPA Examination is never retaken; passage is confirmed by requesting a Verification of Licensure from the issuing jurisdiction (national lookup at CPAverify.org). Virginia imposes no state rules exam and, since October 28, 2022, the VBOA no longer requires the AICPA professional ethics course for applicants coming in through substantial equivalency..
Do I need a Virginia license, or does mobility cover the move?
If Virginia becomes your principal place of business, you apply to the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) for a reciprocal license. If you are only serving Virginia clients from Ohio, practice privilege usually covers you with no Virginia license, notice, or fee.
What does the Ohio-to-Virginia move cost?
$75 (non-refundable application fee for an out-of-state / reciprocal applicant) (non-refundable application fee for an out-of-state / reciprocal applicant).
Can I keep my Ohio CPA license after licensing in Virginia?
Yes — CPA licenses stack, and many CPAs hold more than one. Keep the Ohio 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 2026-07-21.
- Virginia Board of Accountancy — License reciprocity (substantial equivalency; AICPA ethics no longer required for SE applicants as of 10/28/2022) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Virginia Board of Accountancy — Fees ($75 application fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Virginia Board of Accountancy — Processing timelines (2-5 business days per document) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ohio Revised Code 4701.10 — issuance of a CPA certificate by reciprocity and by substantial equivalency (criminal records check per 4701.08; PSR course within 12 months) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Accountancy Board of Ohio — Fees (reciprocity fee $100 under RC 4701.06; triennial permit fee up to $150) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NASBA — Substantial Equivalency (UAA Section 23 practice privilege vs. reciprocal license) ↗ (accessed 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]