Professional Licensing Advisory

Mayor Muriel Bowser has introduced legislation that amends District law to recognize a second pathway to obtain a Certified Public Account License (CPA). On May 14, 2025, the board of directors of the American Institute of CPAs ("AICPA") and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) approved an amendment the Uniform Accountancy Act ("UAA"), that allows applicants to obtain a CPA, provided they have a baccalaureate ("BA") degree, two years of experience in the field, and have passed the accountancy examination.

This is a new alternative to the traditional pathway to licensure - BA with an accountancy concentration + 30 education hours + one year or experience + passing the examination. Since the AICPA and NASBA adopted the model rule change, approximately 30 states have amended their laws to allow for this alternative pathway for licensure. Mayor Bowser's bill is still pending with the Council for the District of Columbia.

The DC Board of Accountancy has gone even further to ensure a robust local pipeline of accountants. At its December 12, 2025 meeting, the Board determined, through a vote, that individuals applying for licensure through reciprocity who have a BA degree with an accounting concentration, two years of experience, and a valid license in a jurisdiction that has adopted the alternative pathway will be deemed to have satisfied the "substantial equivalency" requirement to practice in the District.

Find more details about this vote, and the law behind this decision here . This policy, which derives from the and is consistent with the Board's authority set forth in D.C. Official Code § 47-2853.08 and 17 DCMR § 2508 , takes effective immediately.

For more information about the Board and to obtain a license, visit https://dlcp.dc.gov/node/1617381 .