(1) Renewal.

(a) CPE requirements for renewal are pursuant to RCW 18.04.215(5).

(b) An individual seeking renewal shall assert in a manner acceptable to the board that they met all of the CPE requirements for renewal during their CPE reporting period ending December 31st of the year prior to their license expiration date.

(i) Completion of a minimum of 120 CPE credit hours within the three-year CPE reporting period;

(ii) Completion of a four credit hour Washington state board approved ethics course meeting the requirements of WAC 4-30-132;

(iii) Completion of a minimum of 20 CPE credit hours during each calendar year included in the three-year CPE reporting period. Restrictions on the type of CPE credit hours qualifying to meet the 20 credit hour minimum are specified in WAC 4-30-133; and

(iv) Completion of no more than 60 CPE credit hours in nontechnical subject areas as specified in WAC 4-30-132.

Exception: If the licensee qualifies for CPE reciprocity, see the CPE requirements under the provisions of subsection (7) of this section.

(d) CPA license in an inactive status or nonlicensee firm owner. Completion of a four credit hour Washington state board approved ethics course meeting the requirements of WAC 4-30-132.

(2) First renewal cycle.

(a) After license issuance:

(i) CPE credit is allowable only for those programs taken in time periods after the first CPA license is issued pursuant to the authority of the board under chapter 18.04 RCW.

(ii) Credit is not allowed for programs taken to prepare an applicant for the CPA examination or the AICPA ethics examination as a requirement for initial licensure.

(b) After conversion of a license from an inactive to an active status.

(i) If your active status was issued during the first calendar year of your CPE reporting period, you must have completed 80 CPE credit hours which is limited to 40 CPE credit hours in nontechnical subject areas and must include a four credit hour Washington state board approved ethics course meeting the requirements of WAC 4-30-132.

(ii) If your active status was issued during the second calendar year of your CPE reporting period, you must have completed 40 CPE credit hours which is limited to 20 CPE credit hours in nontechnical subject areas and must include a four credit hour Washington state board approved ethics course meeting the requirements of WAC 4-30-132.

(iii) If your active status was issued during the third calendar year of your CPE reporting period, you must have completed a four credit hour Washington state board approved ethics course meeting the requirements of WAC 4-30-132.

(3) Extension requests for renewal.

(a) If an individual has failed to complete the required CPE as defined in WAC 4-30-134 by December 31st of the last year of their three-year CPE reporting period, the individual must notify the board prior to their expiration date to request an extension of time to complete their CPE requirement by their expiration date.

(b) Credits earned during the interim period between January 1st and June 30th of the individual's renewal year that are used to meet the prior reporting period's CPE requirement will be carried back to the CPE reporting period ended December 31st. These credits cannot be counted towards the requirement for the individual's current CPE reporting period.

(4) Failure to obtain required CPE for renewal. Under the following circumstances the board will serve notice that a license or nonlicensee firm owner registration will lapse and the individual will have an opportunity to request a brief adjudicative proceeding:

(a) An individual who applied for renewal and failed to obtain the required CPE credit hours by December 31st of the last year of their CPE reporting period and failed to request an extension by their expiration date;

(b) An individual who applied for renewal and failed to obtain the required CPE credit hours by December 31st for the second time in any two consecutive CPE reporting periods; or

(c) An individual who applied for renewal and failed to obtain the necessary CPE credit hours by June 30th of their renewal year after submitting an extension request.

(5) Applications other than renewal.

(a) For the following applications, you must have completed the requirements of this section within the 36-month period immediately preceding the date an application is submitted to the board; however, the completion of a four credit hour Washington state board approved ethics course must be within the six-month period immediately preceding the date your application and the CPE documentation are submitted to the board:

(i) You are applying to renew a license out of retirement;

(ii) You are applying to convert your inactive status to active;

(iii) You are a certificate holder applying for an initial license; or

(iv) You are applying for reinstatement of a lapsed, suspended, or revoked license.

(b) For the following applications, you must have completed a four credit hour Washington state board approved ethics course within the six-month period immediately preceding the date your application and the CPE documentation are submitted to the board:

You are applying to reinstate a lapsed, suspended, or revoked registration as a resident nonlicensee firm owner.

(6) Individuals operating under mobility. Licensees from other substantially equivalent U.S. states or jurisdictions, eligible to exercise practice privileges under RCW 18.04.195, are exempt from the CPE requirements of this section provided that they have met the CPE requirements of the state in which they are licensed.

(7) CPE reciprocity.

(a) A nonresident licensee seeking renewal of a license in this state shall be determined to have met the CPE requirements of this rule by meeting the CPE requirements for renewal of a license in the state in which the licensee's principal place of business is located.

(b) Nonresident applicants for renewal shall demonstrate compliance with the CPE renewal requirements of the state in which the licensee's principal place of business is located by signing a statement on the renewal application of this state.

(c) If the state of residence has no CPE requirements for renewal, the nonresident licensee must comply with all CPE requirements for this state.

PDFWAC 4-30-134

Continuing professional education (CPE) requirements.