Virginia CPA Requirements

Virginia, the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents, has the fifth-highest number of accountants and auditors, with about 50,040 of these professionals in the Old Dominion. Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) offers an opportunity to work in a state with a rich history and a gross domestic product of $614 billion as of 2024.

Roughly 950,000 businesses operate in Virginia. The largest industries by revenue include information technology consulting, hospitals, management consulting, and health and medical insurance.

Interested in a CPA career in Virginia? Use this guide to learn about Virginia CPA requirements, including the education, work experience, and exam scores you need to become a CPA in the state.

Education Requirements for Becoming a CPA in Virginia

The Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) establishes the rules for becoming a CPA in the state. Each candidate needs at least 150 credits (or 225 quarter credits), including a bachelor's degree or higher with an accounting concentration. With a typical bachelor's degree in accounting or finance degree comprising 120 credits, aspiring CPAs must earn an additional 30 credits.

The educational requirements include 24 credits in accounting-related areas, such as auditing, financial accounting, and taxation. Candidates must complete another 24 credits in business-related courses. Introductory or foundational courses do not qualify for credit.

The VBOA recommends completing graduate coursework to fulfill the 150-credit requirement. You can also complete the additional credit requirements through a certificate or by enrolling in a bachelor's-to-master's accounting program.

Concentrations, Credits, and Course Acceptance

Virginia, much like most states, follows state-specific recommendations for educational coursework. Candidates need to complete specific courses in accounting and business to sit for the exam. The VBOA requires additional educational credits to earn a license.

Before you sit for the CPA exam, you must complete 120 credits from an accredited college, including a bachelor's degree or higher with an accounting concentration. Other business-related degrees like forensic accounting or taxation can qualify you for the CPA exam.

The 24 accounting courses must be above an introductory level and cover:

• Auditing
• Cost or managerial accounting
• Financial courses, such as intermediate accounting or financial statement analysis
• Taxation

Other acceptable accounting courses include an accounting internship, seminar, accounting theory course, or government accounting and reporting course.

The 24 business credits can include courses such as:

• Business law
• Commercial law
• Economics
• Finance
• Marketing
• Organizational behavior
• Statistics

The VBOA does not accept more than three credits from introductory or foundational accounting courses. Internships for college credit and courses that provide pass/fail grades qualify toward your educational requirements.

Examples of unacceptable credits include:

• Audited courses
• Exam-based or experience-based credits
• Duplicate courses
• Remedial courses

Virginia Experience Requirements

Before obtaining a CPA license, all candidates must accumulate one year of qualifying full-time work experience. Each prospective CPA must also complete an experience verification form.

The VBOA mandates either 2,080 work hours or one year of full-time accounting employment. Qualifying work experience includes working at an accounting firm, college, industry, or government agency. Self-employment experience does not qualify. These requirements apply to licensure rather than exam eligibility, meaning aspiring CPAs can take the CPA exam without the necessary experience.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) recognizes seven two-tier states. As a first step in the CPA process, two-tier states require a certificate. Unlike a license, a CPA certificate does not provide full accounting privileges.

In Virginia, candidates can apply for licensure after meeting experience and education requirements and passing the exam.

CPA Exam Requirements

Virginia uses the Uniform CPA Exam much like all other states. Candidates have four hours to complete each of the four parts of the CPA exam. While the exam looks similar across the country, states apply different qualifications for taking the exam.

Eligibility to Take the Exam

Before sitting for the CPA exam, you need to complete 120 credits, including a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college. The coursework must include accounting-specific courses.

Virginia requires that you complete the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) ethics course with a minimum of a 90 score. CPAs applying through substantial equivalency do not need to take the ethics course. The CPA exam is administered in collaboration with AICPA, NASBA, and Prometric.

While each candidate must hold a Social Security number, the board does not have age, citizenship, or residency requirements.

International applicants from professional bodies recognized by VBOA that hold mutual recognition agreements with AICPA and NASBA can apply. These candidates must pass the International Qualifications Examination (IQEX) Candidate Guide and complete the work experience requirements.

Applying for and Scheduling the Exam

The CPA exam application process begins with creating a VBOA account. The online application must include your transcripts. Official transcripts must come directly from your school as digital documents, or you can submit printed transcripts in a sealed envelope with the academic institutional seal or signature on the envelope flap. The VBOA keeps your transcripts for three calendar years. Expect a 2-3 week processing time for your transcripts.

You can select a date to take the exam after receiving a Notice to Schedule (NTS). An NTS goes out after you submit your payment and remains valid for 12 months. The costs include a non-refundable application fee of $120. Each exam section costs $262.64.

The board recently extended the time to pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam to 30 months. The CPA exam includes three main sections: auditing and attestation, financial accounting, and taxation. Within the discipline section, you can choose from exams in business analysis and reporting, information systems and control, or tax compliance. You get up to four hours for each section.

After Passing the Exam

After you pass all four sections of the CPA exam within a 30-month period, you can apply for a license through the VBOA. Applying for a CPA license in Virginia costs $75. If you pass the CPA exam in another state, you can create a new online account through the VBOA. Out-of-state CPAs also need to transfer their exam scores and college transcripts.

The licensure process also includes completing the continuing professional education (CPE) requirements form to confirm you understand the state requirements. Virgínia also requires you to complete an experience verification form.

If you apply more than one year after passing the exam, you also need to submit college transcripts and verification of 40 completed CPE hours.

Employers may ask for CPA license verification, a process you can do at no cost through the VBOA.

Maintaining Licensure

Every year before June 30, Virginia CPAs must renew their license. Missing the deadline can result in a license expiration. Expired licenses cost $350 to reinstate. You can begin the process as early as March 1.

Renewing costs $60. Those who renew by check must pay an additional $25. At this time, you must affirm that you met the CPE requirements. While the board does not require CPE documentation, you need to keep this on file for up to four years. The VBOA requires CPE as a means of fostering continuous professional development for CPAs. Over a three-year period, each CPA must complete 120 CPE hours, including a two-hour ethics course. Your first renewal after passing the CPA exam will require 40 hours.

Out-of-state CPAs can apply under the substantially equivalent licensure requirements. The Virginia Society of CPAs and similar professional accounting organizations provide many CPE-eligible courses. Members get discounts for CPE opportunities.

Questions About CPAs in Virginia