Washington CPA License Reinstatement: What a Lapsed License Costs

If your Washington CPA license has already lapsed

What it actually takes to get a lapsed Washington CPA license back — the fee, the catch-up CPE, and exactly what triggers "lapsed" in the first place. Sourced the same way every fact on this site is: a board page plus the codified rule itself, never a guess.

Verified

Reinstatement Fee

$480

Flat $480 fee, confirmed on both the board's reinstatement page and the codified fee schedule (WAC 4-30-038) -- separate from/in addition to any outstanding renewal or late fees.

Catch-Up CPE Required

No extra CPE hours beyond the normal 120-credit/3-year requirement (WAC 4-30-134(5)(a)), just measured over the 36 months immediately preceding the reinstatement application instead of a fixed calendar cycle. The 4-hour Washington ethics course must fall within the 6 months immediately preceding the application (a recency requirement, not a volume increase); these hours can't be reused toward the next renewal.
4 ethics hours, within that total.

Source of record WAC 4-30-094 (Renewals / lapse trigger); WAC 4-30-124 (Reinstatements); WAC 4-30-134(5) (CPE for reinstatement); WAC 4-30-038 (Fees) read the rule →

What triggers lapsed status: A license lapses if the licensee fails to file a complete renewal application (with CPE certification and fees) by June 30 of the renewal year, effective July 1. Once lapsed, the individual may not use the CPA title or exercise related privileges until reinstated.

Last verified: 2026-07-25 · checked against the state's codified statute or administrative rule, not just a board webpage — if we can't verify a date against primary law, we say so instead of guessing (see how we verify every deadline). Always confirm with the official state board before relying on this date. License requirements and deadlines can change.

See Washington's CPA license renewal deadline →

How many CPE hours does Washington require? →

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