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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76842</law_id><section_number>54.1-4409.2</section_number><catch_line>How a person may obtain a Virginia license</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-4413.2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="VI">Professions Regulated by Other Entities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="44">Public Accountants</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A person who has not held the license of any <span class="dictionary">state</span> may obtain a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-275858" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To be considered for a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>, the person seeking licensure shall:
				a. Provide documentation that he has obtained from one or more <span class="dictionary">accredited institutions</span> at least 150 semester hours of education, a baccalaureate or higher degree, and an accounting concentration or equivalent, as defined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. For a person seeking licensure on or after January 1, 2026, provide documentation that he has obtained from one or more <span class="dictionary">accredited institutions</span> a baccalaureate or higher degree and an accounting concentration or equivalent, as defined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>;
				b. Provide documentation that he has passed the <span class="dictionary">CPA examination</span>;
				c. Describe his <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> since he passed the <span class="dictionary">CPA examination</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether his <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> complies with the <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> requirement prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> for that period; and
				d. (1)  For a person seeking licensure prior to January 1, 2026, describe his <span class="dictionary">experience</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether his <span class="dictionary">experience</span> complies with the <span class="dictionary">experience</span> requirement prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-275859" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> For a person seeking licensure on or after January 1, 2026, provide documentation of qualifying <span class="dictionary">experience</span> as determined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, which shall include: <a id="paragraph-275860" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#A12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12a" class="indent-3"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> Two years of <span class="dictionary">experience</span> for a person who has obtained a baccalaureate degree. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall permit at least 30 additional semester hours of education beyond the minimum hours required for a baccalaureate degree to be substituted for one year of <span class="dictionary">experience</span>; or <a id="paragraph-275861" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#A12a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12b" class="indent-3"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> One year of <span class="dictionary">experience</span> for a person who has obtained a master&#x2019;s degree. <a id="paragraph-275862" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#A12b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> After evaluating information provided by the person, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may request additional information and may impose additional requirements for obtaining a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>. <a id="paragraph-275863" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A person who does not hold the <span class="dictionary">license of another state</span> but has previously held the <span class="dictionary">license of another state</span> may obtain a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-275864" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To be considered for a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>, the person seeking licensure shall:
				a. Disclose to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> each state in which he has held a license;
				b. Disclose, for each of those <span class="dictionary">states</span>, why the license is no longer held and provide documentation from the <span class="dictionary">board</span> of accountancy concerning whether he has been found guilty of any violations of the standards of conduct and practice established by <span class="dictionary">statutes</span> of the state or regulations promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">board</span>;
				c. Describe the semester hours of education he has obtained from institutions of higher education. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether the education obtained is <span class="dictionary">substantially equivalent</span> to the education required by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>;
				d. Provide documentation that the person has passed the <span class="dictionary">CPA examination</span>;
				e. Describe his <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> since he last held the <span class="dictionary">license of another state</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether his <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> complies with requirement prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> for reinstatement of a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>; and
				f. Describe his <span class="dictionary">experience</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether his <span class="dictionary">experience</span> complies with the <span class="dictionary">experience</span> requirement prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-275865" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> After evaluating the information provided by the person, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may request additional information and may impose additional requirements for obtaining a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>. <a id="paragraph-275866" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A person who holds the <span class="dictionary">license of another state</span> may obtain a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-275867" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To be considered for a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>, the person seeking licensure shall:
				a. Disclose to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> each state in which he holds or has held a license;
				b. Provide, for each state in which the person holds a license, documentation from the <span class="dictionary">board</span> of accountancy concerning whether he is in good standing with the <span class="dictionary">board</span>, whether there are any pending actions alleging violations of the standards of conduct and practice established by <span class="dictionary">statutes</span> of the state or regulations promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">board</span>, and whether he has been found guilty of any violations of the standards of conduct and practice established by <span class="dictionary">statutes</span> of the state or regulations promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">board</span>;
				c. Disclose, for each state in which the person has held a license, why the license is no longer held and provide documentation from the <span class="dictionary">board</span> of accountancy concerning whether he has been found guilty of any violations of the standards of conduct and practice established by <span class="dictionary">statutes</span> of the state or regulations promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">board</span>;
				d. Describe the semester hours of education he has obtained from institutions of higher education. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether the education obtained is <span class="dictionary">substantially equivalent</span> to the education required by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>;
				e. Provide documentation that the person has passed the <span class="dictionary">CPA examination</span>;
				f. Describe his <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> during the most recent reporting period that would be required for the holder of a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether his <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> complies with the <span class="dictionary">continuing professional education</span> requirement prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> for that period; and
				g. Describe his <span class="dictionary">experience</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall determine whether his <span class="dictionary">experience</span> complies with the <span class="dictionary">experience</span> requirement prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-275868" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> After evaluating the information provided by the person, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may request additional information and may impose additional requirements for obtaining a <span class="dictionary">Virginia license</span>. <a id="paragraph-275869" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-4409.2/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2007, c. 804; 2017, c. 403; 2025, cc. 523, 539.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
