Virginia’s Board of Accountancy administers CPA licensure for the Commonwealth, with substantial Northern Virginia accounting employment driven by federal contracting and the DC metro market. If you’re planning to license in Virginia — or transfer a license here — these are the rules to plan around. Always confirm current specifics directly with the VBOA before you commit; requirements change, and Virginia (like most states) periodically updates its rules.
Who licenses CPAs in Virginia
The Virginia Board of Accountancy is the licensing authority. They evaluate your education, process exam applications, verify experience, and issue your license. Their site at https://boa.virginia.gov/ is the authoritative source for current requirements and fees.
The three E’s in Virginia
Education
Like nearly all US jurisdictions, Virginia requires 150 semester hours of education for licensure — about 30 hours beyond a typical bachelor’s degree. Within those 150 hours, the state specifies minimums for upper-level accounting and business-related coursework, and most states also have an ethics-coursework component. The 150-hour total is largely stable across states; the breakdown of what counts within the 150 is what varies, and that’s where Virginia candidates trip up most often.
For the national framework, see CPA requirements by state and the broader CPA exam guide.
Exam
You must pass the Uniform CPA Examination — the three Core sections (FAR, AUD, REG) and one Discipline section of your choice (BAR, ISC, or TCP) under the Core + Discipline structure in place since January 2024. See CPA exam sections explained for what each section covers, and how long to study for the CPA to plan your timeline.
Most states allow candidates to sit for the exam before completing the full 150 hours (commonly at 120 hours), with the remaining hours completed before licensure. Virginia’s exact rule on this can change; verify with the VBOA.
Experience
Virginia requires verified work experience under a licensed CPA before issuing a license. The specifics — minimum months/hours, eligible types of work, whether attest experience is separately required, and the verification process — are set by the VBOA.
Other Virginia requirements
- Virginia requires 150 semester hours including specific upper-level accounting and business minimums. Verify the current breakdown with the VBOA.
- Virginia typically requires the AICPA Professional Ethics for CPAs course and exam in addition to passing the Uniform CPA Examination.
- Experience must be verified by a licensed CPA, with Board guidance on qualifying work — federal-sector and government accounting work has specific verification considerations.
- Virginia has its own continuing professional education requirements after licensure.
Fees and costs
For the national cost picture, see CPA exam cost in 2026.
How to get started in Virginia
- Review the VBOA’s current handbook and licensure requirements at https://boa.virginia.gov/.
- Get your transcripts evaluated against Virginia’s specific course-content rules before assuming you qualify.
- Apply to sit for the exam through the VBOA (which may route through NASBA’s CPAES — verify the current workflow).
- Pick a review course that fits how you learn: best CPA review courses in 2026.
- Build a realistic study calendar: how to build a CPA study plan.
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Related guides
- CPA Exam Guide 2026 — the full pillar
- CPA requirements by state — the overview
- CPA exam cost in 2026
- CPA exam pass rates
- Is the CPA worth it?
Always verify current requirements with the VBOA and NASBA before relying on them. Rules and fees change, and Virginia updates its handbook periodically.