[startupcfo]

I live in Maryland, but want to get a CPA license from Washington because they have looser standards on work experience, who can report the experience, and on formal education.

Can I sit for the CPA at a Prometric center in Maryland (or any state for that matter) with the understanding that I’m vying for a Washing license instead of a Maryland license?

Second question, let’s pretend I pass all 4 exams and then want to apply to a different state (Indiana for example). Can I take the exams I passed and apply those scores to an Indiana application?

AUD - 93
BEC - 87
FAR - 77
REG - 77

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Corporate finance leader

BEC - 87 | 02/28
REG - 70 | 06/10, REMATCH | 08/30
AUD - XX | 09/10
FAR - XX | 12/10

[Anonymous]

You can apply as a candidate to Washington, get your NTS from Washington, and use it to schedule at a Maryland testing center. You can then, when you're finished, end up transferring your scores to another state if needed. However, some states (relatively few) will only honor scores earned after their requirements are met. For example, I know of at least one state that will only accept credit for exams taken after their educational requirements are met. So, for example, it sounds like you don't meet the Maryland education requirements. If Maryland was like that, then if you took the exams as a Washington candidate, and later decided to fulfill the Maryland education requirements, Maryland might require you to re-take the exams. I don't remember which state(s) were like that, but such states wouldn't accept your Washington scores being transferred in. These states are unique, though; most will accept the scores in, though will still require you to meet their requirements for licensing, unless you're already licensed in Washington and they have reciprocal licensing rules.

While people do get licenses from states they don't reside in, I would suggest that you look into some more local ones that have more lenient rules, too. For example, Virginia is much closer, and has fairly reasonable standards (experience is pretty generous and education requirements aren't particularly strict). I would think that picking the closest state that you qualify for would be advisable, just to reduce the questions. Virginia and Maryland are close enough that people might think you had family in Virginia and had thought you'd move there or something, but Washington is far enough away it would be more likely to make people wonder why you got your license from Washington. Future employers may think that you cheated the system in some way, even though there is nothing wrong with getting an out-of-state license. It's fine either way, just might not cause as many questions if you get a more local out-of-state license.

[Author]

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