Common Experience Affidavit Filing Errors

This document contains common Experience Affidavit filing errors, which will assist you in submitting a complete Experience Affidavit. Filing an incomplete affidavit delays the process.  Please refer to the "General Instructions" section included with the Experience Affidavit for detailed information of the requirements needed for filing a fully complete Experience Affidavit.

Common Error #1 - Applicant fails to find a verifying CPA and submits the experience affidavit even though Section 1 is not completed. If you are unable to locate a qualified CPA to verify your experience we suggest you contact the following resources for finding a CPA in your area who is willing to review your experience: local CPA organizations, local college accounting departments, local CPA firms, your local Chamber of Commerce or other local professional services.

In order to become licensed in Washington State your experience must be verified and signed by a CPA meeting the Board's qualification requirements.  If you are not able to submit a complete Experience Affidavit your application will be denied.

Common Error #2 - Your verifying CPA is not currently licensed for public practice. You need to work with another CPA who is qualified to verify your experience.  In order to sign the Experience Affidavit the verifying CPA must currently hold a valid CPA license in one of the 54 US jurisdictions, and have held a CPA license for a 5-year period; however those five years do not have to be continuous.  Note: A certificateholder cannot verify your experience.

Common Error #3 - Your verifying CPA has not been licensed to practice public accounting for a total of 5 years. You need to work with another CPA who is qualified to verify your experience. In order to sign the Experience Affidavit the verifying CPA must currently hold a valid CPA license in one of the 54 US jurisdictions, and have held a CPA license for a 5-year period; however those five years do not have to be continuous.  Note: You may want to call the jurisdiction in which your verifying CPA is licensed to confirm that they have been licensed the required 5 years.

Common Error #4 - You submitted an Experience Affidavit where not all of the competencies are checked by the verifying CPA in Section 1.  In order to be licensed, you must obtain experience supporting the attainment of all 7 competencies.  If this was an oversight, please have your verifying CPA check and initial the competency.  If this was not an oversight, you will need to work with another qualified CPA to verify the attainment of the competency in this area.  If you need to submit more than one Experience Affidavit to meet the experience requirements, please communicate that with a cover letter.

Common Error #5 - You submitted an Experience Affidavit where one of the abilities is not initialed in Section 2(c) by the applicant. As stated in section 2(c) of the Experience Affidavit, you must have experience in each ability.

Common Error #6 - You submitted faxed copies of the Experience Affidavit. In order to process your Experience Affidavit you must submit original documentation with original signatures.

Common Error #7 - The applicant did not complete the dates and/or the hours worked in the Experience history portion. You must submit a fully completed Experience Affidavit. All portions of the Experience Affidavit must be completed.

Common Error #8 - We received an "Experience Affidavit Public" form and/or "Experience Affidavit-Competency Alternative" form after December 31, 2002.  As of December 31, 2002, the Board no longer accepts the prior forms and all applicants must submit the current Experience Affidavit form.

Have questions? Contact Customer Service at (360) 753-2586 or customerservice@cpaboard.wa.gov.