PEAR Progress Implemented by the Board

Diverse group with hands laid atop one another.

The Board of Accountancy, along with the complete PEAR Team are excited to share some of the progress we’ve made. Below is a list of accomplishments that have made the CPA Profession in Washington State more equitable and inclusive:

2024

  • Revised several documents and forms to improve accessibility (ongoing).
  • Enhanced our website to further improve compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
  • Changed pronouns in the RCWs and WACs to be gender neutral.
  • Continued Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training for all employees.
  • Completed training for recognizing and mitigating bias in hiring.
  • Added the ability for users of CPA Online (our online system) to indicate a preferred name.
  • Updated WA State CPA Scholarship Program administered by the Washington Society of CPAs (WSCPA):
    • Increased the annual scholarship budget by $50,000 to fund 10 additional $5,000 scholarships to expand the reach and impact. 
    • Lowered the minimum required GPA from 3.5 to 2.5 to allow more students to qualify. 
    • In addition to ethnicity and first-generation college status, we’ve expanded the applicant questionnaire to include additional demographic fields, such as military status, disability, and low-income status (as identified by Pell Grant qualifications).