The District of Columbia is now permitting out-of-state CPAs to practice in Washington, D.C., without obtaining a separate license.

The Accountant Mobility Act actually passed last September and was signed into law by Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray last October. But as with all D.C. bills, the law was then subject to a 30-day review period by Congress. The D.C. government then needed to secure funding in its fiscal year 2013 budget to implement the measure. The law finally took effect on Monday.

The American Institute of CPAs issued a statement Monday congratulating D.C. on its new CPA mobility law. “Congratulations to the District of Columbia for passing and implementing CPA mobility so that CPAs with valid licenses in other jurisdictions are able to practice in the District without complicated barriers,” said AICPA president and  CEO Barry Melancon. “The Greater Washington Society of CPAs, its members and their firms deserve much credit for their persistence in accomplishing this goal. It’s especially significant because the District of Columbia is the 50th jurisdiction to modify its regulations so that they fit today’s business climate.  D.C. joins all 48 states in the continental U.S. and Alaska in adopting CPA mobility laws.”

The AICPA, the state CPA societies, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, individual state boards of accountancy, AICPA members and their firms have worked collaboratively since 2007 to update state licensing laws so that a uniform system exists. The District of Columbia’s mobility law became effective Oct. 1, 2012.

Last month, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a CPA mobility law, becoming the 49th state in the U.S. to pass CPA mobility laws, leaving only Hawaii as the sole holdout among the 50 states (see California Governor Signs CPA Mobility Law). Among U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands also have not passed CPA mobility laws.