I have completed the exam and I have a years worth of qualifying work experience at my previous job, however, it's not under a CPA.

My current firm is a CPA firm.  Can one of the CPAs at my current firm go ahead and sign me off for work completed at a previous employer if they can verify it?  Or should I just wait until I have racked up a year of experience at current employer to be signed off.

No, only the experience that was under an actively licensed CPA will be counted.

Are you sure about that? I think every state is different in that regard. At least here in Washington state, I haven't read anything about the work needing to be under an active CPA.

I'm in the same boat with over 5 years experience, but not under a CPA.  I called and asked several questions to try to find a loop hole in the board's regulations and could not find it.  I am a controller now, and still this experience doesn't count towards my license.  Frustrating, to say the least. 

Friends and family tell me to go find a job under a CPA at all cost to at least get the CPA license.