Fool, here are the legit requirements:
1. You need to be approved for a congressional press pass by the Standing Committee of Correspondents, elected by accredited reporters.
2. You must work for a publication who's "principal business is the daily dissemination of original news and opinion of interest to a broad segment of the public" and is "editorially independent of any institution, foundation or interest group that lobbies the federal government."
3. SS background check
4. Full time, paid correspondent for aforementioned publication
5. DC metro resident
Basically
this + a background check
Turns out WHCA is optional