Understand the requirements of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for accountants. Learn how these credits maintain CPA licensure and enhance career skills.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is an important part of maintaining a career in accounting, especially for those who hold professional certifications. These ongoing learning requirements help ensure that accountants stay current with changes in regulations, standards, and industry practices.
CPE in accounting refers to the courses, training programs, and educational activities that professionals complete to maintain their credentials and expand their knowledge. Understanding how CPE works can help you stay compliant while continuing to grow in your career.
CPE Requirements
According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, each state has specific continuing education requirements accountants must follow in order to maintain their licenses. The CPA Journal states that accountants should be concerned about licensing requirements if they maintain such credentials in more than one jurisdiction.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutCPEAccounting">Important Facts About CPE Accounting</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Work Environment</td><td> Office or classroom setting</td></tr>
<tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Accounting, Math, Reading Comprehension, Communication</td></tr>
<tr><td>Training</td><td> There are no mandatory subjects or lessons for CPE, so accountants are free to choose the program that best fits their needs. Acceptable programs include courses offered by the accountant's own firm, accounting-focused conferences or conventions, and any university courses that offer CEUs (Continuing Education Units).</td></tr>
<tr><td>Common Courses</td><td> Accounting and Finance for Business Operations, Fair Value Accounting, IFRS in the USA: An Implementation Guide</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$77,250 <i>(Accountants and Auditors)</i></td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>6% <i>(Accountants and Auditors)</i></td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---ComparingCPERequirements">Comparing CPE Requirements</h3><p>Almost every jurisdiction requires an average of 40 hours of CPE per year for Certified Public Accountants (CPA). Other variations are 80 hours required each 2-year period or 120 hours each 3-year period. Many jurisdictions do not allow carryover of surplus CPE credits from one period to the next.
</p><p>In some jurisdictions, required CPE hours depend on either specific duties or job classifications. For example, New York reduces the amount of required hours of CPE credits if an accountant takes continuing education courses in a specialized area. Kentucky reduces the number of required hours if an accountant works less than 3,000 hours every two years.
</p><p>Each state has different CPE accounting requirements. A CPA must take the required numbers of CPE credits for the jurisdiction where her or she works, and must be aware of the requirements of other jurisdictions if he or she wishes to maintain a license in that jurisdiction.</p>
