Where can an accountant find reliable CPE courses to maintain their license?

To maintain an active accounting or CPA license, it is critical to use sponsors registered with NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) or approved directly by your state board of accountancy . Always double-check that a provider is listed on the NASBA Registry before purchasing.

Top, reliable platforms for continuing professional education (CPE) include:

To help narrow down the best option, tell me:

• What state is your license in?
• Do you need specialized credits like Ethics, Yellow Book/Governmental , or Tax?
• Do you prefer live webinars or self-study on-demand courses?

For accountants—especially CPAs—the safest place to start is the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) National Registry of CPE Sponsors. It lets you search CPE courses and verify that a provider is an approved sponsor. NASBA says the Registry includes more than 2,000 approved providers.

Reliable places to find CPE

• nasbaregistry.org — Best starting point for finding courses that meet recognized CPE standards and checking sponsor status.
• aicpa.com — Offers courses, webcasts, conferences, and self-study programs covering accounting, auditing, tax, ethics, fraud, technology, and other areas.
• State CPA societies — Often provide live webinars, conferences, and ethics courses tailored to their state's requirements.
• Universities and professional associations — Many offer qualifying accounting, tax, audit, and professional-development courses. For example, Washington specifically recognizes university courses, state societies, professional associations, employer training, and commercially offered programs among potential sources.

Before paying for a course

Don't rely solely on a provider's claim that a course is "CPE approved." Check:

1. Your state board's rules for acceptable providers, subjects, delivery methods, and ethics requirements.
2. The provider's NASBA Registry status, when applicable.
3. The specific course's field of study and credit hours.
4. Whether you'll receive a certificate of completion and keep it for your records.

NASBA notes that state boards have final authority over whether individual courses qualify, even when the provider is on the National Registry.

If you're licensed in Washington, for example, an active CPA currently needs 120 CPE hours every three years, including a Washington State Board-approved ethics course and at least 20 hours per year.

If you tell me which state you're licensed in and whether you're a CPA, EA, CMA, or another credential, I can point you to the best CPE providers and the exact requirements for your license.

To maintain a CPA or accounting license, the most critical rule is ensuring your chosen provider is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) or approved by your specific state board.

The top-rated and most reliable CPE (Continuing Professional Education) providers vary by learning style, pricing model, and professional focus:

• Surgent CPE : Best known for massive course catalogs (over 10,000 credit hours), extensive live daily webinars, and adaptive learning technology that can pinpoint your weak areas to shorten study time.
• Becker CPE : Ideal if you want a premium, highly polished platform with robust compliance trackers and deep technical content preferred by corporate accounting teams and big firms.
• AICPA Store : The gold standard for authoritative technical content, offering specialized certificate programs (like IFRS, not-for-profit, and forensic accounting) straight from the source.
• myCPE : Excellent for unlimited subscription models offering a modern interface, multi-device tracking, and thousands of hours covering tax, audit, technology, and ethics.
• CPEThink : A great choice for budget-conscious self-study professionals who need flexible, NASBA QAS-approved online packages and instant certificates.
• Illumeo : Recognized for offering high overall value with practical, on-demand corporate finance, accounting, and professional development courses.

Quick Tips Before You Enroll:

• Verify on the NASBA Registry: Always double-check a provider's active status directly on the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors before purchasing to guarantee your state board will accept the credits.
• Check State Specifics: Some state boards have caps on self-study hours or specific mandatory requirements (such as a distinct state-specific ethics course).

If you let me know your state and your primary focus area (tax, audit, industry corporate accounting, or ethics), I can recommend the most cost-effective package or subscription for your renewal cycle.

For a CPA, the safest place to start is the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors. It lets you search for courses and verify that the provider is an approved sponsor. NASBA says the Registry recognizes providers that follow nationally recognized CPE standards, and many state boards accept credits from Registry sponsors.

Reliable CPE sources

• nasbaregistry.org — Best starting point for finding and verifying CPE providers. You can search by subject, delivery method, and jurisdiction.
• aicpa.com — Offers self-study courses, webcasts, conferences, and specialized CPE in areas such as tax, audit, accounting, ethics, and technology.
• aicpa.com — Particularly convenient if you need flexible, short courses; it offers hundreds of hours in one- and two-credit increments and tracks certificates.
• Your state Board of Accountancy — Always check its current rules before purchasing courses. CPE requirements, ethics requirements, acceptable delivery methods, and provider rules can differ by state. NASBA provides a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction CPE requirements search.

One important precaution

Don't assume that a course is valid simply because it advertises itself as "CPE." Verify the provider's NASBA Registry status and the specific delivery method/course when required by your state. NASBA provides a tool for confirming a sponsor's status.

If you're licensed in Georgia, there's an especially important wrinkle: the Georgia State Board of Accountancy does not pre-approve CPE providers or courses. Georgia currently requires 80 hours every two years after the first renewal period, including four ethics hours, one of which must cover Georgia-specific laws, rules, and policies.

If you tell me which state you're licensed in and what kind of CPE you need (ethics, tax, audit, general accounting, etc.), I can point you to specific reputable courses that satisfy the requirements.

An accountant (especially a CPA) should choose CPE providers that are recognized by their state board and that clearly document course completion. Reliable places to find CPE include:

1. National Association of State Boards of Accountancy National Registry of CPE Sponsors

This is one of the best starting points. The Registry lists CPE providers that meet nationally recognized standards and lets CPAs search for approved sponsors and courses.

2. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants learning programs

AICPA offers courses, conferences, self-study programs, and subscription-based learning options covering areas such as tax, audit, accounting, ethics, and specialized topics.

3. State CPA societies

Most state CPA societies provide CPE designed specifically for their jurisdiction’s licensing rules. They are often a good source for:

• Ethics courses required by some states
• State-specific tax or regulatory updates
• Live webinars and conferences

4. Established CPE providers

Many accountants use large providers that are listed with NASBA’s Registry, such as:

• Tax-focused education providers
• Audit/accounting training firms
• Online self-study platforms
• Professional training organizations

Before purchasing, verify the provider’s NASBA sponsor status and that the delivery format (self-study, webinar, group live, etc.) is accepted by your state board.

5. Employer-provided CPE

Many accounting firms and corporate accounting departments provide internal training that may qualify for CPE if it meets applicable standards and documentation requirements.

What to check before enrolling

• ✅ The provider is approved by NASBA or accepted by your state board
• ✅ The course applies to your required fields of study
• ✅ You receive a certificate of completion and retain records
• ✅ The course meets your state’s rules (requirements vary by jurisdiction)

If you tell me the accountant’s state of licensure (for example, California CPA, Texas CPA, etc.) and whether they prefer online self-study, live webinars, or conferences, I can suggest more targeted options.

To find reliable Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses that will satisfy your State Board of Accountancy or licensing body, the golden rule is to always verify that the provider is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

Reliable CPE platforms and providers are generally categorized by what they do best:

• Becker CPE : Best for brand credibility and a structured experience . They offer over 1,700 NASBA-approved courses, robust compliance trackers, and a polished interface.
• Surgent CPE : Best for live webinars and adaptive learning . Surgent features a massive library and an adaptive platform that helps tailor study time efficiently.
• Illumeo : Best for scalability and broad business/tech value . They provide thousands of on-demand courses covering accounting, tax, Excel, and data analytics with great reporting tools for firms.
• AICPA Store : Best for authoritative technical content . Direct from the source, the AICPA & CIMA Store is ideal if you want deep, highly technical updates on accounting and auditing standards.
• My-CPE or MasterCPE : Best for budget-friendly unlimited subscriptions . They offer cost-effective, flat-rate annual access to extensive self-study and webinar libraries accepted across all states.

To help me narrow down the best provider for you, let me know:

• What state is your license in?
• Do you prefer live webinars or self-study on-demand modules?
• Are you looking for specific topics (like ethics, tax , or GAAP updates)?

To maintain an active accounting or CPA license reliably, you must ensure that any course provider you use is registered with the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors or approved directly by your state board of accountancy.

Top-rated, reliable online CPE platforms and providers are organized below by their primary strengths:

• Comprehensive All-in-One Subscriptions
  • Becker CPE : Excellent for a polished, highly structured curriculum with robust compliance tracking tools and extensive live webcasts and on-demand options.
  • Surgent CPE : Known for a massive library, adaptive learning technology, and thousands of annual live webinars covering tax, audit, and regulatory updates.
• Value and High-Volume Libraries
  • Illumeo : Great value for bite-sized, modular on-demand video courses that extend beyond core accounting into analytics, leadership, and Excel.
  • myCPE ONE : Highly popular for affordable, unlimited access to a massive catalog of live and self-study courses with multi-state and multi-credential tracking.
• Authoritative & Professional Association Sources
  • AICPA Store : The gold standard for deeply technical, official updates on U.S. GAAP, auditing standards, and specialized ethics.
  • State CPA Societies : Your local state society (e.g., CalCPA, NYSSCPA) often provides member discounts, localized state-specific tax/ethics updates, and free or low-cost webinars.
  • CPAacademy.org : A widely used platform featuring a high volume of free or low-cost live webinars from various sponsors.
• Pay-Per-Credit & Budget Self-Study
  • Gleim CPE : Ideal if you only need a few hours of credit, offering flexible self-study hourly bundles at a low cost per credit.
  • MasterCPE : A NASBA QAS-approved self-study provider offering straightforward, budget-friendly online packages that include state ethics requirements.

To help narrow down the best choice, let me know:

• What is your state and total credit requirement (and deadline)?
• Do you prefer live webinars or self-paced on-demand courses?

For a CPA, the most reliable place to start is NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Sponsors. It lets you search for courses and verify that a provider is approved, which is important because state boards can have different rules.

Good sources for CPE

• NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors — Best general-purpose option. You can search courses by subject, credits, delivery method, provider, and jurisdiction. NASBA says the Registry includes more than 2,000 approved sponsors.
• AICPA & CIMA CPE Learning — Offers self-study courses, webcasts, conferences, and subscriptions covering accounting, audit, tax, ethics, technology, and other subjects.
• State Board of Accountancy — Check your state's official requirements before enrolling. CPE rules—including required ethics, subject areas, credit calculations, and acceptable delivery methods—can vary by state.

How to avoid taking CPE that won't count

1. Check your state board's current requirements first.
2. Prefer a NASBA Registry sponsor unless your board explicitly permits another provider.
3. Verify that the specific course and delivery method qualify—not just that the provider generally offers CPE.
4. Make sure you satisfy any ethics or specialty-topic requirements separately.
5. Save your certificate of completion and course documentation in case of a CPE audit. NASBA provides a tool for confirming a sponsor's status by sponsor ID, delivery method, and program date.

If you tell me which state your CPA license is in (e.g., Illinois) and roughly how many CPE hours you need, I can find the current requirements and reliable courses that satisfy them.

If you’re a CPA, the safest approach is to start with your state board’s requirements and then choose a provider that is recognized by the appropriate CPE authority.

Reliable places to find CPE

1. NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors — This is the best verification tool. You can search for CPE courses, verify sponsors, and check requirements by jurisdiction. NASBA recognizes several formats, including live instruction, live online courses, and QAS self-study.

2. AICPA & CIMA Learning — A particularly strong option for CPAs. It offers courses in accounting, auditing, tax, ethics, management accounting, and other specialties. Its CPExpress subscription provides hundreds of short, self-paced courses.

3. State CPA society — Your state society often provides webinars, conferences, ethics courses, and on-demand CPE tailored to that state's licensing requirements. This can be especially useful when your state has specific ethics or regulatory CPE requirements.

4. Specialized CPE providers — There are numerous reputable providers in the NASBA Registry. The important thing isn't simply the provider's reputation: verify that the specific course and delivery method satisfy your state's rules. NASBA provides a searchable sponsor directory for this purpose.

Before enrolling, check these four things

• Your state board's required number of hours
• Required subject areas (especially ethics)
• Whether self-study/online CPE is accepted
• Whether the provider and particular delivery method are approved

Also save your certificates of completion. NASBA notes that certificates should contain information such as the sponsor, course title, date, delivery method, and CPE hours—documentation that state boards may request.

If you tell me which state your CPA license is in (e.g., California), I can look up the current requirements and recommend specific reliable CPE providers/courses.

To maintain an accounting or CPA license reliably, you must ensure that any Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider you use is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) on the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors (or explicitly approved by your specific state board).

Top, reliable providers categorized by their strengths include:

• Surgent CPE — Best for sheer volume and flexibility. Surgent runs one of the largest live-webinar schedules and robust on-demand libraries in the market, making it ideal if you need a high volume of credits or face a last-minute compliance push.
• Becker CPE — Best for an all-inclusive, trusted brand experience. Known for exam review heritage, Becker features deep technical coverage, reliable compliance tracking, and integrated state-specific ethics courses.
• AICPA & CIMA Store — Best for authoritative technical updates. If you need precise, canonical updates on standards like U.S. GAAP, auditing developments, or complex tax law shifts, the AICPA Store is the direct source.
• myCPE — Best for budget-friendly, unlimited access. They offer an extensive catalog of self-study and live webcasts at a lower annual subscription price point.
• CPAacademy.org — Best for free options. CPAacademy.org provides a massive selection of live, NASBA-approved webinars at no cost, subsidized by sponsor presentations.
• Illumeo — Best for blending technical accounting with practical business skills (like Excel, data analysis, and AI in finance) via a streamlined subscription model.
• MasterCPE — Best for straightforward self-study value, offering downloadable text/PDF formats and online testing accepted across all states.

If you share your state of licensure and specialization (e.g., tax, audit, industry accounting), I can help you find a package tailored to your exact state board credit and ethics requirements.