Credit for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Most states require that certified public accountants and lawyers complete a specified amount of CPE to maintain their status. Documentation required substantiating the CPE requirements varies by state.

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) recognizes sponsors who offer CPA/CPE in accordance with nationally recognized standards. Large Business and International (LB&I) is a registered sponsor on NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Sponsors for CPAs.

To determine if a training course can be accredited for CPA CPE, it must be submitted to LB&I embedded Learning and Education (L&E). LB&I L&E will then determine if the course qualifies for NASBA accreditation. At a minimum, the following documentation must be submitted by an appropriate embedded Servicewide L&E program manager:

A completed Form 13607, CPA/CPE Credit Course Submission;

Learning objectives that clearly articulate the knowledge, skills and abilities that can be achieved by participants in the learning activities; and

Course material including participant guide, instructor guide, handouts, or PowerPoint that cover the learning objectives.

Bios are needed for Subject Matter Expert course developers and course reviewers (Maximum of six per course). For courses in accounting at least one SME must be a CPA. For courses in tax law at least one SME must be a CPA, attorney or enrolled agent.

A documented SME review of the material is required. This review must document that the material is technically accurate and current.

A timed agenda for face-to-face courses is required.

For group internet based training (e.g. Centra), the monitoring mechanism must be used to track CPA attendance and participation. This generally consists of monitoring questions. If monitoring questions are utilized, at least two questions per half hour of credit are required.

Knowledge check questions with appropriate feedback (at least three per CPE credit), a final exam (at least five questions per CPE credit), overview of the topic, index or table of contents, glossary, and instruction to participants for self-study courses are also required. Note: Self-study programs must include an expiration date by which the participant must complete the course.

CPE credit for self-study courses must be computed. This computation must be made using either the pilot test of the representative completion time or using the word count formula prescribed by NASBA.

State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses.

LB&I abides by the NASBA standards for CPE program development.

Business units and CDS retain the student and instructor participation records for a period of five years, and respond to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors about these records. Upon request, business units and CDS will make the records available for inspection to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors or its designee. LB&I will maintain the records documenting accreditation and will make those available to NASBA upon request.

Business unit desiring to have courses reviewed for accreditation as CPE for CPAs, in accordance with NASBA guidelines, must:

Submit the requisite documentation (outlined in section (3) above) to LB&I six weeks prior to initial delivery for courses over four hours and four weeks prior to initial delivery for courses four hours or less, and

Update the Course Catalog of the Enterprise Learning Management System (ELMS) accordingly once accreditation is completed.

Any education community office desiring to offer CPA CPE credit for courses previously approved must:

Identify delivery point personnel (e.g., CDS staff, site coordinators) to take attendance.

Ensure that CPAs who seek to receive CPE credit attend the class or course; also ensure that their hours of attendance are documented and recorded.

Ensure CPAs are given the opportunity to complete the IRS standardized Level 1 evaluation form as administered by ELMS.

Submit record of attendance (e.g., sign-in sheet with signatures or initials for each day of the course or each session within a course) to CDS to enable them to issue certificates of completion to CPAs who attend.

CPAs who seek to receive CPE credit for an IRS course that has been approved for NASBA CPE credit must:

Attend and complete the appropriate qualifying IRS face-to-face (group Live) course. For group internet based courses (e.g. Centra), attend and meet the monitoring criteria. For self-study courses, achieve a passing grade on the final exam.

Have the opportunity to complete the IRS standardized Level 1 evaluation form as directed by the CDS, and

Comply with respective state requirements.

The amount of CPE credit a CPA receives will be based on their actual hours of attendance for group live and group internet-based courses.