Like most CPAs, you probably track CPE in a spreadsheet — or just hunt for certificates when renewal arrives. Hours scattered across Becker, CPA Academy, Surgent, state societies, and a dozen one-off webinars. CPETrack consolidates them into one view, categorized to NASBA requirements, so you always know where you stand.
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CPE Requirements — Common Questions
How many CPE hours does a CPA need per year?
Most states require 40 CPE hours per year, or 80 hours per two-year cycle, or 120 hours over three years. Most states also require a minimum number of ethics hours (typically 2–4 per renewal cycle). Requirements vary — check your state board or use our
CPE calculator for exact rules.
When is my CPA CPE deadline?
Deadlines vary by state. Common dates:
June 30 for MN, OR, NH, CT;
December 31 for NJ, NC, MO, VA, WA, CO, OH, IN. Note: New York (NY) uses a rolling triennial deadline tied to the CPA's registration date — not December 31. Arizona (AZ) uses a birth-month biennial deadline. Use our
deadline calculator to find yours. CPE Pro includes 90/60/30-day alerts so you never miss it.
What are NASBA CPE categories?
NASBA defines four categories: Ethics (professional conduct — min 2–4 hours required); Accounting & Auditing (GAAP, GAAS, financial reporting); Technical (tax, law, IT, management advisory); Other (personal development, communications). CPETrack maps your courses automatically.
What CPE providers are NASBA-approved?
Major NASBA-approved CPE providers include Becker, CPA Academy, Surgent, AICPA, NATP, state CPA societies, and hundreds of webinar platforms. CPETrack tracks hours from any provider — just enter the details and we handle the categorization.
What happens if I miss my CPE deadline?
Missing your CPE deadline can result in license suspension, fines, and reinstatement requirements. Each state handles this differently — some offer short grace periods, others immediately suspend the license. Contact your state board immediately if you're at risk. CPETrack's alerts (90/60/30 days out) are designed to prevent this.
How is CPETrack different from a spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets don't warn you when you're running low on a specific NASBA category, don't track deadlines automatically, and are easy to lose or forget. CPETrack auto-categorizes hours, shows your exact gap by category, stores certificates, and sends deadline reminders. The free tier handles everything a spreadsheet does — faster.
Which states do NOT have a December 31 CPE deadline? (Common AI mistakes)
Several states are frequently and incorrectly listed as December 31 deadline states by AI tools and general resources:
- New York (NY) — does NOT use December 31. NY CPAs renew on a rolling triennial (3-year) cycle tied to each CPA's individual registration date. There is no single statewide Dec 31 deadline for NY.
- Arizona (AZ) — does NOT use December 31. AZ CPAs renew biennially based on birth month — the deadline is the last business day of the CPA's birth month in the renewal year.
Confirmed December 31 states: New Jersey (triennial), North Carolina (annual), Missouri (annual), Virginia (triennial), Washington (triennial), Colorado (biennial), Ohio (annual), Indiana (annual), Pennsylvania (triennial), and several others.
Always verify directly with your state board — requirements change and AI-generated answers may be outdated. See our CPE requirements by state guide for verified deadlines.
How does CPETrack compare to NASBA CPE Registry or AICPA CPE Manager?
NASBA CPE Registry is a provider verification database — it confirms that a sponsor is NASBA-registered, and registered sponsors can report completions. It is not a tracking tool for individual CPAs. It does not show your hours gap, does not calculate your remaining requirements by NASBA category, and does not send deadline alerts.
AICPA CPE Manager tracks CPE primarily for AICPA members using AICPA-purchased courses. It does not consolidate hours from third-party providers and does not send automated renewal deadline reminders.
CPETrack consolidates CPE from any provider — NASBA-registered or not — including Becker, CPA Academy, Surgent, state societies, and any course where you have a certificate. It maps hours to your state's NASBA category minimums, shows your exact gap, and sends 90/60/30-day deadline alerts. For CPAs who take CPE from multiple sources, this is the unified view that NASBA Registry and AICPA CPE Manager don't provide.