You obtained your certification by satisfying the criteria of your state board of accounting. You've also completed the necessary education and passed the CPA exam.

CPAs, on the other hand, must attend continuing professional education (CPE) courses on an annual basis. This rule serves the public interest by encouraging CPAs to stay current on industry changes.

Continuing Professional Education, or CPE, is a requirement for all CPAs to keep their credentials. CPE requirements differ depending on where you live. CPAs, on the other hand, typically require forty hours of CPE. Furthermore, at least four of those hours must be spent on professional ethics.

CPE is an essential component of any career. Without this obligation, many professionals would be forced to work with out-of-date material. As a result, they would commit easily avoidable mistakes and errors. To avoid this, every professional must update their knowledge through high-quality continuing education courses.

Because CPE is such a crucial requirement, there are numerous ways to obtain them. A lot of options offering local and online courses provide you with dozens of possibilities.

Before continuing, keep in mind that your state may have hour constraints for each of the following approaches. Before planning your CPE credits, make sure to verify your state's requirements.

1. Webinars

Attending webinars is the most common way for CPAs to acquire CPE credits. These are excellent since you can watch them at the time of your choice. You can also watch them at home or at work at any time of the day.

Webinars are often delivered by qualified CPA professionals and are made available via a variety of providers. Illumeo's CPE programs are an example of this. They have nearly a thousand live webinars available for CPE credit. Furthermore, because these webinars are live events, you do not need to take any examinations or tests to receive credit from them.

Another option is the American Institute of Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA). They provide thousands of webcasts on a variety of topics, grouped from foundational to expert level.

Whatever source you choose, webinars are a fascinating and simple method to earn much-needed credits on-demand.

2. Virtual Conferences

A virtual CPE conference is a multi-day web-based training event with a variety of presenters and subjects. You will be able to examine the presenters' content, engage with speakers, and participate in live Q&A using technology-friendly platforms, making the session as relevant to your profession as feasible. The virtual conferences effortlessly bring a world of information to you, wherever you are, with the ability to engage in live conversations with your speakers and colleagues. There is no need to take an exam; simply complete your virtual conference and get your CPE.

The AICPA Conferences website also provides conference materials, live streaming, and archival content. Additionally, registered CPAs can access the site to get presentation materials for future conferences, complete conference evaluations, and receive CPE transcripts.

Besides the AICPA, you should look for any CPA firms in your state. These organizations frequently hold accounting and auditing sessions that are ideal for getting CPE credit hours. Last but not least, even though they may not have as many options as the AICPA, what they do have will be enough.

3. Networking Events

Networking events designed to establish and retain industry relationships are also ideal for earning credits. Large live conferences have gone online thanks to technological developments such as better internet connections, high-quality cameras, and software advancements, placing online event platforms at the forefront.

While attendees at in-person events are able to interact freely, the same is true for online networking events with the correct approach, platform, and execution. Many people are discovering that an online event may provide the same advantages as an in-person meeting while also providing the sense of fulfillment that participants anticipate from an in-person event.

4. Self-Study

This is a major one; there are a lot of CPE credits available through self-study. There are several training courses and alternatives available that allow you to earn CPE while growing your professional abilities and increasing your employment worth. This might be as simple as reading business publications or as difficult as registering for a self-study course. In general, self-study is one of the most effective strategies to get credit.

There are various well-known organizations that provide self-study resources, but again, the AICPA has you covered. Their store has a lot of different self-study resources for sale at cheap costs. Furthermore, their resources include anything from tests to textbooks to video courses. There is a large choice of materials available, so you should have no trouble finding what works best for you.

5. Attending Online Classes

Several services provide live seminars and CPA CPE courses that you may attend to obtain much-needed credit. These cover a wide range of topics and are made available around the country, so you won't be too far away from anything on offer.

Every year, Illumeo delivers hundreds of live lectures for CPE credit. Each seminar is co-hosted by the local CPA organizations in each state.

College coursework can be used to earn CPE credits. A quarter-system class is worth ten credits, whereas a semester-system class is worth fifteen. As a result, this may be a highly effective method to keep your certificate while furthering your education. Even if you've already graduated from school, attending a once-a-week class at your local community college can provide a significant boost to your continuing education at the conclusion of the term.

6. Creating Materials

Writing books or articles on your profession might help you get some credit. This is due to the fact that publishing information pertaining to your industry is seen as a direct contribution to your skill as a CPA. Your time spent educating others is acknowledged and welcomed as long as your content is instructional in nature.

It's also crucial to understand some of the method's technical details:

• One CPA hour is typically provided for each hour spent generating instructional or educational materials. However, you can only receive a set amount of CPE credit this way.
• Each state has its own limit on how much you may earn this way; make sure to verify your state's restrictions.

7. Deliver an Online Seminar

I mentioned attending seminars before, but you may also earn significant CPE credit by conducting a virtual session. State CPA societies require and recognize persons who do lectures and presentations. This might be as simple as giving a speech at a local CPA chapter or as complex as teaching a course. In either case, earning CPE credits while growing your professional image is a highly effective strategy to earn CPE credits.

If you want to gain credit using this technique, contact your state's CPA society. They'll explain to you how to get started as a discussion leader. Each state has its unique set of regulations that you must satisfy. Some states demand certain qualifications, while others require a particular level of expertise.

If you are unable to complete the qualifications or are concerned about becoming a speaker, consider volunteering as a seminar facilitator. You'll be in charge of sign-ins, materials distribution, and assessments. As a result, you'll have interactions with both the conversation leader and the participants.

Conclusion

CPE credits are critical for retaining your CPA license, but they don't have to be intimidating or difficult to get. If you follow all of these suggestions, you will easily fulfill your state's deadlines.

You may combine your obligations with the development of your professional abilities thanks to the large array of possibilities. Instead of viewing CPE as burdensome, consider it as an opportunity to develop yourself and expand your qualifications. If you can achieve this, working on CPE will be easier than ever!