Download this quick reference guide on the CPE requirements for CPAs in Pennsylvania.
Download Guide
Read this blog for clarification.
State Board of Accountancy Response
Contact PICPA at (215) 496-9272 or info@picpa.org.
Course & Licensing FAQs
Professional Education
Course Materials
New requirements effective Jan. 1, 2018!
All Pennsylvania CPAs are required to obtain 80 hours of CPE credits per biennial period, four of which must be in ethics. In addition, there is a minimum requirement of 20 credit hours per year. If you provide attest services, you must complete 24 credit hours of A&A and 52 credit hours of professional development. If you do not provide attest services, you must complete 76 credit hours of professional development. Professional development can be in any area related to your professional needs.
Individuals may take up to 40 credits (50% of the total CPE requirement) as self-study. Note: Gov. Tom Wolf suspended the 40 credit restriction during the 2021 biennial renewal period which ended on Dec. 31, 2021. The 40 credit limit is effective beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
The current reporting period started on Jan. 1, 2022, and ends on Dec. 31, 2023. For a breakdown of the professional education requirements by type of study, use PICPA's at-a-glance guide.
On Sept. 23, 2017 the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy published the above regulatory changes in The Pennsylvania Bulletin. The new regulations are now effective. Read a summary of the changes and listen to this podcast for more information.
On May 1, 2001, the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy implemented amended CPE program sponsor regulations that directly impacted licensees. The amendment included a stipulation that all individuals or entities offering a program for continuing education credit must apply to the Board for approval as a program sponsor. Licensees should confirm a sponsor's approval under the regulations prior to registering for a program.
Licensees who participate in programs provided by unapproved sponsors need to take additional steps and not assume the training qualifies for continuing education credits. Those steps include determining whether the program met all requirements of CPE and the program sponsor met all responsibilities under the regulations and maintaining documentation to support these claims. For more details on the CPE requirements and program sponsor responsibilities, review the regulations of the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy.
The start time is noted in your e-mail confirmation; however, most follow the same schedule:
7:30 a.m. - Registration
8:00 a.m. - Course begins
12:00 p.m. - Lunch (45 min.)
4:00 p.m. - Course ends
Start times vary for conferences and some other events. See individual courses for more details.
Late arrivals, early departures, or extended absences from class will result in a reduction of credits earned.
PICPA is an approved sponsor of CPE programs as required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy.
Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy - Sponsor Number PX000490L
The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy is the regulatory body responsible for licensing CPE program sponsors. There is a formal process of approval that all sponsors must submit to the Board to obtain a license. Applications to become a licensed sponsor are available to download. Exemptions are possible; get more information on exemptions.
Any individual or entity desiring to offer a program, including firm in-house training for continuing education credit must apply to the Board for approval as a program sponsor. This includes public accounting firms and others that provide training internally to staff. The only exemption from approval is a member in good standing of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s (NASBA) National Registry of Continuing Professional Education Sponsors.
- Webinars and webcasts are considered live, group study
You can ask questions and submit comments to a discussion leader during a presentation using the questions/chat function in the web-based delivery system. There is no limit to the amount of live, group study individuals can take.
- On-Demand CPE is considered interactive, individual self-study
Individuals may take up to 40 credits (50% of the total CPE requirement) as self-study.
Note: Gov. Tom Wolf suspended the 40 credit restriction during the 2021 biennial renewal period which ended on Dec. 31, 2021. The 40 credit limit is effective beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
Download the at-a-glance guide to learn more about the CPE requirements and types of credits.
Please listen to the instructions at the beginning of the webinar/webcast, as they may vary by provider.
Throughout the webinar/webcast, attendance checks will pop up on the screen. You must respond to at least 70 percent of the attendance checks to receive credit. Group attendees should follow the instructions provided with the login instructions.
Once the webinar/webcast concludes, and you have met the attendance check requirements and submitted a course evaluation, credits earned will be available in the CPE History section of My Account.
You will need:
- A computer, tablet, or mobile device
If you are using a computer, you will need at least Windows XP or Mac OS X
- Speakers or headphones (and a headphone jack)
- Adobe Flash Player 10.3 or better
- An Internet connection with a minimum speed of 512 kbps upload and 1000 kbps download
Instructions and links will be included in your confirmation e-mail. Please read and follow all the instructions carefully.
Please contact your IT department if you experience trouble accessing a webinar/webcast. It may be due to your workplace security or firewall settings.
The PICPA Webcast/Webinar hotline is (267) 705-4450.
To cancel a course registration, email or call the PICPA at (215) 496-9272.
Refunds are not possible if the PICPA is not notified in advance.
Seminars, Conferences, and In-Person Sessions Cancellation Policy: Please email or call at (215) 496-9272 at least five business days prior to the event. A $50 administration fee will be charged for cancel requests less than five business days prior to the program. If materials have been downloaded, refunds are not issued. Substitutions are welcome and can be made up to the date of the program. There may be an additional charge if the original registration used a discount product.
On-Demand Cancellation Policy: Course refunds are permitted within 30 days from the purchase date and prior to taking the exam.
Insufficient enrollment policy: The PICPA reserves the right to cancel a program if we do not receive a minimum number of registrations to run an event. You will be notified of a cancellation and will have the option to transfer your fee to another event or receive a full refund.
Force majeure policy: The PICPA is not responsible for cancelled programs due to natural disasters, disruptions with venues, civil unrest, or any other cause beyond PICPA’s control. We will make every effort to accommodate changes and rebook participants into similar programs, but there will be no refunds when cancellations or disruptions happen that are beyond our control.
Transferring to a different course is allowed with at least five business days notice. For in-person courses a $50 administration fee will be charged for transfer requests less than five business days prior to the program. To complete a transfer, please call (215) 496-9272.
If you do not cancel/transfer in advance, no refunds will be granted for cancellations on the day of and/or after the event. When using Value Pass Plus for webinars, a $50 administration fee will be charged after three no-shows.
Materials are available for one week after the course.
1. Go to your web browser, Safari, and log in to your PICPA account.
2. Select Course Materials.
3. Click on the pdf file and the document should open.
4. As it is opening select the “Open in…” button on the top right and select iBooks.
5. The document should then open in iBooks.
Android-based tablet:
Be sure you have the Opera web browser and Adobe Reader on your system. You will need this specific browser to access the materials. You can download Opera and Adobe Reader for free.
1. Open Opera; log in to your PICPA account.
2. Select Course Materials.
3. Click on the pdf file and you will be prompted to Save once the Download File screen opens.
4. Go to your Adobe Reader which will be either on your desktop or in your Apps tray.
5. Open your Adobe Reader and the file(s) should appear.
Nook:
1. Log in to your PICPA account.
2. Click on Course Materials.
3. Click on the pdf link in the File Names column. You will be prompted to either Open, Save, or Cancel. Select the arrow next to Save and Save As.
4. Save the file to your computer in a location that you can find easily.
5. Plug the USB cord for your Nook into your computer. Your system should recognize your Nook and you should receive a prompt to open the folder.
6. Drag the course materials from the folder on your computer into the My Documents folder within the Nook folder.
7. Right-click on the Nook folder; select “eject.”
8. Turn on your Nook; the materials you transferred will appear.
Kindle:
1. Log in to your PICPA account.
2. Click on Course Materials.
3.Click on the pdf link in the File Names column. You will be prompted to either Open, Save, or Cancel. Select the arrow next to Save and Save As.
4. Save the file to your computer in a location that you can find easily.
5. Plug the USB cord for your Kindle into your computer. Your system should recognize your Kindle and you should receive a prompt to open the folder.
6. Open the “documents” folder within the Kindle.
7. Drag the course materials from the folder on your computer into the “documents” folder within the Kindle.
8. Right-click on the Kindle folder; select “eject.”
9. Turn on your Kindle; the materials you transferred will appear.
Course evaluations, participant lists, and certificates of completion are all issued electronically to help you keep track of your schedule, monitor your credits, and maintain accurate CPE records.
- Course Evaluations: You will receive a course evaluation via e-mail at the conclusion of the program. Please submit your responses no later than one week after the event. This evaluation will also be available in the My Account section of the website immediately following the course, under CPE History.
- Certificates of Completion: Certificates of completion (formerly the attendance verification cards) will be available online within one week of the program. You can also access your complete CPE history and other documentation in the My Account section of the website, under CPE History.
Registration & Cancellation
There are several convenient ways to register:
- Online Course Search
- Call PICPA at (215) 496-9272 or (888) 272-2001
- Mail in a registration form to:
Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs
P.O. Box 70384
Philadelphia, PA 19176-0384
Payment of fees is required at the time of registration. The PICPA will provide you with a certificate of completion online about one week after the program. You will receive an e-mail once your certificate of completion is available. Please register at least two weeks prior to the program start date.
To cancel a course registration, email or call the PICPA at (215) 496-9272.
Refunds are not possible if the PICPA is not notified in advance.
Seminars, Conferences, and In-Person Sessions Cancellation Policy: Please email or call at (215) 496-9272 at least five business days prior to the event. A $50 administration fee will be charged for cancel requests less than five business days prior to the program. If materials have been downloaded, refunds are not issued. Substitutions are welcome and can be made up to the date of the program. There may be an additional charge if the original registration used a discount product.
On-Demand Cancellation Policy: Course refunds are permitted within 30 days from the purchase date and prior to taking the exam.
Insufficient enrollment policy: The PICPA reserves the right to cancel a program if we do not receive a minimum number of registrations to run an event. You will be notified of a cancellation and will have the option to transfer your fee to another event or receive a full refund.
Force majeure policy: The PICPA is not responsible for cancelled programs due to natural disasters, disruptions with venues, civil unrest, or any other cause beyond PICPA’s control. We will make every effort to accommodate changes and rebook participants into similar programs, but there will be no refunds when cancellations or disruptions happen that are beyond our control.
You will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail with course details. If you'd like, you can bring a copy of it to the course.
To confirm your registration, view your Upcoming Events.
Transferring to a different course is allowed with at least five business days notice. For in-person courses a $50 administration fee will be charged for transfer requests less than five business days prior to the program. To complete a transfer, please call (215) 496-9272.
If you do not cancel/transfer in advance, no refunds will be granted for cancellations on the day of and/or after the event. When using Value Pass Plus for webinars, a $50 administration fee will be charged after three no-shows.
Additional Credit FAQs
CLE – Continuing Legal Education ($50 per day processing fee)
The PICPA Foundation is an approved provider of CLE in Pennsylvania (CLE Provider #545). Most PICPA courses qualify for 6.5-Substantive CLE credits per day.
CFP – Certified Financial Planner
PICPA is an approved CFP sponsor. To view the complete list of CFP sponsors, visit www.cfp.net. The major developers of PICPA courses (including AICPA and Surgent McCoy) will preregister their courses with the CFP Board. PICPA will register other programs such as the Personal Financial Planning Conference. PICPA course descriptions will identify courses that qualify for CFP. When you attend a PICPA course to fulfill CFP renewal requirements, you will be asked to provide your name and CFP certificate number. We will submit that information to the course developer who will then submit it to the CFP Board for acceptance. For details about CFP certification renewal requirements, visit www.cfp.net.
CFE – Certified Fraud Examiner
PICPA courses are accepted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) for CPE credit when the course falls within one of the following fields of study:
- Fraud Examination
- Accounting and Auditing
- Specialized Knowledge and Applications
CLU – Chartered Life Underwriter
ChFC – Chartered Financial Consultant
CFM – Certified Financial Manager
Pennsylvania Insurance Licensee ($10 processing fee)
Several PICPA courses may qualify for Yellow Book credits. Determining which courses
qualify for the Yellow Book 24-hour requirement are made on an auditor-specific
basis based on the auditor’s Yellow Book clients.
Auditors performing work under GAGAS should complete the following every two years:
- At least 80 hours of CPE that directly enhances the auditors' professional proficiency to perform audits or attestation engagements
- At least 24 of the 80 hours of CPE should be in subjects directly related to government auditing, the government environment, or the specific or unique environment in which the audited entity operates
- A minimum of 20 hours in any one year of the two-year period
Visit the GAO Web site for more details. For technical or practice questions regarding the Yellow Book, please call (202) 512-9535 or e-mail them.
These requirements are effective June 30, 2005 as outlined in the GAO's Guidance on GAGAS Requirements for Continuing Education. You can also read the overview of "Major Changes from the 1991 CPE Interpretation."
EXCEPTION: Auditors performing work under GAGAS who are only involved in performing field work but are not involved in planning, directing, or reporting on the audit or attestation engagement, and who charge less than 20 percent of their time annually to GAGAS audits and attestation engagements, should complete every two years: At least 24 hours of CPE in subjects and topics directly related to government auditing, the government environment, or the specific or unique environment in which the audited entity operates, but are exempt from the remainder of the 80-hour CPE requirement. Auditors who meet these criteria should follow the CPE requirements and guidance of their audit organization and the requirements of any relevant professional organization or licensing body.
License Renewal
Once you have completed all of the CPE requirements, go to the Pennsylvania Licensing System website to report your CPE and renew your license.
You must complete the required CPE before renewing your license. The renewal application should be completed on or before Dec. 31 of the reporting year. All Pennsylvania licensees are on the same biennial reporting period, ending Dec. 31 of odd-numbered years (such as 2019, 2021, etc.). The license expiration date coincides with the reporting period.
The renewal fee is $100. Print a copy of your renewal application before submission for your records.
View a summary of all the PICPA events you have attended in your CPE History. In the event that a signed CPE History letter is required, print your State Board transcript from your CPE History.
Failure to complete 20 hours of acceptable CPE each year for the first offense is $300, and for the second or subsequent offenses is formal action.
The State Board of Accountancy issued a schedule of civil penalties for CPAs failing to meet the CPE requirements. For first offenses:
- 1-20 hour deficiency - $300
- 21-40 hour deficiency - $600
- 41-60 hour deficiency - $800
- 61-80 hour deficiency - $1000
Download PICPA's printable checklist for reactivating your CPA license in Pennsylvania.
To reactivate your license, log in to your Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) account, navigate to the Professional License Details section, click on the pencil icon, and follow the instructions. You can view all fee details on the PA Licensing System website.
You will need to complete 80 credit hours of CPE within the 24 months preceding your request for reactivation. All CPE must be complete at the time of your reactivation request. Reactivation forms are only valid for 30 days after issuance.
To contact the State Board of Accountancy:
If you'd like to place your individual CPA license on inactive status, follow the steps above and choose the Inactivate option in the Professional License Details section.Mail: P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Phone: (717) 783-1404
Fax: (717) 705-5540
Individuals may take up to 40 credits (50% of the total CPE requirement) as self-study.
Review and download PICPA's at-a-glance guide for details about all credit types and CPE requirements.
The State Board defines two types of self-study - interactive and noninteractive - as follows:
"Interactive individual study program-A CPE program that is designed to use interactive learning methodologies that simulate a classroom learning process by employing software, other courseware or administrative systems that provide significant ongoing interactive feedback to the participant regarding the learning process."
"Noninteractive individual study program-A CPE program that is designed to permit a participant to learn a given subject without interaction with an instructor or interactive learning methodologies and requires the participant to achieve a 70% minimum grade on a written examination or workbook."
Further, interactive study programs shall be given one credit hour of continuing education credit for each 50 minutes of participation. PICPA's On-Demand sessions qualify as individual, interactive self-study. Noninteractive programs shall be given one credit hour of continuing education for each 100 minutes of participation.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy is the regulatory body responsible for licensing CPE program sponsors. Licensing status of CPE program sponsors is available at www.pals.pa.gov/verify. The following are exempt from the Pennsylvania CPE approval process: an entity that is a member in good standing of NASBA's National Registry of CPE Program Sponsors, an entity that is approved as a CPE program sponsor by the accountancy regulatory body of a state that permits practice of public accounting under principles of substantial equivalency, or a college or university accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
You can still renew your license using the Pennsylvania Licensing System website, but may need to recover your user ID if you do not know it. You should verify your contact information and email address are correct to ensure you receive future license notifications.
Remember, if you are a CPA with an inactive license, but still use the CPA designation on letterhead, business cards, or as a mark of achievement, you need to have the word “inactive” following the designation and comply with other regulations.
There are tools on the Pennsylvania Licensing System login page to recover your username or reset your password. Depending on your scenario, you may need your email address, social security number, license number, and/or license renewal code (found on the wallet card attached to your license) to recover this information. If you need additional assistance, contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy.
