Renew Your CPA License in Pennsylvania

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:

Mail: P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649 
Phone: (717) 783-1404
Fax: (717) 705-5540
E-mail 

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.

You will need to send copies of your signed certificates of completion, totaling a minimum of 80 credit hours, for the reporting period. The certificate of completion must contain the information found in the State Board of Accountancy’s regulations, including the signature of the CPE sponsor. If you need additional assistance, please e-mail PICPA. We suggest you maintain a copy of any correspondence with the State Board of Accountancy.

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.

Even if you will not complete your CPE requirements until late December, it is strongly recommended that you access your renewal application on the Pennsylvania Licensing System website to ensure you can properly access your information. You can submit your renewal application when you have completed your CPE requirements, enter the remaining information, and file your renewal application by Dec. 31. You must file your renewal application no later than Dec. 31.

If you are designated as the “key person” in your firm responsible for the renewal of your firm’s license to practice, you may renew the firm license as soon as the license renewal window opens. You do not need to wait until your individual CPE requirement is completed. Be sure to renew your firm license prior to Dec. 31, to ensure that your firm remains licensed to provide public accounting services.Firms that performed an audit or review engagement during the previous two years will need to submit peer review information for the renewal.

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.

Any request for a waiver or extension of time to complete either peer review or CPE requirements must be sent to the State Board in writing, documenting the reason(s) for the request. This request must be received by the State Board prior to the end of the reporting period.

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.

If you plan to request inactive status because you no longer practice public accounting, you may do so through the online renewal process.
 
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.

The State Board verifies that the renewal application has been accurately completed and re-issues permits to practice. A random number of renewal forms will be selected for an audit, which will require the licensee to provide further documentation of individual CPE hours. In addition, under the Business License Information Exchange Program, state agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction will provide your demographic renewal information to the Department of Revenue. The department will then verify that the entities/persons seeking a license renewal are compliant with their state tax obligations. If you (or your firm) have an outstanding state tax obligation, or you do not meet the CPE or peer review re-licensing requirements, you will be subject to disciplinary action by the State Board.

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. 

According to the State Board of Accountancy, evidence to support fulfillment of your CPE requirements should be maintained for five years after the completion of educational courses. Get more information here.