What are CPE credits (and why are they important?)

If you’re a CPA, you already know Continuing Professional Education credits (CPE) are required to maintain your license. What’s less obvious is how they actually work, ‌what counts toward them, and how they fit into the bigger picture of your career.

Most guidance focuses on how many hours you need and when they’re due. That’s useful, but it leaves out an important layer. CPE credits are part of a broader system designed to keep accountants current, credible, and capable as the profession evolves.

Understanding what CPE credits are is the starting point. From there, the opportunity is to use them in a way that supports how you want to grow.

CPE credits are units that measure ongoing learning for accounting professionals. These credits are required to maintain an active CPA license and demonstrate that you’re staying current in your field.

State boards of accountancy set the requirements, often with guidance from organizations like the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). 

Other professional bodies, such as the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), may also establish standards depending on your specialization.

You can earn CPE credits through a range of activities:

• Courses and workshops, both in-person and online
• Webinars, podcasts, and virtual learning sessions
• Industry conferences and events
• Self-study programs, including reading and assessments

You may also hear the term Continuing Professional Development (CPD). While similar, CPD is often broader and may include voluntary learning focused on long-term career growth rather than licensing requirements.

In most jurisdictions, one CPE credit represents 50 minutes of qualified learning. This standard allows for consistency across different formats, whether you are attending a live session or completing a self-paced course.

Credits are typically grouped into fields of study, such as:

• Accounting and auditing
• Tax
• Ethics
• Technology
• Specialized knowledge areas
• Professional development

Reporting periods vary. Some states require a set number of CPE credits each year, while others use a two- or three-year cycle. Regardless of the structure, the expectation is consistent: ongoing, relevant learning.

For anyone managing CPE credits for CPA compliance, the key is ensuring those hours meet category requirements and reporting standards.

CPE credits are a requirement for maintaining your CPA license, but their real value shows up in how they shape your ability to stay relevant in a changing profession. It’s a built-in mechanism for deliberately strengthening your capabilities year after year.

Accounting is not static. Tax regulations shift, reporting standards evolve, and the tools clients rely on continue to change. Structured learning ensures that your knowledge keeps pace with those changes rather than falling behind.

There is also a credibility component to consider. Clients expect informed guidance, especially when decisions carry financial or regulatory risk. Ongoing education helps demonstrate that your expertise reflects current conditions rather than outdated assumptions.

Over time, CPE can also influence how your role develops. Accountants who approach their learning intentionally can often expand into more specialized or strategic work, whether through advisory services, financial operations, or client support in newer industries.

CPE credits for CPA licensing are governed at the state level, so requirements vary across jurisdictions. That said, there are common patterns.

Many states follow a general structure of:

• 40 hours per year, or 80 hours over a two-year period
• A minimum number of ethics credits within that total
• Specific requirements for accounting or auditing topics, in some cases

Because the details vary, it is important to verify the rules for your specific state board. This includes not just total hours, but also acceptable course providers, reporting timelines, and documentation requirements.

Treating this as a one-time check is risky, as requirements can change. Missing even a small detail can create compliance issues.

This is where the value of CPE often goes underused. Too often, credits are treated as a requirement to complete rather than a resource to apply. Aligning your learning with the direction of your practice turns that requirement into a more deliberate way to build expertise.

If you specialize in startups, your CPE could focus on venture finance, SaaS metrics, and fintech tools. If you are expanding into advisory services, courses in financial modeling, forecasting, or client communication may be more valuable.

Over time, this creates a compounding effect. Your expertise deepens in a specific direction, your services become more differentiated, and your client relationships evolve.

There is also a timing advantage. Many software companies release product updates and training toward the end of the year, making it a natural point to evaluate new tools before the next reporting cycle begins. For accountants, this can turn routine CPE into a way to stay ahead of operational changes their clients will face.

Best practice is to document credits as you earn them, rather than trying to reconstruct everything at the end of a reporting period. This includes saving certificates of completion, maintaining records of course details, and noting how each activity fits into required categories.

Many professionals use simple tracking tools or spreadsheets, while others rely on platforms that automatically record completed courses. The method matters less than consistency.

And remember, audits do happen, and when they do, clear documentation is essential. Having everything organized reduces stress and protects your standing with your licensing board.

Errors can happen when CPE is treated as a last-minute task rather than an ongoing part of your professional rhythm. Here’s what to avoid:

• Procrastination: Waiting until the deadline limits your options and often leads to rushed, low-value course selection.
• Choosing irrelevant content: Choosing whatever is available may satisfy requirements in the short term, but it does little to support your work or growth.
• Tracking and documentation gaps: Missing documentation or failing to record credits properly can create issues during audits, even if you completed the required learning.
• Overlooking category requirements: Even with enough total hours, missing required categories, such as ethics or technical subjects, can create compliance problems.

CPE credits are a constant in the accounting profession, but the way you approach them can vary widely. Handled passively, they remain a recurring requirement and a source of occasional friction. Approached with more intention, they become a way to stay current, deepen your expertise, and adapt to the kinds of clients and work you want to take on. 

Supporting modern businesses means understanding the tools and systems they rely on every day. Platforms like Mercury reflect that broader shift, bringing banking, payments, and financial workflows into a more integrated experience. 

Explore Mercury for Accountants and the Mercury for Accountants Certification to better support your clients with modern financial tools and insights.