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License Search Covers: California Board of Accountancy.California Board of Accountancy
California Accounting (CPA) CE Requirements
California CPAs need 80 hours of continuing education every 2 years.
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At a glance
California accounting (cpa) license renewal
| Licenses covered | Certified Public Accountant (CPA) [1] |
|---|---|
| CE required for renewal | Yes [1] |
| Hours per CE period | 80 hours [1] |
| CE period | Every 2 years [1] |
| Renewal and reporting | To renew a CPA license in an active status through CBA Connect, licensees must complete the license renewal application, pay the license renewal fee, and document completion of 80 hours of required CE. [1] |
| State-mandated topics | Check the board’s full topic requirements |
This summary covers the licenses listed above. The topics below are selected verified requirements; consult the board’s full rules for all subjects and conditions.
Good to know
- Licensees are not required to complete CE if renewing a license in an inactive status, though they cannot practice public accountancy while in an inactive status. [1]
Rules change, and your own license record decides your deadline. Confirm with the California Board of Accountancy ↗ before you renew.
Your next step
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A public search may be enough for a status check. Another board or employer may require a verification sent directly by the issuer.
Check verification instructions Confirm the recipient’s required format and any fee.Renew your license
Confirm your due date, complete the required education, and submit to the licensing authority.
Information About License Renewal Covers: California Board of Accountancy.Renewal at a glance
| Credential | CPA / accounting firm |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | Confirm the cycle and expiration date for your specific license with the board. |
| Verified fees | CPA licenses expiring after June 30, 2026: $400 renewal fee. [source] |
| Renewal application | Information About License Renewal |
Fees can differ for active, inactive, late, and reinstatement applications. Your official license record controls your deadline.
Source review dates · 3 sources
Dates show when we retrieved the source pages. They do not certify a person’s license, guarantee a portal is online, or establish that every renewal rule was reviewed.
- Boards of Accountancy - NASBA Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
- California Board of Accountancy Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
- CBA - License Renewal Information Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
Free continuing education
Free accounting (cpa) CE
The California Board of Accountancy pages we checked do not name an accreditor we track, so we do not mark individual courses as accepted here. Check a course's approval against the board's rule before relying on it.
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Questions
California accounting (cpa) CE, answered
How many CE hours do California CPAs need?
California CPAs need 80 hours of continuing education every 2 years. To renew a CPA license in an active status through CBA Connect, licensees must complete the license renewal application, pay the license renewal fee, and document completion of 80 hours of required CE.
Does California require specific CE topics for CPAs?
A complete topic list is not verified in this guide. Check the California Board of Accountancy for mandated subjects, live instruction and other conditions for your credential.
Do free online CE courses count in California?
The board pages we checked do not say which providers are accepted. Confirm with the California Board of Accountancy.
Sources & verification
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. We fetched each page on the date shown and confirmed the exact wording below appears on it.
- CBA - License Renewal Information ↗www.dca.ca.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (6)
“audits and if selected, you will be required to submit CE documentation verifying 80 hours of CE was completed. You can download the CE tracking excel spreadsheet to assist in monitoring the completion of your CE. Licensee CE CE Tracking Excel Spreadsheet Board-approved”
“audits and if selected, you will be required to submit CE documentation verifying 80 hours of CE was completed. You can download the CE tracking excel spreadsheet to assist in monitoring the completion of your CE. Licensee CE CE Tracking Excel Spreadsheet Board-approved”
“audits and if selected, you will be required to submit CE documentation verifying 80 hours of CE was completed. You can download the CE tracking excel spreadsheet to assist in monitoring the completion of your CE. Licensee CE CE Tracking Excel Spreadsheet Board-approved”
“audits and if selected, you will be required to submit CE documentation verifying 80 hours of CE was completed. You can download the CE tracking excel spreadsheet to assist in monitoring the completion of your CE. Licensee CE CE Tracking Excel Spreadsheet Board-approved”
“renewing your CPA license through CBA Connect: Renew your license in an active status by completing the license renewal application, paying the license renewal fee, and documenting completion of the required CE. Renew your license in an inactive status by completing the license renewal application and paying the license renewal fee. You are not required to complete CE”
“application and paying the license renewal fee. You are not required to complete CE if you renew your license in an inactive status, however, you cannot practice public accountancy while your license is in an inactive status. Please note, when using the title “certified public accountant,” the”