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Verify a Professional or Occupational License Covers: Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy.Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy
Pennsylvania Accounting (CPA) CE Requirements
Pennsylvania CPAs need 80 CPE hours of continuing education every 2 years. 1 state-mandated topic may apply, depending on the license and practice.
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At a glance
Pennsylvania accounting (cpa) license renewal
| Licenses covered | Certified Public Accountant (CPA) [2] |
|---|---|
| CE required for renewal | Yes [2] |
| Hours per CE period | 80 CPE hours [2] |
| CE period | Every 2 years [2] |
| Renewal and reporting | Applicants for biennial license renewal must complete 80 CPE hours with a minimum of 20 CPE hours during each year of the 2-year period. [2] |
| State-mandated topics | Professional ethics [1] |
| What CE counts | Members in good standing of NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Program Sponsors are deemed approved CPE program sponsors without submitting separate applications to the Board. [3] |
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.
State-mandated topics
- Professional ethics — 4 hours [1]
Required CPE hours must include a minimum of 4 CPE hours in professional ethics.
Good to know
- Licensees participating in attest activity must complete a minimum of 24 CPE hours in accounting and attest. [1]
Rules change, and your own license record decides your deadline. Confirm with the Pennsylvania State 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.
Renewal Information Covers: Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy.Renewal at a glance
| Credential | CPA / accounting firm |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | Biennial renewal expiring December 31 of every odd-numbered year. [source] |
| Verified fees | The quoted CPA and public-accountancy-firm renewal fee is $100; check other credential rows separately. [source] |
| Renewal application | Renewal Information |
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
- Accountancy Board | Department of State | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
- Renewal Information | Department of State | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Free courses that count toward the hours
Free CE accepted in Pennsylvania
The board accepts continuing education accredited by NASBA [3]. These current free courses state that accreditation. State-mandated topics can require a specific approved course, so check those separately.
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandTARIFFS, RATE CUTS, AND THE DOLLAR: PRACTICAL PLANNING STRATEGIES
Self-study activity in Economics, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandESSENTIAL STATE AND LOCAL TAX YEAR-END PLANNING STRATEGIES
Self-study activity in Taxes, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandBILL's FINANCIAL OPERATIONS PLATFORM PRODUCT WALKTHROUGH
Self-study activity in Computer Software and Applications, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandSID KESS: A LEGEND & HIS LEGACY IN THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION
Self-study activity in Personal Development, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandFIVE WAYS TO DECREASE STRESS DURING TAX SEASON: INTRO AND Q&A WITH SID KESS
Self-study activity in Personal Development, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandBILL'S AI PRODUCT WALKTHROUGH
Self-study activity in Accounting, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandBILL's AP PRODUCT WALKTHROUGH
Self-study activity in Computer Software and Applications, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandTO DOJ TAX AND BACK AGAIN: A SIT-DOWN WITH CAROLINE CIRAOLO
Self-study activity in Specialized Knowledge, offered through CPAacademy.org. Complete the attendance or assessment requirements to claim credit.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
CPAacademy.orgFree
Available on demandMONEY LAUNDERING 101 FOR CPAs
Instant webinar in Specialized Knowledge, offered through CPAacademy.org. Start and finish within the provider’s access window.
Checked Oct 22, 2026
Your next credential
Free exam preparation for certified public accountants
Explore Pennsylvania and national exam practice for your profession on OpenExamPrep.
OpenExamPrepFree exam preparation Free practice
More exam preparation for certified public accountants →CPA Certified Public Accountant
Free practiceCPA FAR Financial Accounting & Reporting
These are exam-preparation resources, separate from continuing education credit. Exam registration fees and eligibility are set by the exam sponsor.
Questions
Pennsylvania accounting (cpa) CE, answered
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania CPAs need?
Pennsylvania CPAs need 80 CPE hours of continuing education every 2 years. 1 state-mandated topic may apply, depending on the license and practice. Applicants for biennial license renewal must complete 80 CPE hours with a minimum of 20 CPE hours during each year of the 2-year period.
Does Pennsylvania require specific CE topics for CPAs?
Professional ethics (4 hours): Required CPE hours must include a minimum of 4 CPE hours in professional ethics.
Do free online CE courses count in Pennsylvania?
Members in good standing of NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Program Sponsors are deemed approved CPE program sponsors without submitting separate applications to the Board. Free courses accredited by NASBA are listed on this page; a state-mandated topic may need a specific approved course.
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.
- 49 Pa. Code § 11.63. CPE subject areas; relevance to professional competence. ↗www.pacodeandbulletin.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (2)
“applications—no minimum. (6) Taxation—no minimum. (7) Professional ethics—minimum of 4 CPE hours (effective as a condition of obtaining a license for the 2014-15 license period and thereafter). (b) The CPE hours required under § 11.62 must be relevant to maintaining”
“with the following minimum hours as noted: (1) Accounting and attest—minimum of 24 CPE hours if participating in attest activity; otherwise no minimum. A licensee who supervises attest services and signs an accountant’s report for attest services may also need to complete additional CPE as”
- 49 Pa. Code § 11.62. CPE requirement for issuance of license; waiver or extension. ↗www.pacodeandbulletin.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (5)
“period in which the application was filed. (b) An applicant for renewal of a current license shall have completed 80 CPE hours, in the subject areas in § 11.63, during the 2-year period preceding the start of the next license period. An applicant shall have completed a minimum of 20 CPE”
“period in which the application was filed. (b) An applicant for renewal of a current license shall have completed 80 CPE hours, in the subject areas in § 11.63, during the 2-year period preceding the start of the next license period. An applicant shall have completed a minimum of 20 CPE”
“period in which the application was filed. (b) An applicant for renewal of a current license shall have completed 80 CPE hours, in the subject areas in § 11.63, during the 2-year period preceding the start of the next license period. An applicant shall have completed a minimum of 20 CPE”
“preceding the start of the next license period. An applicant shall have completed a minimum of 20 CPE hours during each year of the 2-year period. (c) An applicant for reactivation of an expired or inactive license shall have completed 80 CPE hours, in the subject areas in § 11.63, during the 2-year period”
“period in which the application was filed. (b) An applicant for renewal of a current license shall have completed 80 CPE hours, in the subject areas in § 11.63, during the 2-year period preceding the start of the next license period. An applicant shall have completed a minimum of 20 CPE”
- 49 Pa. Code § 11.69a. Approval of CPE program sponsor. ↗www.pacodeandbulletin.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (1)
“submit applications for approval to the Board: (1) An individual or entity that is a member in good standing of NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Program Sponsors. (2) An individual or entity that is approved as a CPE program sponsor by the accountancy regulatory body of a state that permits the practice of public accounting”