myCPE

5 Best Places For Free CPE Credits

Summary

Looking to earn free CPE credits without the stress or extra cost? This guide breaks down the top 5 trusted platforms that help CPAs, CIAs, and CFEs stay compliant and boost their careers completely free. From live webinars to self- study courses, you'll explore options like MYCPE ONE, AICPA, CFI, and even free programs offered by Big Four firms and top conferences. No matter your credential or learning style, there’s a smart, zero-cost solution to keep you moving forward.

Free CPE Credits are a game-changer for today’s accounting and finance professionals. With over 650,000 CPAs in the U.S. alone and mandatory CPE requirements in every state, demand for cost-effective education is at an all-time high. According to NASBA, professionals need up to 120 hours of CPE every 3 years, yet many still overpay. 

This blog cuts through the clutter, spotlighting five reliable platforms where you can earn Free CPE Credits without compromising quality or compliance.

Which CPE Course Providers Offer Free Accounting CPE Credits?

1. MYCPE ONE

MY-CPE ONE

MYCPE ONE is one of the most emerging NASBA-approved continuing education platforms. It provides high-quality courses for CPE credits in 500+ subject areas (including accounting, auditing, finance, taxes, technology, etc.). They have made 15,000+ hours of courses available at an individual subscription price.

Don't stress over it; check out this list of free CPE courses for CPA, CIA, CFE, CMA, and other designations from MYCPE ONE to dip your toes in. All courses are of premium quality, specifically curated for your learning and CPEs. 

Top Trending Courses To Earn Free CPE Credits

CoursesFree Reg. linkCreditsRating
Detecting Fraud through Vendor AuditsClick here1 Credit4.6
Analytics-Based Corporate Performance Management Click here1 Credit4.6
Real-Time Financial Modeling for Agile Decision-MakingClick here1 Credit4.5
Big Data Analytics in Enhancing Financial Statement AnalysisClick here1 Credit4.5
AI and Personal Finance: Best Alternatives for Personal Investment ConsiderationsClick here1 Credit4.5


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Why Professionals Choose MYCPE ONE For CPE

MYCPE ONE Success Stories


Kevin Conyngham

★★★★☆

"My experience with MYCPE ONE was very successful. I achieved 120 credits within a few months. The topics and course variety were exceptional. The few issues I did have were handled professionally and quickly by Monika. She and the overall experience with My CPE exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend MYCPE ONE. Keep up the good work"

Source- Trustpilot

2. AICPA

AICPA

With more than 428,000 members in 130 countries, the AICPA represents the national CPA profession in the United States. You can learn about accounting standards, tax laws, financial reporting, and more through AICPA's free webcasts and self-study courses to earn free accounting CPE credits. 

Pros Pros

  • Courses offered by AICPA for tens to hundreds of dollars. 
  • Approved Free CPE Courses

Cons Cons

  • Limited Course Variety: The AICPA might offer a limited selection of free CPE courses compared to their paid offerings, restricting your choices in specific topics or areas of interest.
  • Lower Quality Content: As free courses, the AICPA's offerings may not be as comprehensive or as in-depth as their premium counterparts, potentially leading to a less enriching learning experience.
  • Eligibility Criteria: Some free courses may have eligibility criteria, such as membership requirements or specific professional credentials, making them inaccessible to certain individuals.
"Free CPE resources have evolved dramatically in quality. Today's complimentary offerings from reputable providers often match or exceed paid alternatives, particularly in technical subject areas."   Sarah Johnson, CPA, Former State Board Member

3. Becker

Becker banner

Backer has a name in the accounting and finance industry helping professionals to stay updated. Becker offers you a free CPE credit for CPA to test and attract the user.

Pros Pros

  • It offers a curated free course covering crucial topics. 
  • The selected courses are claimed to meet state-specific requirements.  
  • They offer a selection of courses that cater to various needs.  

Cons Cons

  • Limited Free Access, one course per new customer only.
  • No course name or specification is mentioned.
  • Just blind faith, what's inside the course is a complete dark spot.
  • Before registering, you need to provide your information and consent to receiving calls, emails, and/or texts from Becker.

4. Big Four

BigFour banner

Big Four is another major global platform offering a number of free webcasts for CPAs that are eligible for CPE, covering a wide range of topics to keep professionals updated on the latest accounting, tax, and regulatory developments. 

Attending the webcast and answering the pooling question, you can receive up to 1-2 free CPE credits from each. Depending on the length of the webcast, for 50 minutes = 1 Credit; for 75 and 100 minutes, you receive 1.5 and 2 credits. But, the major drawback is that only some of the webcasts are applicable for the CPE credit. 

PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, and EY all offer courses for continuing education, both live and on-demand CPE webinars. 

Pros Pros

  • Being the leading industry network, the big force can offer a greater insight and high quality content. 
  • The webcast covered a diverse range of courses, including financial statement, tax audit, sustainability, tech, and more. 
  • They also offer live webinars- a classroom setting to make learning interesting and engaging. 

Cons Cons

  • CPE credit is not available for all live webcasts, so be careful when you select any course for CPE purposes only. 
  • Strict attendance timing and answering policy questions, as well as polling questions, are mandatory to obtain CPE credit. Free webinars are typically hosted during business hours, which can be a challenge for professionals to attend. 
  • In case of any technical glitch in the final time of the webcast, it can cause you to miss out your credit. 

5. CPEthink.com

cpethink banner

Cpethink.com positions itself as a go-to self-study CPE website for professionals. Currently, they offer two free CPE courses for CPA and EAs only. The free courses are accredited by NASBA, and one by the IRS ensures the course quality. 

Pros Pros

  • The free courses are self-study courses and you get the flexibility to learn at your own time and pace. 
  • The courses are available in both video and text formats to suit your learning style. 
  • You can easily download and print the supplementary text in Newland. Both courses are accredited and approved for continuing education. 

Cons Cons

  • A very limited option of only two free courses is available 
  • Drew the final exam and earned a 70% score to get CPE credits. 
  • The courses last only one year for registration, and you must complete them within the stipulated time. 
  • Only a self-study course has no live interaction or an instructor available.

Each platform offering free CPE courses for CPAs has its own set of advantages and drawbacks.

So, while selecting the ideal free CPE course provider, choose the one that aligns with your professional goals and requirements.

How Do You Choose the Best Free CPE Course Providers?

Here, you can look for some key notes that will help you through this.

1. Accreditation And Approval

Don't waste time on courses just because they're free if they're not relevant or recognized. Prioritize providers with recognized accreditations and approvals to ensure they meet industry standards.

2. Course Relevance

Assess the courses offered based on your industry, specialization, or areas of professional interest that can effectively contribute to your professional development.

3. Delivery Format

Free courses are mostly sponsored and not as adequate to meet the knowledge standards. So, be aware and choose the course from experienced instructors for a high-quality learning experience.

4. Quality Of Instructors

Free courses are mostly sponsored and not as adequate to meet the knowledge standards. So, be aware and choose the course from experienced instructors for a high-quality learning experience.

5. User-Friendly Platform

Flexibility and ease of learning can improve your learning growth. Choose providers with excellent resources and high-end features, like Mobile Applications, Credit Tracker, Credit Vault, etc.

6. Course Reviews And Testimonials

Check the other users' reviews and testimonials of those who have undertaken the programs to ensure the quality standards of the courses.

7. Support And Resources

Evaluate the level of support provided by the platform and the availability of supplementary materials to ensure a seamless learning journey.

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Conclusion

Free CPE courses are an incredible resource for managing the cost of renewing your license. Instead of looming around, invest your precious time and money in an authorized and adequate CPE course provider.

MYCPE ONE offers your free course eligible for CPE credits, maintaining the same standards of premium offerings. The free courses are part of complete unsponsored courses. Including the free CPE credits in your course, portfolio will help you understand the quality standards of the course and make an informed decision about whether to upgrade as a Premium Subscriber or not. 

Even if you do not opt to subscribe, you still get a free CPE credit with premium learning.

FAQs

Accounting professionals can obtain free CPE credits through several legitimate sources including AICPA member benefits, firm-sponsored training, state society offerings, free cpe webinars from providers like MYCPE ONE, and self-study options. Each method has different requirements for completion verification and certificate issuance.

Yes, MYCPE ONE offers free CPE credits to its users. New users can access unlimited courses with a 7-day free trial, including webcasts, self-study programs, and on-demand recordings.


CPE stands for Continuing Professional Education. It refers to the learning activities accountants, CPAs, and other finance professionals complete to maintain their licenses, stay updated on industry changes, and meet state or board compliance requirements.


Detailed information about CPE requirements for CPAs can be found on MYCPE ONE's website. You may also need to comply with additional requirements based on which state you practice in. You can find this information at your local State Board of Public Accountancy.

CPE providers and educational companies offer self-study courses as a form of CPE. CPE credits are earned by independently studying and passing an exam to verify your understanding of professional knowledge. MYCPE ONE, provides self-study CPE in text format as well as online; these forms of CPE are often found online.

Generally, 1 hour of qualifying CPE instruction equals 1 CPE credit. However, requirements can vary by state board and credential type. Some self-study courses may use a 50-minute hour standard, while others may require completion of knowledge checks to award full credit.

Imtiaz Munshi, CPA

Imtiaz Munshi, CPA

CFO, AZSTEC LLC

The author Imtiaz Munshi is a Certified Public Accountant and CFO at Azstec, LLC. He is Business Strategist, Tax Planner, Entrepreneur and Advisor to "HNEs" (High Net Worth Entrepreneurs).

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