MYCPE ONE

Ethics is crucial for CPAs to maintain public trust and their credentials. Like other U.S. states, Florida CPAs must follow Florida CPA ethics requirements. As a CPA, you need to attend a Florida CPA ethics course to earn CPE ethics credit. However, when it comes to finding the Right Florida CPA Ethics Course, you must keep some vital things in mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Florida CPAs need 4 hours of Florida Board-approved ethics in every two-year reestablishment period, inside the 80-hour total.
  • Florida does not accept ethics courses approved only by other states, the AICPA, or NASBA. The course must appear on the Board's approved list, which currently runs through June 30, 2027.
  • You must enter the course's DBPR approval number when you report ethics in the DBPR CPE Reporting Tool. No number on the list means no ethics credit.
  • If you split the 4 hours into two modules, both must come from the same provider.
  • Nonresident Florida licensees still need the Florida ethics course, even when their home state's CPE covers the rest.
  • CPE must be completed by June 30 and uploaded by July 31. Missing it triggers automatic extensions that add 8 or 16 extra accounting and auditing hours.

Florida Board-Approved List

Florida accepts only ethics courses approved by the Florida Board of Accountancy. CPAs must complete 4 hours of ethics on every biennial basis. The course must review Chapter 455 (general rules for DBPR-regulated professions) and Chapter 473 (public accountancy) of the Florida Statutes, plus the Board's administrative rules in Chapter 61H.

Florida CPA CPE requirements at a glance 

RequirementRule per reestablishment period
Total CPE80 hours every two years
Ethics4 hours, Florida Board-approved only
Accounting and auditing (A&A)At least 8 hours
Behavioral subjectsNo more than 20 hours
Technical businessNo limit
Credit incrementsHalf-hour increments only (1.4 credits counts as 1; 1.8 counts as 1.5)
Governmental audits24 hours of governmental CPE (if audited under Government Auditing Standards)

How Do You Choose the Right Florida CPA Ethics Course? 10 Tips

1. Confirm your reestablishment period before you buy

Start with your own deadline, not the course catalog. Check your license expiration year in the DBPR Online Services portal and match it to the deadline table.

License ExpiresReestablishment periodCPE ReportingRenewal window
Dec 31, 2026 (Even Year)July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026Upload by July 31, 2026Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Dec 31, 2027 (Odd Year)July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027Upload by July 31, 2027Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2027


2. Start with the Board-approved list, not the provider's marketing

The Florida Board publishes a list of approved ethics providers and courses. The current list expires June 30, 2027, and as of October 2026 it shows 48 approved courses. Before you pay, find the exact course title on that list. A provider can be approved while a specific course is not.

3. Treat NASBA approval as necessary, not sufficient

NASBA's QAS program matters for self-study. Florida requires self-study courses in accounting, auditing, and technical business to come from QAS-approved sponsors, and NASBA's Florida summary says a self-study ethics course must also be QAS-approved.

But NASBA approval alone never satisfies the Florida ethics hours. Look for both NASBA National Registry, and the Florida Board's ethics list.

ENROLL IN FLORIDA BOARD-APPROVED ETHICS NOW
Florida CPA Ethics Course: Stay Compliant with State Requirements
 Register Now 



Search the name in the approval list mentioned above.

4. Check the syllabus for Florida-specific content

A Florida ethics course is not a generic ethics webinar with a state name. Look for learning objectives that cover:

  • Chapter 455, F.S. (DBPR's general provisions for licensed professions)
  • Chapter 473, F.S. (the Florida public accountancy law)
  • Chapter 61H1, F.A.C. (Board of Accountancy rules, including CPE and conduct rules)
  • The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, independence, and practice mobility
  • Recent rule or law changes that affect Florida licensees

5. Pick the format you will actually finish

The Board's list labels each course as Self-Study or Live Study. Most approved courses are self-study, with a smaller group of live classroom or live online options from providers such as the FICPA and university programs.

FormatBest forWatch out for
Self-studyBusy-season schedules, nonresident licensees, last-minute completionFinal exam required; most providers set a completion window, often one year
Live studyCPAs who want discussion and Q&AFixed dates; missing part of the session can cost you the certificate
Firm on-site sessionsFirms with several Florida CPAs renewing togetherScheduling across offices


6. Take all 4 hours from one provider

Florida allows the ethics requirement to be completed in two modules. If you do that, both modules must come from the same approved provider. Two 2-hour Florida ethics courses from two different providers will not add up to a compliant 4 hours.

The simple fix is to buy one 4-hour course and finish it in one or two sittings with that provider.

7. Make sure the certificate will survive a DBPR audit

The DBPR audits CPE records every year. Your certificate of completion should show:

  • Your name and the completion date
  • The provider's name and DBPR ethics provider number
  • The course title as it appears on the Board's list
  • The DBPR course approval number
  • Hours earned in the ethics category

CTA

8. Vet the instructor, not just the platform

Florida ethics content sits at the intersection of law, regulation, and professional judgment. Instructors with a CPA license plus legal and academic ethics experience usually teach it better. Look for real disciplinary cases and practice scenarios in the course outline.

9. Nonresident licensees: still need the Florida course

Florida grants CPE reciprocity to nonresident licensees who meet their home state's CPE requirements, with one exception. Section 473.312(1)(c), F.S., still requires the Florida Board-approved ethics course.

To renew, a nonresident licensee completes a Florida-approved ethics course, enters it in the DBPR reporting tool, and uploads both the certificate and DBPR Form CPA 14 (Out-of-State Licensee CPE Acknowledgement). Many multi-state CPAs miss this step because their home-state ethics course feels like enough.

10. Price the whole 80-hour cycle, not just the ethics course

Stand-alone Florida ethics courses are priced individually by each provider. If you also need A&A hours, technical business hours, or extra A&A hours for an extension, a bundle or unlimited subscription is often cheaper per credit.

Compare three numbers before you buy:

  • Cost of the ethics course alone
  • Cost per credit for the rest of your 80 hours
  • Whether the package includes a credit tracker and certificate storage, which saves time at reporting.

MYCPE ONE's Florida CPA Ethics Course

MYCPE ONE offers a 4-hour, self-study Florida ethics course that appears on the Florida Board's approved list for the biennium ending June 30, 2027. 

DetailValue
Course titleFlorida CPA Ethics Course: Stay Compliant with State Requirements
Provider (as listed by DBPR)MY-CPE LLC
DBPR ethics provider number0008632
DBPR course approval number0003626
Hours4 (Florida Board-approved ethics)
FormatSelf-study
Board approval dateJuly 28, 2025
InstructorAlbert Spalding, CPA, JD, PhD
NASBA Sponsor ID143597


Conclusion

The right Florida CPA ethics course is the one the DBPR accepts without question. Take the listed course approved by the board that covers Chapters 455 and 473, backed by a certificate with an approval number.

Know your deadline group, finish ethics early, plan your A&A hours and upload as you go. Renew your license between October 1 and December 31 of your renewal year.

FAQ

Florida CPAs need 4 hours of Florida Board-approved ethics in each two-year reestablishment period. These 4 hours count toward the 80-hour total, not on top of it.

The AICPA course can count as general CPE, but it does not satisfy the Florida ethics requirement. Florida only accepts ethics courses approved by the Florida Board of Accountancy.

Yes. Most courses on the Board's approved list are self-study courses you complete online. Live online and in-person options are also available from some providers.

Find the exact course title on the Florida Board-Approved Ethics Course List at myfloridalicense.com. Approved courses show a DBPR course approval number, which you enter when you report ethics in the DBPR CPE Reporting Tool.


Imtiaz Munshi, CPA

Imtiaz Munshi, CPA

CFO, AZSTEC LLC

Imtiaz Munshi, CPA (US), is the CFO at Azstec, LLC and a trusted advisor to high-net-worth entrepreneurs. A seasoned tax planner and a business strategist with his 25 years of experience, he helps businesses grow smarter and stronger. Imtiaz specializes in guiding entrepreneurs and enterprises through complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence. His passion lies in simplifying strategy, optimizing tax outcomes, and driving sustainable growth. Through his work and thought leadership, Imtiaz continues to empower CPAs and business owners to stay ahead in an evolving financial landscape shaped by AI, ESG, and data-driven change.

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