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Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements are an important aspect of any professional's career, as they ensure that individuals stay updated with the latest industry knowledge and best practices. However, if you miss the required number of CPE credits, the consequences can be significant, especially in 2024, when the regulations are becoming more stringent. Missed CPE requirements for CPAs can result in the loss of professional certification, which can impact your career growth and earning potential.
Every state board has its own Virtual CPE guidelines, and in this article, we have listed the state-wise consequences of missed CPE requirements below:
CPAs in Alabama who have not completed CPA CPE requirements may be granted additional time to complete them. It is also possible for the Alabama State Board of Accountancy to take disciplinary action.
If a licensee fails a CPE audit, they will automatically be audited for two more years. It may be necessary to take disciplinary action if you fail a follow-up audit.
Those CPAs who fail to meet CPE requirements may see their CPA licenses revoked or suspended. CPA license renewal may also be denied by the Alaska State Board of Accountancy.
It is permissible for the Board to relax or suspend the CPA continuing education requirements for applicants who certify that they will not be practicing public accounting or who are experiencing personal hardship.
In Arizona, disciplinary actions for noncompliance with CPE can range from administrative penalties to suspension. A CPA who is found to be noncompliant by the Board will receive a notification, as well as a right to a hearing. Their CPA license renewal will be suspended if they fail to prove CPE compliance.
A CPA may reinstate his or her certificate up to six months after it has been suspended. They will lose their certificate after six months. A $50 late renewal fee will be charged to noncompliant CPAs after completing their CPE hours, in addition to the regular renewal fee.
The Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy fines those CPAs who fail the CPE audit. To better serve the public and their profession, CPAs will also be required to make up their deficient CPE hours by 2019.
It is possible to request an extension from the California Board of Accountancy if a California CPA is unable to complete their CPE hours.
To renew your membership, send an email to renewalinfo@cba.ca.gov with the following information:
It is the licensee's responsibility to notify the Colorado Board of Accountancy if they are not in compliance with CPE requirements. In addition to self-reporting, the Board will provide additional information via email at dora_accountancyboard@state.co.us.
Late fees are charged to Connecticut CPAs who fail to meet their CPE requirements.
If a CPA doesn't earn 40 CPE hours by December 31, they must contact the Board at dcp.accounting@ct.gov to get a late fee.
To ensure compliance with CPE requirements, the Delaware Board of Accountancy audits randomly.The licensee will be notified if the Board determines they are not meeting their CPE requirements. An extenuating circumstance may be found to justify CPE noncompliance, and disciplinary sanctions can be imposed. In addition to issuing a letter of reprimand, suspending or revoking a licensee's certificate, and imposing a fine of up to $10,000, such sanctions can be applied.
If CPAs do not meet the CPE requirements, the District of Columbia Board of Accountancy may grant them additional time to cure their deficiencies.
If a CPA fails to meet CPE requirements by June 30, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation offers two extensions.
Licensees will need to complete an additional 8 hours of CPE in Accounting and Auditing by September 15.
Licensees are required to complete 16 CPE hours in Accounting and Auditing fields by December 31 to extend their license automatically.
The Georgia State Board of Accountancy will determine whether to reinstate a CPA's license after their license expires if they have not completed their CPE requirements. Reinstatement is at their discretion.
The Hawaii Board of Public Accountancy provides information on CPE requirements for CPAs not in compliance.
Renewals of Idaho CPA licenses require CPE reporting forms and supporting documentation. Accountants who file late must also pay penalties.
CPAs who missed CPE requirements are required to submit the following documents to renew their license:
An Indiana CPA will be notified if they are non-compliant with CPE requirements by the Indiana Board of Accountancy. A CPA CPE penalty may be imposed on the licensee. Within 6 months after the notice is served, the licensee must acquire the number of CPE credits needed to achieve full compliance.
In the case of non-compliance, licensees could face suspension, and the Board could deny reinstatement.
CPAs who missed CPE requirements may have their licenses renewed as inactive, according to the Iowa Society of CPAs.
If a Kansas CPA does not meet CPE requirements within a specified time frame, they must earn 8 additional hours of CPE before their permit may be renewed.
CPAs who haven't earned the required CPE hours should contact the Kentucky Board of Accountancy before renewing their licenses.
Licensees who are not compliant with Louisiana's CPE requirements should submit a letter to the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana explaining their reasons.
If documented hardship or medical reasons exist, CPE requirements may be extended or waived.
At the time of license renewal, Maine licensees have to certify that they have met CPE requirements. The certification is subject to audit.
A CPA's CPE information and documentation may be verified by the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy.
Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy's Continuing Education Committee will audit licensees on a test basis to determine if they have met their CPE requirements. Licensees who do not meet their CPE requirements will be notified. The Committee will give licensees time to correct deficiencies.
To remove a deficiency, Michigan CPAs who have not earned enough CPE hours must earn 4 additional CPE hours each month of time completed.
Applicants who demonstrate that the additional hours would pose an undue hardship may be exempt from the CPE requirement.
If a Minnesota CPA does not meet its CPE requirements by the end of the first month, a $50 late processing fee will be charged. A fee of $25 will be charged for each subsequent month of noncompliance.
If a licensee's CPE requirements were not met before June 30, they might carry back CPE hours earned after June 30 to meet prior period requirements.
Applicants must also notify the Minnesota Board of Accountancy in writing:
A Mississippi CPA who fails to comply with CPE requirements may be subject to disciplinary action by the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy.
Licensed accountants in good standing may cure deficiencies in continuing professional education.
In the event that the Board determines that a licensee has failed to obtain the required CPE hours during the past year, the licensee must apply to the Board within 30 days of the notice.
Fraudulent reporting of CPE requirements and/or failure to meet CPE requirements can lead to disciplinary action.
Licensed public accountants will be notified if their CPE requirements will be audited, and the Board may grant an extension depending on individual hardship, such as illness or military service.
If a CPA does not meet the CPE requirements, they must notify the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy by January 31 and explain why they could not complete the CPE hours. In the event that licensees fail to notify the Board by the deadline, a hearing may be held.
Licensed accountants may receive additional time to correct CPE deficiencies if their CPE requirements have not been met by the Nevada State Board of Accountancy.
If a CPA in New Hampshire realizes he or she won't be able to meet CPE requirements within a certain period of time, they may petition the Board. When CPE requirements are not met, a $100 administrative fee may be charged.
Failure to meet CPE requirements may lead to disciplinary action by the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy.
CPE requirements may be waived by licensees in writing. Requests must be submitted 60 days before the end of the triennial renewal period. Depending on the circumstances, the Board may waive CPE requirements. Waivers will only be valid for the triennial period requested.
A CPE audit is randomly selected for about 10 percent of New Mexico license renewals each month. For more information, contact accountancy.board@state.nm.us.
CPE records are randomly audited each month by the New York State Board for Public Accounting. Failure to comply with the CPE Requirements with the audit may result in disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation of a license.
Noncompliant North Carolina CPAs may lose their licenses for a year and face a $1,000 civil CPA CPE penalty if they fail to complete their CPE requirements.
Licensees who fail the CPE audit, including failing to complete the required number of CPE hours, may face disciplinary action from the North Dakota Board of Accountancy.
The Accountancy Board of Ohio CPE audits about 20 percent of renewing licensees randomly every year. CPAs should contact the Board investigator named in the CPE verification selection email as soon as they realize they will not meet the CPE requirements. By self-reporting the CPE deficiency, late fees and disciplinary hearings can be avoided.
In the event a CPA does not meet the Oklahoma Accountancy Board's CPE requirements, they must contact the CPE coordinator immediately.
Penalties will be imposed on first-time violators of CPE requirements.
When disciplinary sanctions for non-compliance with CPE, licensees must make up the deficit in CPE hours within 6 months of sanction. The license and certificate of the CPA will be suspended if documentation of the make-up CPE hours is not submitted by the deadline.
In the event of noncompliance with CPE requirements, the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy may impose disciplinary action, including a $1,000 fine.
CPAs who have not met CPE requirements in South Carolina can contact the South Carolina Board of Accountancy for guidance.
The South Dakota Board of Accountancy should be contacted as soon as possible if a CPA is short of CPE hours.
The Board may grant one-time 90-day extensions to licensees who explain their reasons and request how much time is necessary to fulfill CPE requirements.
CPAs who missed CPE requirements will be penalized by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. Licenses cannot be renewed until CPE hours are met.
Get detailed info on our recent blog Important Factors To Consider TN CPA CPE Requirements
A license may be revoked by the Texas Board of accountancy if a Texas CPA does not report the minimum CPE requirements for three consecutive years. If a licensee does not report, their certificate may be suspended.
Those who fail to report and meet their CPE requirements by the reporting deadline will not be able to renew their licenses.
If a qualified healthcare provider confirms a medical need, the Utah Board of Accountancy may waive or extend the CPE requirements.
CPE audits will be conducted on a random basis to verify licensee submissions & complete CPE Requirements. If the Board believes there is sufficient cause, it may grant additional time to make up for the deficiencies.
CPE-deficient licensees should notify the Virginia Board of Accountancy immediately after determining their deficiencies and missed CPE Requirements. Email cpe@boa.virginia.gov.
If a Washington CPA does not meet the CPE requirements by the end of their reporting period, they can request a license extension before it expires. Washington State Board of Accountancy accepts extension requests from January 1 to June 30.
A CPE extension is permitted only once in each of two consecutive CPE reporting periods.
If you haven't met your CPE requirements, you can submit a renewal application to your online services account through Secure Access Washington. You'll be taken to the CPE extension request questions if you respond to the application questions.
By January 31 of the following year, West Virginia licensees must report CPE hours.
To extend deadlines for completing CPE requirements for the previous year, CPAs should submit their request to the West Virginia Board of Accountancy by January 31. The extension request fee is $75.
Requests for extensions beyond June 15 will not be granted. After January 31, licensees will also be charged a $150 late filing fee.
CPE requirements are required for license renewal or restatement in Wisconsin by the Department of Safety and Public Services.
The Wyoming CPA board is extending the deadline for licensees who cannot complete their CPE requirements by December 31 by sending an email to wycpaboard@wyo.gov. Licensees have until March 31 to complete their CPE requirements.
The Wyoming Board of CPAs must receive a formal request for the extension by March 1. The request must include good cause for the extension.
In conclusion, missed CPE requirements can seriously affect your career and professional reputation, especially in 2024 when regulations are becoming more stringent. It's essential to stay on top of your professional development and to meet CPE credit requirements, myCPE provides exclusive live webinars, self-study webinars, podcasts, and even state-wise CPE package courses for CPAs.
In 2024, many professional organizations are expected to increase their CPE requirements, making it even more critical for professionals to meet them. Failure to meet these requirements can result in significant consequences, including fines, penalties, and loss of certification.
If you miss the required number of CPE credits in 2024, you may face the consequences such as loss of professional certification, damage to your professional reputation and credibility, difficulty finding job opportunities, and financial penalties.
To avoid the negative consequences of missed CPE requirements, it's important to stay on top of your professional development and plan ahead for the required credits. Consider taking advantage of online courses and attending conferences to expand your knowledge and stay current in your field.
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Imtiaz Munshi, CPA 
