MYCPE ONE

PCAOB CPE Requirements

Know Your Requirement

PCAOB CPE Requirements Overview

Last Reviewed on: 06 Apr, 2026

CPE Requirements

120 hours every 3 years, with 20 hours of qualifying CPE annually.

License Renewal Period

Managed by state boards; renewal rules vary by jurisdiction.

CPE Reporting Cycle

January 1st to December 31st for every three-year period.

Ethics Requirement

It depends on your state board.

Carry Over Credits

Subject to state or AICPA carryforward policy.

Subject Area Restriction

Audit professionals must earn 8 hours yearly and 48 hours every three years in accounting and auditing.


- This requirement applies to professionals who devote at least 25% of their time to performing audit, review, or other attest engagements (excluding compilations), or who have partner/manager-level responsibility for supervising or reviewing such engagements.  

Note: Individuals who devote less than 25% of their time to such work must still meet the overall 120-hour CPE requirement but are not subject to accounting and auditing minimums. View more

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compliance requirements

Simplified PCAOB Compliance Regulations for 2026

CPE Requirement

120 hours of CPE over a three-year reporting period (rolling, calendar-based), with 20 hours of qualifying CPE annually.

Ethics Requirement

Determined by the state board; PCAOB materials here do not mandate a specific ethics allotment.

Subject Areas

Professionals performing or supervising audits, reviewing, or attesting engagements must earn at least 8 CPE hours annually and 48 hours every three years in accounting and auditing subjects. * 

Eligible Learning Activities

Includes Group Internet Based, QAS Self-Study, Blended Group, Nano Learning, University/college courses, Private institutions, and more.

CPE Deadline

Complete credits by the end of your calendar reporting period. Members have an additional two months to make up deficiencies, but those hours don’t count toward the next cycle.

Fast Track CE/CPE

Our Fast Track U.S. CPE packages are curated bundles that meet U.S. professionals’ continuing education needs in one place, saving selection time while aligning to accepted formats. (View more)

Reporting Period

January 1st to December 31st every three years.

License Renewal

Managed by state boards; non-renewal consequences and reinstatement processes are jurisdiction specific.

Carry Over Credits

Follow state board/AICPA rules; PCAOB materials here do not create carryover rights.

Record Retention

Maintain records of completed CPE credits for 5 years, including certificates, program details, and proof of participation, as they may be requested by the board for audit purposes.

Renewal Fees

Set by state boards; not specified by PCAOB.

Do MYCPE ONE Courses Qualify CPE under PCAOB-relevant Standards? Yes

When courses comply with the AICPA & NASBA CPE Standards for program development, delivery, measurement, and documentation (e.g., learning objectives, qualified instructors, engagement, and evidence of completion). Your state board’s acceptance rules also apply for license renewal.

Group Internet Based, QAS Self-Study, Group Live, and Nano Learning.

You can verify our NASBA sponsorship under MYCPE ONE on the NASBA Registry. For convenient access to our courses, click here to explore the MYCPE ONE course catalog. We offer an all-inclusive subscription model, similar to Netflix, where a single subscription gives you access to the largest online course catalog. Plus, our subscription rates are 60% lower than other platforms. Subscribe today!

Contact Information for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)

Headquarters
1666 K Street NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006-2803
Phone: (202) 207-9100
Fax: (202) 862-8430

For More information: Click here

We Review CPE Compliance Requirements Every Twelve Months

At MYCPE ONE, we are committed to providing professionals across all designations with the most accurate and up-to-date continuing education information. Our team reviews and updates the CPE requirement information for PCAOB - Registered Firm Professional every Twelve months to reflect the latest standards and policies set by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

While we work diligently to ensure accuracy, we encourage professionals to confirm the requirements directly with their respective boards or credentialing authorities through the official links provided here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

PCAOB professionals must complete 120 hours of qualifying Continuing Professional Education (CPE) every three years, with a minimum of 20 hours annually to maintain compliance.

To become a PCAOB Board Member, a CPA must be appointed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after consultation with the Federal Reserve and the Treasury. Candidates should demonstrate extensive experience in auditing, financial reporting, or regulation and meet strict independence and ethics standards under the PCAOB Code. At least two of the five Board members must be licensed CPAs, and active partners or employees of registered firms are generally ineligible due to conflict-of-interest restrictions. Click Here for more information.

The reporting period runs from January 1 to December 31 over a rolling three-year cycle, ensuring consistency across calendar years.

Ethics CPE requirements depend on the state board governing your license. The PCAOB itself does not mandate a fixed ethics hour allotment.

Professionals who perform or supervise audits, reviews, or attest engagements must earn at least 8 CPE hours annually and 48 hours every three years in accounting and auditing topics.

You are granted a two-month grace period after the reporting period ends to make up any shortfall. However, hours earned in this period cannot count toward the next reporting cycle.

Accepted learning formats include Group Internet-Based, QAS Self-Study, Nano Learning, Blended Group programs, and accredited college or university courses.

Carryover policies are determined by your state board or the AICPA. PCAOB guidelines themselves do not establish carryover provisions.

License renewal and CPE verification are handled by individual state boards, each with its own rules, timelines, and reinstatement procedures.

CPE credits must be completed by December 31 of your reporting year. Any hours used to make up deficiencies within the two-month grace period cannot be applied to future cycles.

Professionals should keep CPE records for at least five years, including certificates, program details, and proof of participation, in case of audit review by regulatory authorities.

Renewal fees are not set by the PCAOB; they are determined by each state board in accordance with its jurisdictional policies.

Professionals must earn at least 20 hours of qualifying CPE annually, ensuring continuous professional competence across the reporting cycle.

The requirement applies to professionals who fall into either of the following categories: (1) those who devote at least 25% of their time to performing audit, review, or other attest engagements (excluding compilations), or (2) those who have partner or manager-level responsibility for supervising or reviewing such engagements.

You’re exempt from the 8-hour annual and 48-hour triennial accounting and auditing CPE minimums but must still complete 120 total CPE hours every three years, including 20 hours annually.