Free Cpe Credits A Guide To No-Cost Continuing Professional Education For Cpas

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is a mandatory requirement for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and other finance professionals to maintain their licenses and stay current with evolving industry standards. While these credits are essential, the cost of courses can accumulate quickly. Fortunately, several reputable organizations and platforms offer free CPE opportunities. These options allow professionals to meet compliance requirements without financial strain, covering topics ranging from tax and auditing to financial modeling and ethics. This article explores the primary sources for obtaining free CPE credits, the requirements for earning them, and how to access these valuable resources.

Understanding Free CPE Credit Opportunities

Free CPE credits are available through various channels, including webinars, self-study courses, and on-demand videos. These opportunities are often provided by accounting firms, software companies, professional organizations, and specialized training platforms. While many CPE courses are paid, specific free offerings appear throughout the year, particularly around new standards, ethics, and public interest topics. The key to accessing these credits lies in knowing where to look and understanding the specific requirements for participation.

Key Platforms and Providers

Several established platforms provide free CPE courses. Each has a unique focus and set of offerings.

myCPE

myCPE offers a mix of free and paid CPE courses across accounting, tax, ethics, auditing, and more. Their free offerings include webinars, on-demand videos, and self-study content, all of which are NASBA-approved. The platform is particularly useful for managing compliance requirements, featuring a built-in CPE tracker that aligns with state board rules. * Credits Available: Varies by course, typically 1.0–2.0 CPE credits. * How to Register: Visit my-cpe.com, create a free account, and filter by "Free Courses" to browse eligible content. Complete the course requirements to earn and download your CPE certificate.

AICPA (American Institute of CPAs)

As the standard-setting body for the CPA profession, AICPA offers a selection of free CPE opportunities through webinars, self-study courses, and occasional promotions. While many of their courses are paid, free CPE options do appear throughout the year—especially around new standards, ethics, and public interest topics. * Credits Available: Varies by course, typically 1.0–2.0 CPE credits. * How to Register: Visit the AICPA CPE & Learning page, sign in with your AICPA or NASBA account, and filter by "free" or watch for featured complimentary courses.

Corporate Finance Institute (CFI)

CFI is known for its finance-focused training programs. While most courses are paid, a handful of free offerings are available that qualify for CPE credits. These typically include introductory modules on Excel, financial analysis, FP&A, and accounting fundamentals, making them ideal for professionals looking to refresh core skills. * Credits Available: Varies by course, generally 1.0–1.5 CPE credits per free course. * How to Register: Visit CFI, create a free account, and explore their "Free Courses" section. Eligible courses will display CPE credit info and instructions to download your certificate upon completion.

Vena Academy

Vena Academy offers a growing catalog of free, self-paced CPE courses geared toward finance professionals, especially those working in FP&A. Courses cover practical topics like Excel modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and business planning. * Credits Available: Information not specified in source data. * How to Register: Information not specified in source data.

PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)

PwC has a webcast library that covers topics such as financial reporting, tax, regulatory, and accounting. The platform offers expert-led webcasts on financial statement audits, accounting issues, tax, and ESG. These free CPE webinars can be attended live or downloaded to watch on demand. However, CPE credits are only received when attending an entire PwC live webcast event and answering at least four questions for every 60 minutes of content, or when watching a CPE-eligible webcast replay. * Credits Available: Information not specified in source data. * How to Register: From the landing page, click on the webinar you want to attend.

Other Accounting Firms

A curated calendar lists public accounting firms that offer free live CPE webinars. These webinars focus on a range of regulatory, financial statement audit, accounting, tax, ESG, and other business issues. While the webinars are free, NASBA requires attendees to participate live to qualify for CPE credit. The calendar is designed to notify users every time a live session begins, allowing for quick registration. Firms mentioned include industry giants like PwC, KPMG, and Deloitte. * Credits Available: Varies by webinar. * How to Register: Access the public calendar to view upcoming sessions and register.

Illumeo

Illumeo's free CPE webinars meet all NASBA and state requirements for live-delivered CPE credit. Since they are completely free, they provide a convenient source of free CPE for any CPA. * Credits Available: Information not specified in source data. * How to Register: Information not specified in source data.

Requirements for Earning CPE Credits

Earning CPE credits, even from free sources, involves adhering to specific rules set by NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) and individual state boards. Understanding these requirements is crucial to ensure the credits count toward compliance.

Live Attendance and Polling Questions

A recurring requirement across multiple free CPE providers is the need to attend live sessions. NASBA mandates that participants attend the full session to qualify for credit. Furthermore, attendees must respond to required polling questions during the webinar. For example, PwC requires participants to answer at least four questions for every 60 minutes of content to earn CPE credits. Similarly, myCPE and AICPA courses often include polling questions that must be answered to qualify.

Self-Study and On-Demand Courses

Self-study courses and on-demand videos offer more flexibility. However, they may have different requirements compared to live webinars. Platforms like CFI and Vena Academy provide self-paced content that can be completed at the user's convenience. To earn credits, users typically need to complete the course modules and pass any required assessments. The certificates can then be downloaded upon completion.

Tracking and Compliance

Managing CPE credits can be complex, especially for professionals required to meet specific state board rules. Platforms with built-in tracking tools, such as myCPE, help users stay organized by aligning their completed courses with state-specific requirements. This feature simplifies the compliance process and ensures that professionals have accurate records for reporting purposes.

How to Access Free CPE Credits

Step-by-Step Registration Process

1. Identify the Platform: Determine which platform aligns with your professional needs. For example, if you are interested in tax and audit topics, consider AICPA or PwC. If you need to improve your Excel skills, CFI or Vena Academy may be more suitable.
2. Create an Account: Most platforms require users to create a free account to access their courses. This process typically involves providing basic information such as name, email address, and professional designation.
3. Browse Available Courses: Once logged in, use the platform's filtering options to find free courses. Look for keywords like "free," "complimentary," or "no cost."
4. Register for the Course: Select the desired course and follow the registration instructions. For live webinars, ensure you register in advance and note the date and time.
5. Attend and Participate: For live webinars, attend the full session and respond to any polling questions. For self-study courses, complete all modules and assessments.
6. Download Your Certificate: After fulfilling the course requirements, download your CPE certificate for your records.

Tools and Resources for Finding Free CPE

Several tools can help streamline the search for free CPE opportunities. The CPE Planner website offers a newsletter that delivers free CPE webinars to your inbox weekly. It also provides a CPE Resource Center with downloadable templates and news updates. Additionally, a public calendar lists hundreds of free live CPE webinars from top accounting firms, allowing users to filter and register quickly.

Conclusion

Free CPE credits are a valuable resource for CPAs and finance professionals seeking to meet their continuing education requirements without incurring additional costs. By leveraging platforms such as myCPE, AICPA, CFI, and PwC, professionals can access high-quality content on a wide range of topics. It is essential to adhere to NASBA requirements, such as live attendance and participation in polling questions, to ensure credits are valid. Utilizing tools like newsletters and public calendars can further simplify the process of finding and registering for free CPE opportunities.

Sources

1. The CPE Planner
2. The CFO Show Podcast Blog
3. Hexagon CPE Calendar
4. Vena Solutions Blog