Colorado CPA CE Courses (2026)
To renew your CPA license in Colorado you need to satisfy the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA)'s continuing education (CE) requirement — about 80 hours per 2-year cycle. Below is what the board requires and a comparison of course providers that offer qualifying CE. This is an unofficial guide — confirm any course is board-approved before you buy.
What Colorado requires for CPA renewal
| CE hours required | 80 hours per cycle |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | 24 months |
| CE tracking system | Self-reported CPE; the Board does not pre-approve courses or providers and conducts audits after each renewal reporting period (no CE Broker). |
| Governing body | Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) |
Active CPAs accrue 10 CPE hours for every full calendar quarter the certificate is active during the Board's two-year reporting period (January 1 of an even year through December 31 of the following odd year); a full period equals 80 hours. Of those, 4 hours must be in Ethics. Up to 2 of the ethics hours may be in Colorado Rules and Regulations (CR&R). Newly certified CPAs must complete at least 2 hours of CR&R within 6 months of initial certification, but CR&R is not separately required each renewal period thereafter. Caps: no more than 20% in personal development; no more than 50% from publishing/teaching/panel presentations. No annual minimum is imposed beyond the quarterly accrual model; hours may be completed any time within the period.
Full CPA renewal guide for Colorado (deadlines, fees & CE) →
Colorado CPA CE course providers
- Becker CPE
Large CPE catalog with state-specific ethics courses and subscription access.
- Surgent CPE
Unlimited-CPE packages and adaptive courses accepted across most state boards.
- Gleim CPE
Individual courses and subscriptions, including state ethics requirements.
- Western CPE
Self-study, webcasts, and live conferences across technical and ethics topics.
- AICPA
Professional CPE from the national accounting body, including ethics and specialized tracks.
Colorado CPA CE courses: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do I need to renew my CPA license in Colorado?
Colorado requires about 80 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. Active CPAs accrue 10 CPE hours for every full calendar quarter the certificate is active during the Board's two-year reporting period (January 1 of an even year through December 31 of the following odd year); a full period equals 80 hours. Of those, 4 hours must be in Ethics. Up to 2 of the ethics hours may be in Colorado Rules and Regulations (CR&R). Newly certified CPAs must complete at least 2 hours of CR&R within 6 months of initial certification, but CR&R is not separately required each renewal period thereafter. Caps: no more than 20% in personal development; no more than 50% from publishing/teaching/panel presentations. No annual minimum is imposed beyond the quarterly accrual model; hours may be completed any time within the period.
Do online CPA CE courses count in Colorado?
Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) and the completion is reported through Self-reported CPE; the Board does not pre-approve courses or providers and conducts audits after each renewal reporting period (no CE Broker).. Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.
Where do I report my Colorado CPA CE?
Colorado uses Self-reported CPE; the Board does not pre-approve courses or providers and conducts audits after each renewal reporting period (no CE Broker). to track CPA continuing education. Make sure your completions post there before you renew.
Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA). Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.
Official Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) site →