Pennsylvania CPA CE Courses (2026)
To renew your CPA license in Pennsylvania you need to satisfy the State Board of Accountancy (Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs)'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 Pennsylvania requires for CPA renewal
| CE hours required | 80 hours per cycle |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | 24 months |
| Governing body | State Board of Accountancy (Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs) |
80 CPE hours per two-year cycle, with a minimum of 20 hours each year. Must include 4 hours in ethics. Licensees engaged in attest activity must also complete 24 hours in accounting and attest/auditing subjects within the total. CPE must be completed before submitting the renewal. (No state-specific ethics exam; the 4-hour ethics CPE satisfies the ethics requirement.) Those who passed the CPA exam in 2024 or 2025 are exempt from CPE for the 2025 renewal cycle.
Full CPA renewal guide for Pennsylvania (deadlines, fees & CE) →
Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania CPA CE courses: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do I need to renew my CPA license in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires about 80 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. 80 CPE hours per two-year cycle, with a minimum of 20 hours each year. Must include 4 hours in ethics. Licensees engaged in attest activity must also complete 24 hours in accounting and attest/auditing subjects within the total. CPE must be completed before submitting the renewal. (No state-specific ethics exam; the 4-hour ethics CPE satisfies the ethics requirement.) Those who passed the CPA exam in 2024 or 2025 are exempt from CPE for the 2025 renewal cycle.
Do online CPA CE courses count in Pennsylvania?
Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the State Board of Accountancy (Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs). Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.
Where do I report my Pennsylvania CPA CE?
Pennsylvania generally has you attest to CE at renewal and keep your own documentation in case of an audit. Confirm the current process with the State Board of Accountancy (Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs).
Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the State Board of Accountancy (Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs). Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.