CPA License Renewal in Rhode Island (2026)

CPA license renewal in Rhode Island is handled by the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation), which requires Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s to renew every 36 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

Rhode Island CPA renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	36 months
Deadline rule	Triennial. All individual CPA licenses share a fixed June 30 expiration at the end of the three-year cycle (e.g., the current cycle ends June 30, 2026). The CPE reporting period runs on a fiscal year from July 1 of the renewal year through June 30 three years later. Renewal is a hard deadline at 11:59 PM on June 30; filing on July 1 or later locks the licensee out and forces reinstatement.
CE hours required	120 hours
Renewal fee	$375.00
Online renewal	Yes
CE tracking system	Self-reported; licensee uploads the Board's CPE Reporting Form (or equivalent spreadsheet) with the online renewal. No CE Broker.
Governing body	Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation)

Go to the official Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation) renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation). automated research workflow (official rhode-island Board of Accountancy), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for CPAs in Rhode Island

120 hours of formal CPE over the 3-year cycle. At least 6 of those hours must be in ethics (regulatory and/or behavioral ethics, e.g., AICPA Code of Professional Conduct); there is no separate state-specific ethics exam. No fixed annual minimum is specified (hours are measured across the full triennium). A reduced first-cycle requirement of 80 hours (including 4 ethics hours) applies to newly licensed CPAs, since CPE is not required in the year the certificate is first issued. Not more than 24 hours may be in Personal Development/Marketing subjects.

Need approved hours? Compare Rhode Island CPA CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your CPA license in Rhode Island

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation) portal.
Complete the required 120 CE hours and confirm they appear in Self-reported; licensee uploads the Board's CPE Reporting Form (or equivalent spreadsheet) with the online renewal. No CE Broker..
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: Fee figures are from the regulation fee table (400-RICR-00-00-1 section 1.13): Initial/Reciprocity $375, Triennial Renewal $375, Reinstatement of an expired license $500 plus the $375 renewal fee, license/permit verification $25. There is no graduated "late fee" for on-time-but-late renewal; once the license lapses after June 30 the licensee is locked out and must file a reinstatement (the $500 here is the reinstatement penalty, plus $375 renewal). Reinstatement also requires documenting 120 CPE hours from the preceding 3 years; if expired 5+ years, additional education (CPA review course or extra 120 CPE hours) is required. CPAs age 55+ in good standing may elect Retired status, which exempts them from renewal and CPE. Paper renewals and paper checks are no longer accepted. As of Nov 3, 2025 a new OKTA-based eLicensing portal (elicensing.ri.gov) is used; prior credentials are void. The Board is an autonomous board administratively housed within the RI Department of Business Regulation.

CPA license renewal in Rhode Island: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my CPA license in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island CPA licenses renew every 36 months. Triennial. All individual CPA licenses share a fixed June 30 expiration at the end of the three-year cycle (e.g., the current cycle ends June 30, 2026). The CPE reporting period runs on a fiscal year from July 1 of the renewal year through June 30 three years later. Renewal is a hard deadline at 11:59 PM on June 30; filing on July 1 or later locks the licensee out and forces reinstatement.

How many CE hours are required to renew an CPA license in Rhode Island?

Approximately 120 continuing-education hours per cycle. 120 hours of formal CPE over the 3-year cycle. At least 6 of those hours must be in ethics (regulatory and/or behavioral ethics, e.g., AICPA Code of Professional Conduct); there is no separate state-specific ethics exam. No fixed annual minimum is specified (hours are measured across the full triennium). A reduced first-cycle requirement of 80 hours (including 4 ethics hours) applies to newly licensed CPAs, since CPE is not required in the year the certificate is first issued. Not more than 24 hours may be in Personal Development/Marketing subjects. Confirm the current requirement with the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation).

Can I renew my Rhode Island CPA license online?

Yes — Rhode Island offers online renewal through the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation). Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my Rhode Island CPA license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $500 may apply. Contact the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy (within the Department of Business Regulation) promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) renewal