FEATURE A Guide to Earning and Managing CPE Credits By Jason Schow EARNING AND EFFICIENTLY managing CPE credits is an essential skill for an accountant. You have to decide which courses to take, make sure they meet the necessary requirements, work them into your schedule, report them and then make sure you are always up-to-date. This can be confusing, especially if it is a new obligation for you. CPE CREDITS CPE stands for " continuing professional education " and is a requirement when renewing your CPA license. CPE standards are set by each state's board of accountancy, so the number of required credits and the reporting periods may differ. 30 JUNE 2021 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com Each state board can provide details about the type of CPE credits needed to maintain a CPA license, and they may even link to approved providers. NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) credits are always accepted to an extent, but some states may have additional requirements or limitations. Each state's board of accountancy can provide state-centric information. CE CREDITS CE (continuing education) are credits for enrolled agents (EA). These professionals are required to earn 72 hours of CE credits every three years to maintain their status. At least 16 of those CE credits must be earned each year, and two of them need to be in ethics courses. The classes and the providers must be approved by the IRS in order to qualify for credits. When an enrolled agent completes an IRS-approved CE course, the provider reports to the IRS on the EA's behalf.http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com