Whether you work in a large firm or a small one, you will need to take your CPE courses every year or every other year, depending on the rules of your state. In some cases, the company you work for will request that you take specific courses in Accounting because they may have their own requirements. Sometimes, the company will want you to take an ethics or accounting course and then choose the rest of the CPE you want to take. With other companies, you can choose all of your own courses, as long as they meet the standards of the industry.
Every course you take for your CPE will provide you with credit, which is another way of saying hours. The typical amount of hours required each year is 40, though your state may be different. Therefore, you need 40 credits or hours. Each course rewards a different credit amount. One program may give two credits and some will give 24 or more credits. In some cases, you could take two or three courses and have all of your CPE needs taken care of. In others, you may need 12 courses to complete your CPE, depending on whether you use higher credit courses or lower.
How to Take Your CPE Courses in Accounting
There are two main ways to take your courses. You can either go online and use reputable providers or use in-person seminars, meetings and classes. Most people prefer online options, which include webinars, videos and self-study. Find a provider that offers a variety with their courses, having different titles and different credits. If you are unsure of the provider, consider taking a free course (if they provide those) to get a feel for the website and the courses they offer.
More about Free Courses
Many self-study websites are now offering free courses so that you can take a course and find out more about the courses the website offers. If you are using a new website for your CPE, then this is beneficial. Most courses are not free, unless you can use a pilot program, which allows you to test the course for free.
When looking for a free CPE course, you will want to ensure that it counts toward your requirement. Though you may only get one or two credits if it doesn’t count toward your required allotment, then it does you no good.
If you are looking for quality accounting CPE courses, then you have many options. Consider CPE Think and view their courses today.
