State Requirements
Iowa CPA CPE Requirements (2026)
What CPAs licensed in Iowa need to know about continuing professional education, hours, reporting period, and ethics.
Total CPE
120 hours
Reporting period
3 years
Annual minimum
Per board cycle
Iowa CPE at a glance
- ✓120 hours every 3 years
- ✓Reported per the board's cycle
- ✓Ethics CPE required, verify the exact rule
Ethics requirement
Four hours of ethics and rules of professional conduct CPE are required per three-year reporting period, and a state-specific ethics course is not mandated (general ethics courses are accepted).
How to meet it
CPE is earned in 50-minute credit hours through qualifying programs, including live webinars, which most boards accept as group-internet-based learning. To stay compliant: track your hours by field of study, complete any required ethics course, and keep your certificates of completion in case of audit. Spreading hours across your reporting period (rather than cramming at the deadline) keeps renewal stress-free.
Start with free live sessions in the areas IA CPAs need most, free ethics CPE, tax CPE, and accounting CPE , or browse the full webinar schedule.
Always verify with your board
Requirements change and can include details not summarized here. Confirm the current rules with the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board before relying on them. This page is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
Free CPE webinars for Iowa CPAs
Live webinars qualify as group internet-based CPE, which the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board generally accepts. Reserve a free seat and apply the credit toward your IA requirement.
Real Estate Tax Planning: Depreciation, 1031 Exchanges, and Passive Losses
Depreciation strategies, like-kind exchanges, and the passive activity rules that trip up real estate clients. What CPAs need to plan confidently.
Register free →IRS Representation Essentials: Notices, Audits, and Collections
How to respond to IRS notices, manage an examination, and navigate the collection process on behalf of clients. A practical primer for practitioners.
Register free →The Hidden Compliance Triggers Every CPA Should Know
Business changes can create unexpected compliance obligations. In this session, CorpNet Founder & CEO Nellie Akalp will highlight common triggers your clients may face—including multi-state expansion, hiring employees, ownership changes, and business structure changes. Viewers will learn practical questions and strategies to help clients identify and address compliance requirements before they become costly problems. Participants will learn: - Common business changes that trigger new compliance requirements. - How to recognize potential federal, state, and local filing and registration obligations. - Ways to apply practical questions to uncover hidden compliance risks. - Tactics to help clients avoid penalties and other consequences of missed requirements.
Presented by Nellie Akalp
Register free →Iowa CPE, frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Iowa require for CPAs?+
Iowa CPAs generally need 120 hours of CPE every 3 years. Confirm current rules with the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board.
Does Iowa require ethics CPE?+
Four hours of ethics and rules of professional conduct CPE are required per three-year reporting period, and a state-specific ethics course is not mandated (general ethics courses are accepted).
Can I earn Iowa CPE through free live webinars?+
Yes. Live webinars typically qualify as group internet-based CPE, which most boards accept. CPE Society offers free live webinars you can apply toward your IA requirement, always confirm acceptance with your state board.