Free CPE for CPAs: The Complete 2026 Guide

You do not have to spend hundreds of dollars a year to keep your CPA license current. Between free live webinars and on-demand courses, most CPAs can cover a large share of their continuing education at no cost. This guide walks through how CPE works and how to earn it for free without cutting corners.

How much CPE do you need?

Most states require roughly 120 hours over a three-year period (about 40 hours a year), though several use annual or two-year cycles instead. Many boards also set an annual minimum so you cannot leave everything to the final year. Your exact numbers depend on your jurisdiction — look yours up on our state-by-state CPE requirements pages.

Fields of study, and why they matter

CPE is organized into fields of study, and your mix has to satisfy your board. Free, live sessions are available across all of the major ones:

Taxes — federal updates and planning
Accounting — standards and financial reporting
Auditing — audit quality and fieldwork
Regulatory Ethics — the requirement nearly every state mandates
Finance — analysis and advisory topics
Technology & AI — automation and data security
Advisory Services — client accounting services and consulting
Business Law — entity, contract, and compliance essentials

Some states cap how many hours you can earn in "non-technical" fields, so plan your mix accordingly.

Don't forget ethics

Nearly every state requires a dedicated ethics component — commonly 2 to 4 hours per cycle — and some require a state-specific ethics course. Start early with free ethics CPE and confirm whether your state needs its own course.

Live vs. on-demand

Live webinars are interactive and satisfy the group internet-based delivery method most boards prefer. On-demand courses let you learn on your schedule and earn self-study credit after a short quiz. A good approach: anchor your year with a few live sessions and fill gaps from our on-demand library.

A simple system to stay compliant

Look up your state's requirements and note the deadline
Reserve a few free live webinars early in your reporting period
Track your hours by field of study
Keep every certificate of completion in one folder for audit

Rules change and vary by jurisdiction, so always confirm the specifics with your state board of accountancy. But the headline holds: with a little planning, quality CPE can be free.