Iowa CPA CPE Requirements

How to reach the regulator directly.

Iowa Accountancy Examining Board
200 E. Grand, Suite 350
Des Moines, IA 50309

Tel: (515) 725-9022
Fax: (515) 725-9032

Email: AccountancyBoard@Iowa.gov

The regulator's own published rules and related resources.

Iowa Accountancy Examining Board

The total continuing education hours required.

120 hours.

The detailed rules behind that total -- category minimums, ethics, and other conditions.

Each active certificate holder or license holder, including persons working in private industry or education, is required to comply with the continuing professional education requirements as a condition precedent to the renewal of the certificate or license.

Effective November 4, 2015: Except for new licensees, exempted licensees, and reinstated licensees (as provided in subrules 10.5(2) to 10.5(7)), an applicant for renewal shall have completed 120 hours of qualifying continuing professional education during the three-year period ending on the December 31 or June 30 preceding the July 1 renewal date of the certificate or license (refer to "Reporting Date" below for further conditions).

Supervising Compilation Services / Signing or Authorizing Compilation Reports on Financial Statements on Behalf of a Firm:

Effective January 1, 2011 / Updated November 4, 2015 / Updated November 29, 2017: Every CPA certificate holder or LPA license holder who is responsible for supervising compilation services or who signs or authorizes someone to sign the accountant’s compilation report on behalf of a firm shall complete, as a condition of certificate or license renewal, a minimum of eight hours of continuing professional education devoted to financial statement presentation, such as courses covering the statements on standards for accounting and review services (SSARS) and accounting and auditing updates. When required, the financial statement presentation continuing education shall be completed within the three-year period ending on the December 31 or June 30 preceding the application for certificate or license renewal. For credit to be claimed for a course covering multiple topics, a minimum of one hour (as outlined in subrule 10.6(1)) shall be devoted to financial statement presentation. For example, if a seminar or presentation is conducted for a total of four hours and only one hour is devoted to financial statement presentation, then only one hour shall be claimed toward meeting the requirement of this subrule.

Prior to January 1, 2011: In each biennial period in which compilation reports are issued, every CPA certificate holder or LPA license holder who is responsible for supervising compilation services or who signs or authorizes someone to sign the accountant's compilation report on the financial statements on behalf of a firm shall complete, as a condition of certificate or license renewal, a minimum of seven hours of continuing education devoted to financial statement presentation, such as courses covering the statements on standards for accounting and review services (SSARS) and accounting and auditing updates. When required, the financial statement presentation continuing education shall be completed within the two-year period ending on the December 31 preceding the July 1 license renewal date.

Ethics:

Effective January 1, 2011 / Updated November 4, 2015: Every CPA certificate holder or LPA license holder shall complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education devoted to ethics and rules of professional conduct during the three-year period ending December 31 or June 30, prior to the July 1 annual renewal date (refer to "Ethics Course Requirements" below for information on qualifying course).

Effective March 23, 2005 through December 31, 2010: Every CPA certificate holder or LPA license holder shall complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education devoted to ethics and rules of professional conduct during the two-year period ending December 31, prior to the July 1 biennial renewal date. The first requirement shall be completed by December 31, 2007 for individuals whose renewal date is July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 for individuals whose renewal date is July 1, 2009.

Nontechnical Skills Subjects:

Effective January 1, 2011: Continuing professional education taken in nontechnical skills area shall be limited to 50% of the total renewal requirement.

How the reporting cycle is structured.

Triennial.

When a reporting cycle begins.

Effective February 13, 2013: Starting with the 2013 renewal cycle: January 1 or July 1. (refer to "Reporting Date" below.)

Prior to the 2013 renewal cycle: January 1.

How completed credits are reported to the regulator.

Controls and reporting.

Effective January 1, 2011; Updated February 20, 2019: An applicant for renewal may be requested to provide, in such manner, including but not limited to the online renewal process, and at such time as prescribed by the board, verification and documentation setting forth the continuing professional education in which the licensee has participated. The board may allow for attestation that the licensee has met the requirements in lieu of providing a listing. If the applicant for renewal is requested to provide a listing of the continuing professional education completed, the documentation shall include:

1. School, firm or organization conducting the course and contact information.
2. Location of course.
3. Title of course or description of content.
4. Principal instructor.
5. Dates attended.
6. Hours claimed.
7. Certificate of completion.
8. Name of participant.
9. Course field of study.
10. Type of instruction or delivery method.
11. Amount of CPE recommended.
12. Verification by CPE program sponsor representative.

Canceled checks and registration forms are NOT proof of attendance.

Primary responsibilities for documenting the requirements shall be with the licensee, and evidence to support fulfillment of those requirements must be retained for a period of three years subsequent to submission of the report claiming the credit. Satisfaction of the requirements, including retention of attendance records, certification of completion records, and written outlines, may be accomplished as follows:

1. For courses taken for scholastic credit in accredited universities and colleges (state, community, or private) or high school districts, evidence of satisfactory completion of the course will be sufficient; for noncredit courses taken, a statement of the hours of attendance, signed by the instructor, must be obtained by the licensee.
2. For correspondence and formal independent self-study courses, written evidence or a certificate of completion from the sponsor or course provider shall be obtained by the licensee.
3. In all other instances, the licensee must maintain a record of the information as required in the regulations (refer to "Standards of Approval of CE Activities" below).

Prior to January 1, 2011: Renewal application detailing the previous two years' CPE activity. Evidence to support fulfillment of the CPE requirements must be retained for a period of three years subsequent to submission of the report claiming the credit.

The renewal or reporting deadline.

Effective November 4, 2015: Except for new licensees, exempted licensees, and reinstated licensees (as provided in subrules 10.5(2) to 10.5(7)), an applicant for renewal shall have completed 120 hours of qualifying continuing professional education during the three-year period ending on the December 31 or June 30 preceding the July 1 renewal date of the certificate or license The following conditions shall apply:

1. On each renewal, a CPA or LPA shall self-select December 31 or June 30 as the date by which continuing education requirements must be satisfied in order to be eligible to renew the certificate or license.
2. A CPA or LPA applying to renew a certificate or license may declare a continuing education deadline of December 31 in one renewal cycle and a continuing education deadline of June 30 in a subsequent renewal cycle, and vice versa.
3. Licensees shall maintain continuing education records in a manner that corresponds with the self-selected continuing education deadline of December 31 or June 30.
4. When declaring a June 30 continuing education deadline, licensees must be cautious to ensure that the continuing education is fully completed on or prior to the date the renewal application is submitted to the board.
5. Licensees who renew with penalty during the 30-day grace period following June 30 must declare either December 31 or June 30 as the continuing education deadline and may not extend the deadline beyond June 30.

Effective February 13, 2013: Alternative continuing education cycles authorized.

• Purpose. For a variety of reasons, some CPAs and LPAs may wish to satisfy continuing education requirements on a three-year cycle ending on a date other than December 31. By way of illustration, some licensees may prefer to take courses on particular substantive topics that are not always offered at the same time each year. Some licensees may wish to schedule continuing education to comply with the differing requirements of multiple jurisdictions. This rule is intended to authorize a more flexible time frame within which continuing education may be satisfied. This rule does not alter any other requirement of this chapter.

• Alternative cycle. Starting with the 2013 renewal cycle, a CPA or LPA may self-select June 30 as the date by which continuing education requirements must be satisfied in order to be eligible to renew the license or certificate. Online renewal will require the renewal applicant to declare whether the continuing education was satisfied within the three-year period preceding December 31 or the three-year period preceding June 30. When declaring a June 30 date, licensees must be cautious to ensure the continuing education is fully completed on or prior to the date the renewal application is submitted. Licensees who renew with penalty during the 30-day grace period following June 30 must declare either December 31 or June 30 and may not extend the deadline beyond June 30.

• Declaration may vary by renewal cycle. A CPA or LPA applying to renew a certificate or license may declare a continuing education deadline of December 31 in one renewal cycle and a continuing education deadline of June 30 in a subsequent renewal cycle, and vice versa. Licensees shall be expected to maintain continuing education records in a manner that complies with the self-selected declaration in any particular renewal cycle.

• Examples:
  • CPA Pam has at least 120 hours of CPE in the 3-year period between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 and wants to stick with the way CPE has always been reported. CPA Pam may renew in June 2013 and claim 120 hours of CPE in the 3-year period ending December 31, 2012.
  • LPA Bill has been ill and unable to complete all of the CPE he needs by December 31, 2012. LPA Bill may renew in June 2013 and claim 120 hours of CPE within the 3-year period between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2013.
  • Both approaches will now be allowed under this rule. Just be cautious, please, that you count back 3 years from either December 31, 2012 or June 30, 2013.

• Note from CeriFi: To change your current CPE period end date from December 31 to June 30, you should click on "Edit Report Profile" (link in the left margin) and you will see a question that allows you to change your end date from December 31 to June 30. Making this adjustment will also update the CPE start date appropriately. Important: June 30 should only be selected by professionals who have not reinstated, reactivated, or had a new license issued in the past 3 years.
  • If you want to change the CPE period dates on a "Previous" report, you will need to contact CeriFi CPEdge Product Support (CPEdgeSupport@cerifi.com) to request that your Iowa status report be updated.

Effective January 1, 2011: Renewal of license that expires on or after June 30, 2011.

Licenses issued that expire on June 30, 2011, and thereafter shall be renewed on an annual basis, and shall expire on June 30 of each year. Licenses shall be renewed through electronic on-line renewal, except that licensees who are ineligible to renew on line because they must disclose a criminal conviction or disciplinary order, or for other cause, shall renew upon forms that may be obtained from the board office or on the board's Web site. An annual renewal fee will be charged.

• Licensees whose last names begin with A through K shall first renew on an annual basis when their licenses are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012.
• Licensees whose last names begin with L through Z shall first renew on an annual basis when their licenses are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2011.
• After all individual licenses have been transitioned to annual renewal cycles, the board plans to develop a renewal process in which a firm permit to practice and the individual licenses associated with the firm may be renewed together. The board shall adopt rules governing the combined renewal process when further details are known and the technological means to implement the process are in place.

Prior to January 1, 2011: Although the CPE requirement is triennial, reporting is biennial. Licensees whose last names begin with A through K will renew on July 1 in even-numbered years. Licensees whose last names begin with L through Z will renew on July 1 in odd-numbered years.

→ Get monthly reminders before this deadline

What happens if the requirement is not met.

Effective February 20, 2019: The board will verify, on a test basis, information submitted by licensees. If an application for renewal is not approved, the applicant will be so notified and may be granted a period of time by the board in which to correct the deficiencies noted.

Effective January 1, 2011: The board may look to recognized state or national accounting organizations for assistance in interpreting the acceptability of and credit to be allowed for individual courses. The right is specifically reserved to the board to approve or deny credit for continuing professional education claimed under these rules.

Grounds for Discipline:

Effective January 1, 2011: A licensee or an applicant is subject to discipline, including permanent revocation, if the licensee or applicant provides false information to the board in connection with an application to renew or reinstate a certificate or license. A licensee or an applicant is also subject to discipline if the licensee or applicant is unable to document the continuing professional education hours reported to the board in connection with an audit or other request for documentation. False information of this nature will subject the licensee or applicant to discipline whether the false information was supplied intentionally or with reckless disregard for the truth or accuracy of the number of hours claimed. Licensees and applicants are accordingly cautioned to supply the board with accurate continuing professional education information.

Prior to January 1, 2011: A person who fails to renew the certificate or license registration by the expiration date, but does so within 30 days following its expiration date, shall be assessed a penalty of 25 percent of the biennial renewal fee. Failure to meet the CPE requirement may result in suspension of the licensee's certificate or license and/or may result in other disciplinary measures.

Reduced or prorated requirements for a first renewal.

Effective November 4, 2015:

• At the first annual renewal date of July 1 that is less than 12 months from the date of filing of the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate holder or license holder shall not be required to report continuing professional education.
• At the annual renewal date of July 1 that is 12 months or more than 12 months, but less than 24 months, from the date of filing of the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate holder or license holder shall report 40 hours of continuing professional education earned in the one-year period ending December 31 or June 30 prior to the July 1 renewal date.
• At the annual renewal date of July 1 that is 24 months or more than 24 months, but less than 36 months, from the date of filing of the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate holder or license holder shall report 80 hours of continuing professional education earned in the two-year period ending December 31 or June 30 prior to the July 1 renewal date.

Effective January 1, 2011 - November 3, 2015:

• At the first annual renewal date of July 1 that is less than 12 months from the date of filing the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate holder or license holder shall not be required to report continuing professional education.
• At the annual renewal date of July 1 that is more than 12 months, but less than 24 months, from the date of filing the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate holder or license holder shall report 40 hours of continuing professional education earned in the one-year period ending December 31 prior to the July 1 renewal date.
• At the annual renewal date of July 1 that is more than 24 months, but less than 36 months, from the date of filing the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate holder or license holder shall report 80 hours of continuing professional education earned in the two-year period ending December 31 prior to the July 1 renewal date.

Prior to January 1, 2011:

• At the first biennial permit renewal date of July 1 that is less than 12 months from the date of filing the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate or license holder shall not be required to report continuing education.
• At the biennial permit renewal date of July 1, which is more than 12 months, but less than 24 months, from the date of filing the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate or license holder shall report 40 hours of continuing education earned in the one-year period ending December 31 prior to the July 1 renewal date.
• At the biennial permit renewal date of July 1, which is more than 24 months, but less than 36 months, from the date of filing the initial application for the certificate or license, the certificate or license holder shall report 80 hours of continuing education earned in the 2-year reporting period ending December 31 prior to the July 1 renewal date.
• The 'one-year period' (or 'two-year period') is interpreted literally. Thus, any credits earned during the calendar year (or two calendar years) will count, even if earned prior to licensure. However, credits earned prior to the calendar year (or two calendar years) will not count, even if earned after licensure.

Rules for professionals licensed elsewhere.

Reciprocity:

A licensee shall be deemed to have complied with the CPE requirements, if for the period that the licensee is a resident of another state having a continuing education requirement, the licensee met the resident state's mandatory CPE requirement.

Who may be excused from all or part of this requirement.

The board shall have authority to make exceptions for reasons of individual hardship including health, certified by a medical doctor, military service, foreign residency, retirement, or other good cause. No exceptions shall be made solely because of age.

Effective November 4, 2015: Applicants entitled to a full or partial exception (under the provisions of Iowa Code section 272C.2, subsection 4), for active military service or government service outside of the United States may request an exception by submitting acceptable documentation as applicable to the exception requested. Applicants seeking an exception on other grounds of undue hardship must submit an application for waiver or variance (as provided in 193—Chapter 5).

Licensees on inactive status:

Effective January 1, 2011: An applicant who wishes to restore a certificate or license to active status must meet the basic requirement of 120 hours of continuing professional education earned in the preceding three-year period prior to the date of application to restore active status.

Effective January 1, 2011 / Updated November 4, 2015: Licensees who apply to reinstate a lapsed or inactive certificate or license to active status shall satisfy the basic requirement of 120 hours of continuing professional education earned in the preceding three-year period prior to the date of the application, including all required mandatory education (described in rule 193A—10.7(542)). Once the certificate or license is reinstated, the basic requirement shall apply at each subsequent renewal. The 120-hour requirement described in this subrule shall be modified as needed to incorporate the phase-in schedule for initial licensees (described in subrules 10.5(2) to 10.5(4)) (refer to "Requirements for New Licensees" above for phase-in schedule).

Prior to January 1, 2011: An applicant who wishes to return to active status must meet the basic requirement of 120 hours of continuing education earned in the preceding 3-year period prior to the date of application to restore active status. The hours claimed to restore active status cannot be used again at the next renewal. At the first biennial permit renewal date of July 1 that is less than 12 months from the date of filing the application to restore active status, the certificate or license holder shall not be required to report continuing education. At the biennial permit renewal date of July 1, which is more than 12 months, but less than 24 months, from the date of filing the application to restore active status, the certificate or license holder shall report 40 hours of continuing education earned in the one-year period ending December 31 prior to the July 1 renewal date. At the biennial permit renewal date of July 1, which is more than 24 months, but less than 36 months, from the date of filing the application to restore to active status, the certificate or license holder shall report 80 hours of continuing education earned in the 2-year reporting period ending December 31 prior to the July 1 renewal date.

Whether unused credits can apply to the next period.

Not permitted.

→ CE Tracking calculates carryover for you

Rule changes the regulator has finalized, with effective dates.

Refer to the specific sections above for more details on any of the items noted below.

Effective February 20, 2019: The Board made minor updates to CPE rules to remove references to paper renewals, as online license renewal is now required.

Effective November 4, 2015: The IA Board updated several rules to clarify that the CPE sub-requirements, such as the "Supervising Compilation Services / Signing or Authorizing Compilation Reports on Financial Statements on Behalf of a Firm" requirement, the "ethics" requirement, and the new licensee initial period requirements could be met within the December 31 or June 30 timeframes depending on the reporting period which the licensee chooses.

Reporting Date:

Effective February 13, 2013: Alternative continuing education cycles authorized. Starting with the 2013 renewal cycle, a CPA or LPA may self-select June 30 as the date by which continuing education requirements must be satisfied in order to be eligible to renew the license or certificate. Online and paper renewal forms will require the renewal applicant to declare whether the continuing education was satisfied within the three-year period preceding December 31 or the three-year period preceding June 30. When declaring a June 30 date, licensees must be cautious to ensure the continuing education is fully completed on or prior to the date the renewal application is submitted. Licensees who renew with penalty during the 30-day grace period following June 30 must declare either December 31 or June 30 and may not extend the deadline beyond June 30.

Breakdown of Specific Requirements:

Effective January 1, 2011: Every CPA certificate holder or LPA license holder who is responsible for supervising compilation services or who signs or authorizes someone to sign the accountant's compilation report on the financial statements on behalf of a firm shall complete, as a condition of certificate or license renewal, a minimum of eight hours of continuing professional education devoted to financial statement presentation, such as courses covering the statements on standards for accounting and review services (SSARS) and accounting and auditing updates. When required, the financial statement presentation continuing education shall be completed within the three-year period ending on the December 31 preceding the application for certificate or license renewal. For credit to be claimed for a course covering multiple topics, a minimum of one hour shall be devoted to financial statement presentation. For example, if a seminar or presentation is conducted for a total of four hours and only one hour is devoted to financial statement presentation, then only one hour shall be claimed toward meeting the requirement of this subrule.

Ethics: Effective January 1, 2011: Every CPA certificate holder or LPA license holder shall complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education devoted to ethics and rules of professional conduct during the three-year period ending December 31, prior to the July 1 annual renewal date.

Nontechnical Skills Subjects: Effective January 1, 2011: Continuing professional education taken in nontechnical skills area shall be limited to 50% of the total renewal requirement.

Reporting Date:

Effective January 1, 2011: Renewal of license that expires on or after June 30, 2011. Licenses issued that expire on June 30, 2011, and thereafter shall be renewed on an annual basis, and shall expire on June 30 of each year. Licenses shall be renewed through electronic on-line renewal, except that licensees who are ineligible to renew on line because they must disclose a criminal conviction or disciplinary order, or for other cause, shall renew upon forms that may be obtained from the board office or on the board's Web site. An annual renewal fee will be charged.

• Licensees whose last names begin with A through K shall first renew on an annual basis when their licenses are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012.
• Licensees whose last names begin with L through Z shall first renew on an annual basis when their licenses are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2011.
• After all individual licenses have been transitioned to annual renewal cycles, the board plans to develop a renewal process in which a firm permit to practice and the individual licenses associated with the firm may be renewed together. The board shall adopt rules governing the combined renewal process when further details are known and the technological means to implement the process are in place.

Enforcement:

Effective January 1, 2011: The board may look to recognized state or national accounting organizations for assistance in interpreting the acceptability of and credit to be allowed for individual courses. The right is specifically reserved to the board to approve or deny credit for continuing professional education claimed under these rules.

Grounds for Discipline: Effective January 1, 2011: A licensee or an applicant is subject to discipline, including permanent revocation, if the licensee or applicant provides false information to the board in connection with an application to renew or reinstate a certificate or license. A licensee or an applicant is also subject to discipline if the licensee or applicant is unable to document the continuing professional education hours reported to the board in connection with an audit or other request for documentation. False information of this nature will subject the licensee or applicant to discipline whether the false information was supplied intentionally or with reckless disregard for the truth or accuracy of the number of hours claimed. Licensees and applicants are accordingly cautioned to supply the board with accurate continuing professional education information.

Credit for Luncheon / Dinner Speeches:

Effective January 1, 2011: Dinner, luncheon and breakfast meetings of recognized organizations may qualify if they meet the appropriate requirements and shall be limited to 25 percent of the total renewal requirements if the individual meeting is no more than 2 hours long.

Breakdown of Specific Requirements:

Effective March 23, 2005: Every CPA certificate holder or LPA license holder shall complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education devoted to ethics and rules of professional conduct during the two-year period ending December 31, prior to the July 1 biennial renewal date. The first requirement shall be completed by December 31, 2007 for individuals whose renewal date is July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 for individuals whose renewal date is July 1, 2009.