Wisconsin CPA CPE Requirements

How to reach the regulator directly.

Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, Wisconsin 53705

Tel: (608) 266-2112
Fax: (608) 267-3816

Email: DSPSRenewal@wisconsin.gov

The regulator's own published rules and related resources.

Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board

The total continuing education hours required.

Effective December 15, 2019: 80 continuing professional development credits.

Prior to December 15, 2019: Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board did not require continuing professional development credits.

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

COMPLETION OF CPE CREDITS.

Effective December 15, 2019: During each compliance period, a licensee shall complete at least 80 CPE credits that contribute to growth in professional knowledge and professional competence. At least 20 CPE credits shall be completed during each 12−month period of each compliance period.

Effective December 15, 2019: The 80 CPE credits shall include not less than 40 CPE credits from formal learning activities.

CPE RELATED TO ETHICS.

Effective December 15, 2019: Three of the CPE credits from formal learning activities shall be on the subject of ethics.

How the reporting cycle is structured.

Effective December 15, 2019: "Compliance period” means the 2−year period immediately preceding the renewal date.

The compliance period begins on December 15 of ODD years and ends on December 14 of ODD years. Examples:

• December 15, 2019 - December 14, 2021
• December 15, 2021 - December 14, 2023

When a reporting cycle begins.

The compliance period begins on December 15 of ODD years.

How completed credits are reported to the regulator.

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT.

Effective December 15, 2019: At the time of each renewal, an applicant shall sign a statement certifying that the CPE credit hours have been completed.

RECORDKEEPING.

Effective December 15, 2019: A licensee shall retain documentation of each activity for which CPE credits are claimed for at least 5 years from the date on which the activity was completed.

The renewal or reporting deadline.

December 15, ODD years.

→ Get monthly reminders before this deadline

What happens if the requirement is not met.

FAILURE TO COMPLETE CPE CREDITS.

Effective December 15, 2019: A licensee who fails to complete the requirements under this section may not practice in this state as a certified public accountant until the license is renewed or reinstated.

BOARD AUTHORITY.

Effective December 15, 2019: The Board has the authority to determine whether CPE learning activities claimed by a CPA satisfy the requirements under this section.

Reduced or prorated requirements for a first renewal.

EXEMPTION FOR NEW LICENSEES AND INACTIVE CERTIFICATE HOLDERS.

Effective December 15, 2019: The requirements are reduced by one−half for a compliance period during which a CPA is initially licensed during the first year of such compliance period, and do not apply to a compliance period during which a CPA is initially licensed during the second year of such compliance period.

Effective December 15, 2019: CPE credits may not be claimed for time devoted to studying for or taking the CPA examination.

Rules for professionals licensed elsewhere.

CREDIT FOR CPE FROM ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

Effective December 15, 2019: A licensee holding a current unrevoked CPA license issued by any other United States CPA licensing jurisdiction shall meet the requirements if the licensee is in compliance with the continuing professional education or continuing professional development CPA licensing requirements of the jurisdiction in which the other license is held.

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

WAIVER OF CPE CREDITS.

Effective December 15, 2019: The board may waive all or a portion of the CPE credits required under this section if it finds exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness, disability, or other similar circumstances have prevented a licensee from meeting the requirements.

INACTIVE CERTIFICATE HOLDER.

"Inactive certificate holder” means an individual who holds an unrevoked certificate as a certified public accountant granted by the Board and who does not hold a current license to practice as a certified public accountant.

The CPE requirements do not apply to an inactive certificate holder to whom all of the following apply:

1. The certificate holder does not practice as a certified public accountant (within the meaning of s. 442.02 (1m), Stats.).
2. The certificate holder does not use the title or designation of “certified public accountant” without the word “inactive.”

Requirements for renewal and reinstatement of individual licenses.

RENEWAL BEFORE 5 YEARS.

Effective December 15, 2019: An individual certified public accountant who files an application for renewal of a license within 5 years after the renewal date may renew his or her license by filing with the board an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department that includes the applicant’s representation under penalties of perjury that, during the 2−year period immediately preceding the date of application, the applicant has completed at least 80 continuing professional development credits meeting the requirements.

RENEWAL AFTER 5 YEARS.

Effective December 15, 2019: An individual certified public accountant who files an application for renewal of a license 5 years or more after the renewal date may renew his or her license by filing with the board an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department that includes the applicant’s representation under penalties of perjury that, during the one−year period immediately preceding the date of application, the applicant has completed at least 120 continuing professional development credits meeting the Board requirements.

Prior to December 15, 2019: If your credential (license) has been expired for more than five years, the Accounting Examining Board requires that you complete 1 hour of continuing education for each month your license was expired, the total number of hours not to exceed 80. The CPE you complete must include an AICPA Ethics course. The Board will accept continuing education courses approved by AICPA, WICPA and NASBA.

Whether unused credits can apply to the next period.

CARRYFORWARD OF CPE CREDITS.

Effective December 15, 2019: A licensee may carry forward from one compliance period to the next consecutive compliance period a maximum of 40 CPE credits that exceed the minimum number of credits required to satisfy requirements in the earlier compliance period, which credits may represent any combination of formal and informal learning activities and shall retain their character as formal or informal learning activity credits.

• Note From CeriFi CPEdge: At the conclusion of your compliance period, CeriFi CPEdge will automatically calculate your available carryover and apply the credits to the subsequent status report.

CARRYBACK OF CPE CREDITS.

A licensee may carry back CPE credits earned during the first 12 months of a compliance period to the immediately preceding compliance period to the extent necessary to allow the individual to satisfy the CPE requirements for such preceding period, provided the individual does not count such carryback credits to satisfy CPE requirements for more than one compliance period.

• Note From CeriFi CPEdge: If you wish to carryback CPE from your 'current' WI status report to your 'previous' WI status report, you should go to the 'previous' WI status report and add an extension date. Adding an extension date will count credits earned in the extension period and apply the needed credits to the 'previous' WI status report to correct any deficiency(ies). CeriFi CPEdge will also make negative adjustments to your 'currents WI status report so that credits are not double-counted in both periods.

→ 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 December 15, 2019: The WI Accounting Examining Board has adopted CPE rules.

• Beginning with license periods beginning December 15, 2019, licensees will have to earn 80 hours of acceptable continuing education development credits. Licenses renewed on or after December 14, 2021 will have to earn CPE in the prior 2 years before license renewal date.