Wisconsin Institute of CPAs CPE Requirements

How to reach the regulator directly.

Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants (WICPA)
W233 N2080 Ridgeview Pkwy.
Waukesha, WI 53186

Toll Free in WI: (800) 772-6939
Tel: (262) 785-0445
Fax: (262) 785-0838

Email: comments@wicpa.org

The regulator's own published rules and related resources.

WICPA - Continuing Professional Education Requirements

The total continuing education hours required.

Effective January 1, 2016: 80 credits every 2-year licensing period, including those employed outside public accounting.

• November 2015: Informational FAQ from the from WICPA: Question: Since calendar year 2016 will be the third year of the WICPA CPE reporting cycle that began on January 1, 2014, how the new WICPA CPE requirements that become effective in 2016 impact compliance and CPE audits for the 3-year CPE period ending in 2016? Answer: CPE credits earned during 2016 under the new rules will count towards compliance with both the 3-year period ending in 2016, as well as towards the overlapping first year of the new 2-year 2016 - 2017 compliance period. All members will be required to earn a minimum of 20-hours in the calendar year 2016. By December 31, 2017, all members must have earned 80 hours (including 3 hours of ethics) in the January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017 2-year licensing period.

Prior to January 1, 2016:

• 120 credits for members in public practice every 3-year CPE triennial period. (NOTE: The requirement for members in industry has been changed to 120 hours for membership in the AICPA. However, the WICPA has not changed its requirements at this time.
• 90 credits every 3-year CPE triennial period for members not in public practice.

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

Effective January 1, 2016:

• Effective January 1, 2016: 80 credits every 2-year licensing period (fixed biennial) for all CPA certificate holders, including those employed outside public accounting.
• Effective January 1, 2016: A minimum of 20 credits must be earned annually.
• Effective January 1, 2016: A minimum of 3 ethics credits must be earned during each 2-year licensing period.
  • NOTE: January 2016: CeriFi has obtained further information from the WICPA regarding the new 3-hour ethics requirement:
    • Ethics credits must be obtained through a formal CPE activity that includes verification of participation. Refer to "Formal CPE Activities" in the "General Characteristics of Accredited Education" section below.
    • The WICPA Board expressed a preference for significant flexibility in satisfying the ethics requirement, for example, if a NASBA sponsor, this could mean any course that has a NASBA subject area of “behavioral ethics” or “regulatory ethics.”
    • CeriFi has confirmed with the WICPA that the 3 hours of ethics can be earned at any time in the January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017 licensing period (i.e., it is not required in the January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016 annual period). After December 31, 2017, 3 hours of ethics will be required in each fixed 2-year fixed licensing period (ending on 12/31/2019, 12/31/2021, etc.).
• No more than one-half of the required credits may consist of "Self Directed Informal Learning Activities" (refer to "General Characteristics of Accredited Education" below).

Prior to January 1, 2016:

• Members in Public Practice: During each three-year calendar reporting period, members must complete 120 hours of acceptable continuing education with a minimum of 20 hours per year.
• Members Not in Public Practice: During each three-year calendar reporting period, members must complete 90 hours of acceptable continuing education with a minimum of 15 hours per year.
• Changing Status: Members changing from or to public practice do not begin a new three-year reporting period. However, the CPE requirement shall be adjusted to the following three-year totals:
  • Changing TO Public Practice in first year of three-year period: 120
  • Changing TO Public Practice in second year of three-year period: 110
  • Changing TO Public Practice in third year of three-year period: 100
  • Changing FROM Public Practice in first year of three-year period: 100
  • Changing FROM Public Practice in second year of three-year period: 110
  • Changing FROM Public Practice in third year of three-year period: 120

How the reporting cycle is structured.

Effective January 1, 2016: Beginning January 1, 2016, 2-year fixed biennial.

• Example CPE Periods:
  • January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017;
  • January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2019;
  • January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021;
  • January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2023.
• January 2016: Note from CeriFi: The first year of the new 2-year CPE period will be January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016. During this calendar year, all WICPA members are required to earn at least 20 hours. Then, by the end of the second calendar year ending December 31, 2017, all WICPA members must have at least 80 hours earned in the January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017 two-year period, which must include 3 hours of ethics credits. CPE credits earned during 2016 under the new rules will count towards compliance with both the 3-year period ending in 2016, as well as towards the overlapping first year of the new 2-year 2016 - 2017 compliance period

Prior to January 1, 2016: 3-year fixed triennial. The current (and last) 3-year reporting cycle is: January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2016. Previous triennial periods were: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2013 and January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010.

When a reporting cycle begins.

January 1.

How completed credits are reported to the regulator.

By paying dues, members are verifying that:

• CPD requirements have been met
• Records and documents have been maintained that support the CPD compliance and
• An audit of such records and documents may be audited and
• Misrepresenting CPD compliance may result in publication of noncompliance and misrepresentation, as well as classification as a member not in good standing, and may also result in termination of WICPA membership as well as reporting of misrepresentation to licensing authorities as an "act discreditable to the profession" which could result in revocation of CPA certificate and license.

Each member must keep records of their CPD credits earned. The WICPA verifies compliance with CPD requirements by conducting audits of the records of randomly selected members. To be prepared for an audit, members should maintain detailed supporting records for a period of 3 years following the completion of the learning activity as described below for all CPD credits completed.

Documentation and Records Retention: Members of the WICPA bear the responsibility of documenting their compliance with the CPE requirements. WICPA members are selected at random for an audit of CPD membership requirements and must submit a report of continuing professional development for the specified CPD reporting period. It is recommended to maintain records for 3 years.

1. For formal learning activities (live, online, self-study), members should record and retain:
   1. Dates and descriptions of creditable learning activities,
   2. Sponsoring organization name,
   3. Presenter(s) name(s),
   4. Course titles and topics,
   5. Number of credits recommended by CPE sponsor,
   6. Any available certificate of participation, and
   7. Program duration.
2. For reading activities, members should record and retain:
   1. Book/Publication (and, if appropriate, article) title,
   2. Author(s),
   3. Number of credits claimed,
   4. Explanation of credit computation, and
   5. Copy of book table of contents, or copy of article.
3. For independent research, members should record and retain:
   1. Subject of research,
   2. Time spent researching, documenting, communicating and executing research/conclusions/recommendations,
   3. Research sources consulted (including available hyperlinks),
   4. Dates of research activity and communicating/publishing results to others,
   5. Purpose of research (e.g., personal development or responding to employer or client request),
   6. Research conclusions and recommendations,
   7. Explanation of credit computation, and
   8. Copy of written summary/letter/memo/work product (redacted for confidentiality is acceptable.
4. For service on a committee/board/task force, members should record and retain:
   1. Name and description of organization/committee/board/task force,
   2. Position (e.g., member, chair, officer, etc.),
   3. Meeting dates, times and duration,
   4. Description of learning activities (e.g., read materials, attend meeting, lead discussion, take minutes, etc.), and
   5. Explanation of credit computation, and
   6. Copy of any related printed materials that are available.
5. For participating in a business coaching or mentoring process, members should record and retain:
   1. Name(s) of organization and/or other individual(s) participating in the activity,
   2. Date(s) of activities,
   3. Duration of activities,
   4. Description of activities (e.g., meetings, reading, classes, research, projects, etc.),
   5. Explanation of credit computation, and;
   6. Copy of any related printed materials that are available.
6. For listening to a podcast or viewing a video, members should record and retain:
   1. Description of the podcast or video,
   2. Name of organization and/or individual who created or published the podcast or video,
   3. Date of listening to a podcast or viewing a video
   4. Explanation of credit computation, and
   5. Available documentation or link.
7. For other types of learning activities not described above, members should record and retain:
   1. Description of the activity,
   2. Dates of activity,
   3. Duration of activity,
   4. Explanation of how the activity enhanced competency,
   5. Explanation of credit computation; and
   6. Available documentation or link.

Ultimately, the CPD credit claimed is the responsibility of the individual member. Each member may claim credit only for the learning activities he or she fully completed that increased his or her professional competence.

The renewal or reporting deadline.

Members are not required to report. Rather they must be prepared for random audits.

→ Get monthly reminders before this deadline

What happens if the requirement is not met.

Failure to meet the CPE requirement will result in loss of membership in the WICPA, unless the requirement is waived.

In the event CPD membership requirements are not met by the end of the CPD reporting period, please contact the WICPA CPD Department to request an extension. If an extension is not requested or membership CPD requirements are not met with an approved extension period, it will result in a loss of membership with the WICPA.

Extension Period: Any member who has not completed the required number of credits during a reporting period may request an extension for up to an additional two months. Credits applied toward a deficiency during this two-month period may not be counted toward the annual minimum requirement of the CPD year in which they are taken. Furthermore, any CPD credit claimed during the two-month period to make up any deficiency for the preceding reporting period may not be counted toward the requirement for the reporting period in which they are taken.

If an unusual circumstance or unforeseen hardship has prevented meeting CPD requirements, you may request a waiver for the current reporting year. Each waiver request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Reduced or prorated requirements for a first renewal.

New members do not need to complete the CPD requirements for the calendar year in which they join.

• Note From CeriFi: July 31, 2020: CeriFi has confirmed with WICPA that when a person joins for the very first time:
  • Joins in 1st Year of the 2-Year CPD Period: The member is exempt completely for the first year; and is only accountable for 40 credits by the end of the second year. Three (3) of the 40 credits must be in Ethics. The member can earn the required credits at any time during the two (2) year reporting reporting period.
  • Joins in 2nd Year of the 2-Year CPD Period: The member has no CPD requirement at all.

Effective January 1, 2016: Members must then meet the full CPE requirement of the next two-year block.

Prior to January 1, 2016: Members must then meet the full CPE requirement of the next three-year block.

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

Students do not need to comply with the CPD membership requirement until they move to Affiliate or CPA status.

Retired members (working less than 1,000 hours per year) are not required to meet the CPD membership requirement.

Waivers:

Members may request a waiver if they are prohibited from fulfilling the CPE requirements for the reasons set forth below. Such requests must be submitted in writing to the WICPA.

Effective January 1, 2016: If a waiver request is approved, it will waive one-half (40 CPE credits) of the CPE requirement for that reporting period. Members will still be responsible for completing the remaining 40 CPE credits required for that reporting period.

Prior to January 1, 2016: For each year a waiver is granted, the member is exempt from one-third of the CPE requirement. The following calendar year you must complete the remaining two-thirds of the requirement, based on accounting or industry standards.

• Foreign Residency: The request should include the country of residence, the name of the employer, your principal duties and responsibilities, and the reasons foreign residency prohibited fulfilling the CPE requirement.
• Health: The request should include the nature of the illness and the reason the illness prohibited fulfilling the CPE requirement.
• Military Service: The request should include the principal duties performed, where stationed and the reason military service prohibited fulfilling the CPE requirement.
• Other Similar Reasons: The request should include the nature of the hardship and the reason why it prohibited fulfilling the CPE requirement.

Reinstatement:

Individuals applying for reinstatement who have voluntarily or involuntarily lost their membership or have come out of retirement are required to complete the annual minimum requirement of CPE, and then complete those same minimums for each of the remaining years in the reporting cycle.

• Note From CeriFi: February 5, 2019: CeriFi has confirmed with the WICPA that when a person reinstates, here is an example of their situation:
  • Reinstates in the 1st Year of the 2-Year CPD Period: The person would be accountable for the minimum of 20 CPD hours for the first year and 20 CPD hours for the second year. The professional would need to earn 3 ethics hours (in either the first or second year). Overall, for the full 2-year period, the professional needs 80 CPD total.
  • Reinstates in 2nd Year of the 2-Year CPD Period: The person would be would be accountable for 2nd year minimum (20 hours) and would need 3 of these 20 hours to be in Ethics.

Rule changes the regulator has finalized, with effective dates.

Effective January 1, 2016: The WICPA has made updates to the CPE rules, most notably that the CPE reporing period is changing from a fixed 3-year triennial period to a fixed 2-year CPE licensing period. 80 credits will now be required every 2-year licensing period for all CPA certificate holders, including those employed outside public accounting (with a 20 credit annual minimum). Minimum of 3 ethics credits during each 2-year licensing period.

• January 2016: Note from CeriFi: The first year of the new 2-year CPE period will be January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016. During this calendar year, all WICPA members are required to earn at least 20 hours. Then, by the end of the second calendar year ending December 31, 2017, all WICPA members must have at least 80 hours earned in the January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017 two-year period, which must include 3 hours of ethics credits. CPE credits earned during 2016 under the new rules will count towards compliance with both the 3-year period ending in 2016, as well as towards the overlapping first year of the new 2-year 2016 - 2017 compliance period.

Effective January 1, 2016: Creditable CPE activities continue to include listening to or presenting live and online lectures, as well as formal independent study programs, but have been expanded to allow up to half of required credits to consist of self-directed informal learning activities including but not limited to reading, performing independent research, participating on boards, committees and task forces, participating in mentor or coaching programs, watching videos, listening to podcasts, as well as participating in informal independent study activities.

General Characteristics of Accredited Education:

CPE Credit Calculation: Effective January 1, 2015: The WICPA Board approved 5-minute increments for creditable CPE learning activities commencing January 1, 2015 for WICPA membership CPE requirements. Members may thus now claim and report credit for learning activities as short as five minutes.