For accounting professionals, staying up to date on evolving accounting ethical standards and practices isn’t just a good idea; it’s a requirement towards maintaining a CPA license!
“Ethics CPE courses can play an important role in helping accountants uphold and maintain a culture of integrity in their workplaces,” suggests Patrice Johnson, Becker’s Director of CPE Curriculum.
As CPAs provide critical financial services, and often deal with sensitive information, a CPA’s work is highly dependent on ethics and integrity. If CPAs can't be trusted to be ethical, then the value of their services is very little. It’s clear that accountants not only need to complete their ethics requirements but should also want to be updated on ethical regulations to help preserve the integrity of the CPA profession!
Ethics CPE courses for CPAs: the requirements
Fortunately, the ethics requirements for CPAs can be fulfilled through a variety of ethics CPE courses. Most states require that CPA candidates pass a dedicated ethics exam, which covers material from the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct, within one or two years of the candidate’s passing of the CPA Exam. Some states go further and require CPAs to complete state-specific continuing professional education (CPE) ethics courses to maintain their CPA license. Florida and Oregon, for example, require CPAs to complete four hours of state-specific ethics CPE every two years. On the other hand, the state of Virginia mandates that CPAs complete an annual ethics course.
Why are ethics requirements for CPAs so important? In short, the accounting ethical landscape is crucial because it’s dynamic. For example, accounting technologies are always evolving—think about the automation of basic accounting processes and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics for risk management. New technology may give accountants a false sense of confidence, which could lead to failure to scrutinize automated results for potential errors.
Further, high-profile accounting scandals, like the Enron scandal or the 2002 WorldCom scandal have raised questions about the safeguards that are in place to promote ethical behavior in the profession. CPE ethics courses are a vital tool in helping accountants ensure that they don’t run afoul of new state or federal accounting ethics regulations, and that they understand how changes within the profession affect the application of CPA ethical standards and best practices.
Given the many professional duties that accountants must regularly complete, it’s not uncommon for CPAs to find getting a handle on ethics education and tracking their CPE requirements somewhat overwhelming. So, how can you manage your ethics CPE in a way that’s convenient and organized? Becker is here to help!
CPE online ethics courses - what are the options?
Becker helps accountants tackle CPE requirements. We offer a wide range of CPE ethics courses online that address timely ethics topics, such as maintaining integrity in the social-media era and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. These courses not only help CPAs meet state CPE requirements but also provide thought leadership and real-world insights from industry veterans. In addition, with Becker’s CPE compliance tracker, CPAs can track their progress towards meeting their state’s CPE requirements and upload certificates from other sources for an all-in-one-place CPE management. This makes keeping track of your yearly CPE progress one less task you have to complete.
Becker offers more than 600 CPE titles, including state-specific CPA ethics CPE courses and industry-specific courses. Our CPE subscription packages are tailored to the needs of accountants with different professional backgrounds and experience levels.
What kind of material is addressed in Becker CPE ethics courses online? Browse some of these popular Becker CPE ethics courses online:
○ Independence – Historical Insights and Today’s Rules
○ Independence requirements for auditors
○ Ethics—Integrity, A Foundation for Success
○ Government Ethics and Independence
○ Annual Professional Ethics Update
○ Ethics - Understanding and Applying the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
○ Maintaining Professional Ethics in a Culture of Oversharing
In demonstrating a continued commitment to ethics education, accountants can build the trust of their colleagues and clients alike. Doing the “little things” right—and not seeking shortcuts because of time pressures — can instill the kind of confidence in a CPA that can help propel his or her career forward!
Becker’s CPE ethics courses help demystify the sometimes intimidating field of accounting ethics. For any current or aspiring CPA, ethics is never a “one-and-done” topic. Continuing to educate yourself in this evolving field will help set a foundation for long-term success and maintain trusted business relationships throughout your career. Ready to fulfill your CPE requirements? Get started with Becker’s CPE offerings.
Learn more about Becker’s commitment to providing top-notch CPE courses.
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