Arizona CPA CPE requirements
Once you earn your CPA license, you'll need to renew it periodically and earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits. To help you stay in good standing, we're walking you through the Arizona CPA CPE requirements, the steps to renew your license, and how to take the stress out of earning credits.
Renewing your Arizona CPA license
Arizona requires all CPAs to renew their license every two years. CPAs born in an even-numbered year must renew during their birth month of every even-numbered year, while those born in an odd-numbered year must renew during their birth month of every odd numbered year. For example, if you were born April 12, 1992, you must renew your license by April 30 in 2024, 2026, and every even-numbered year after that.
To renew your CPA license in Arizona, follow these steps:
- Complete your CPE requirements.
- Create an account or log in to an existing account with the Arizona State Board of Accountancy
- Submit your CPE documentation
- Complete the renewal application and pay the renewal fee
- Finalize your payment and print verification for your records
Arizona CPE requirements
To meet your CPA CPE requirements, you will need to complete 80 hours of qualifying coursework during each two year reporting cycle. Within those 80 hours, additional guidelines include:
- Complete four hours of ethics CPE
- One hour must be related to the practice of accounting including the AICPA Professional Code of Conduct
- One hour must cover the Arizona State Board of Accountancy Statutes and Administrative Rules
Becker's CPE course, Arizona Ethics, is a four-hour course that meets your state license renewal requirement.
- At least 16 hours must be in a live setting, whether in an in-person classroom or seminar setting or via a live webcast. Self-study is capped at 64 hours per reporting period.
- At least 40 hours of CPE must be in accounting, audit, tax, business law, or consulting services. Of consulting services, at least 16 hours must be in accounting, audit, or taxation.
- Up to 20 hours of CPE can come from preparing, writing, or editing published articles and books.
- Up to 40 hours of CPE can come from lecturing. This includes preparation and presentation time, though preparation time can't exceed presentation, and no additional credit is allowed for repeating a lecture.
- Up to 20 hours of CPE can come from completing introductory computer-related courses
Meeting your Arizona CPA CPE requirements with Becker
Becker offers a wide variety of relevant courses in a flexible format so you can fulfill your CPE requirements more easily.
- NASBA-approved provider
- Over 1,000 live webcasts each year, 750 on-demand courses, plus weekly CPE podcasts
- CPE courses across 19 fields of study, including tax, accounting, audit, and ethics
- Experienced instructors who bring years of practical knowledge and real-world insights
- Monthly, quarterly, and annual update courses in tax, audit, and accounting to keep you aware and updated on the latest changes in laws, regulations, and court rulings.
Tips to meet your Arizona CPE requirements
These tips can help take the stress out of meeting your CPE requirements.
Choose formats that fit your lifestyle
Finding time for CPE is probably the biggest hurdle to meeting your requirements. In Arizona, you have to earn at least 16 of your CPE hours through live learning, but this doesn't just mean in-person classes or seminars. You can also take part in live webcasts to fulfill this requirement. For the other 64 hours, you can view on-demand CPE courses or even listen to CPE podcasts that easily fit your schedule.
Keep up with your progress
It’s difficult to remember where you are in meeting your CPE requirements over two years. Using Becker’s CPE Compliance Tracker keeps all your CPE in one place (including from other sources) so you can easily see your progress, what you have left, and get recommendations for classes that align with your interests.
Block out time each month
Avoid scrambling to earn 40 hours of CPE in two or three months, especially if it's right after busy season. Instead, block out a bit of time each month. Try to earn four hours of CPE each month, and this will give you a cushion if you miss a month near your renewal date.
Take CPE that interests you
CPE helps you learn new skills that can help you succeed in your career. Maybe you work in tax and want to focus more on helping small businesses—take CPE courses in those topics. If you're considering working in a particular industry, CPE courses in real estate accounting, pharmaceutical accounting, and other areas can help you transition your career. Take time to think about what you want your career to look like and take courses to support it!