Colorado CPA CPE requirements

After you earn your CPA license, Colorado requires you to keep up with your relevant accounting, tax, and/or audit knowledge through continuing professional education. We're providing an in-depth look at the Colorado CPE requirements, how to renew your license, and other tips on earning CPE easily. 

How to renew your CPA license

All CPA licenses expire on November 30 of odd-numbered years, so if you renewed your license on November 30, 2023, or have received your license since then, you will need to renew it on November 30, 2025, then two years later, and so forth. Here are the steps to renew your CPA license in Colorado: 

1. Meet your CPE requirements and collect your proof of completion
2. Create an account with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies or log in to your existing account
3. Submit your CPE documentation and pay the renewal fee specified on your renewal application
4. After submitting your application and payment, make sure you get your confirmation and print it out for your records 

Colorado CPE requirements

All CPAs must meet the following requirements:

• Earn a total of 80 hours of CPE during each two-year renewal cycle
• Earn at least four hours of ethics CPE, two hours must be focused on Colorado ethics 
• No more than 20 percent (16 hours) of CPE in personal development courses
• No more than 50 percent (40 hours) from preparing published articles and books or teaching and instructional activities

Becker's CPE course, Colorado Rules and Regulations, will meet the two-hour Colorado ethics requirement. 

Meeting your Colorado CPA CPE requirements with Becker

Becker offers the relevant courses you need with the convenience and flexibility you want to help you meet your CPE requirements. 

• NASBA-approved and an approved CPE provider of the Colorado State Board of Accountancy
• Over 1,000 annual webcasts, 750 on-demand courses, and weekly CPE podcasts
• CPE courses in 19 fields, including tax, ethics, IT, personal development, and finance
• Courses taught by experienced CPAs who bring years of real-world insights and practical knowledge
• Monthly, quarterly, and annual update courses in tax, audit, and accounting so you can learn about the latest changes in laws, regulations, and court rulings. 

Tips to meet your Colorado CPA CPE requirements

Taking CPE courses can be difficult to fit in with your other responsibilities. To help take the stress out of meeting your CPE requirements, try these tips: 

Find CPE that suits your schedule

Finding time for CPE is probably the biggest challenge. Consider taking on-demand courses you can watch anytime and anywhere, like on your lunch break or waiting for your kids to finish softball practice. For even more flexibility, try CPE podcasts, so you can listen on your drive to work or while working out, then just take a brief quiz to earn your credit. 

Keep up with your progress

It can be hard to keep up with how many credits you've earned and if you’ve met the more specific ethics CPE and technical requirements. 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 courses that suit your interests.

Block out time each month

Colorado CPE requirements stipulate that you need 80 hours of coursework every two years. We recommend breaking this up over the period so you're not scrambling to earn 80 hours in the few months before your deadline! Take around four hours each month to dedicate to completing CPE or six hours a month if you want to take a few months off during busy season.

Consider what you want to learn

Instead of thinking about education as a necessary hassle, reposition how you think of it. CPE helps you learn new skills that can help you excel in your career. Perhaps you want to focus more on international tax — take CPE courses that help you build that foundational knowledge. 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. Consider what path you want your career to take and learn skills to support it.