Virginia CPA CPE requirements
After you earn your CPA license, you are expected to take continuing professional education and renew your license periodically. Learn the Virginia CPA CPE requirements and how to renew your license so you can remain in good standing.
How to renew your Virginia CPA license
CPAs must renew their license annually on or before June 30. To do this, follow these steps:
- Create an account or log in to the Virginia Board of Accountancy portal
- Fill out the renewal form and affirm that you are meeting the CPE requirements. Note: You do not need to submit CPE documentation at this time.
- Pay the $60 renewal fee
- Finalize the transaction and print the proof of renewal for your records
Virginia CPE requirements
All active CPAs must complete 120 hours of continuing professional education over a rolling three-year period which includes the three calendar-years prior to the current calendar year. The deadline for meeting your Virginia CPE requirements for the previous year is January 31 of the current year.
Within the 120 hours during a three-year period, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Earn a minimum of 20 hours each year. For example, you can earn 60 hours, 20 hours, 40 hours over the three years, but you can't earn 80 hours, 0 hours, 40 hours.
- Two hours of approved ethics CPE each year
- Eight hours related to attest, compilation, or financial statement preparation over the three years if you release or authorize the release of reports
Becker's VBOA-Approved Ethics Course: Integrity, a Foundation for Success, is approved for meeting your Virginia CPE requirements for ethics.
For individuals who are newly licensed, you don't need to earn any CPE during the calendar year in which you receive your license.
- First full calendar year after earning your license: 40 hours of CPE, including two hours of ethics
- Second full calendar year after earning your license: 80 hours total when added to the first year, including two hours of ethics
- Third full calendar year after earning your license: 120 hours total when added to the first two years, including two years of ethics
Meeting your Virginia CPA CPE requirements with Becker
Becker offers relevant courses in a flexible format to help you meet 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 Virginia CPE requirements
Meeting your CPE requirements can seem challenging, but with these tips, you can help take some of the stress out of your continuing education.
Find CPE that works with your lifestyle
Finding time for CPE is probably the biggest hurdle to meeting your requirements. Earning credits through self-study is often the best option as you can learn at the best time for you. Consider watching an on-demand course on your lunch break or listening to a CPE podcast while walking the dog. Also, Becker's webcast calendar offers live courses at several times throughout the day, plus evenings and weekends.
Keep up with your progress
It’s difficult to remember how many hours you’ve completed, when it’s due, and if you’ve met the more specific CPE requirements that Virginia has. 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
Instead of scrambling to earn 40 hours of CPE in two or three months, especially right after busy season, 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.
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 succeed 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 you want your career to look like and take courses to support it!