Best CPE courses for CPAs in 2026-27 | See which CPE provider fits you

Finding the best online CPE courses for CPAs depends on more than price. Course selection, live and self-study options, state-specific ethics coverage, subscription structure, and your individual license requirements all matter. We compared leading CPE providers using consistent criteria so you can see which option best fits the way you learn and the credits you need. Because CPE requirements vary by jurisdiction, always confirm course eligibility with your state board before enrolling.
A CPA Candidate exploring best cpe courses for cpas

Best online CPE providers for CPAs at a glance

Provider Best for Learning formats Published CPE library Live programming Subscription model
Surgent CPE, a UWorld company Overall flexibility and live CPE Live, on-demand, self-study 10,000+ credits 2,300+ webinars per year Multiple unlimited options
Becker Compliance tracking Live and on-demand 1,700+ courses 1,000+ webcasts per year Tiered subscriptions
myCPE ONE Multi-credential professionals Live and self-study 15,000+ hours Live webinars included Unlimited
CCH CPELink Technical and professional content Live and self-study Not publicly published as a total Webinars available Tiered
Western CPE Credit packages Live and on-demand 450+ on-demand courses Available Credit packages
CPAacademy.org Occasional or free credits Primarily webinars Not publicly published as a total Available Course by course

Surgent currently advertises 10,000+ credits and more than 2,300 live webinars annually, while Becker currently advertises more than 1,700 total courses consisting of 700+ on-demand offerings and 1,000+ webcasts.

How CPE providers actually differ

We evaluated each provider using the same criteria so the comparison stays consistent and transparent.

NASBA registration and CPE eligibility

  • NASBA National Registry sponsorship
  • State board authority over CPE acceptance
  • State ethics requirements
  • The need to confirm your individual jurisdiction requirements

NASBA currently recognizes delivery approaches including group, QAS self-study, nano learning, and blended learning through its Registry framework.

Course selection and subject coverage

Compare access to accounting, auditing, federal taxation, ethics, regulatory updates, finance, technology, management, and industry-specific topics.

Learning formats and scheduling

Evaluate live webinars, on-demand webcasts, self-study, downloadable content, evening and weekend availability, and mobile or device accessibility.

Subscription value and flexibility

Rather than only asking “who is cheapest?”, assess unlimited versus credit package, subscription length, included premium content, exclusions, and the number of credits you actually need.

Where each provider fits

Surgent CPE: Best overall for flexible online CPE

Surgent CPE, a UWorld company. Surgent CPE, a UWorld company. UWorld acquired Surgent Accounting & Financial Education in April 2026, bringing UWorld’s CPA exam review and professional certification preparation together with Surgent’s continuing professional education catalog. UWorld currently describes Surgent’s catalog as containing more than 10,000 CPE credit hours.

Why Surgent stands out

  • 10,000+ CPE credits
  • 2,300+ live webinars annually
  • 1,300+ on-demand webcast credits
  • 1,000+ self-study credits
  • Premium courses and select gamified courses
  • Live programming across different schedules, including evenings and weekends
  • Accounting, finance, tax, and regulatory topics

Who Surgent CPE is best for

A good fit for professionals who need CPE throughout the year, prefer frequent live programming, need tax, accounting, and regulatory updates, want both scheduled and self-paced options, and need access to a broad CPE library.

Still working toward CPA licensure? Explore UWorld CPA review courses for structured exam prep before moving into ongoing CPE.

What Becker offers

  • 1,700+ courses
  • 700+ on-demand courses
  • 1,000+ live webcasts
  • Multiple subscription tiers
  • Personalized CPE compliance tracker
  • Podcasts eligible for CPE in applicable offerings

Who Becker may be best for

Professionals who value consolidated CPE tracking, structured subscription tiers, podcasts as an additional learning format, and multi-year access.

What myCPE ONE offers

  • Single unlimited subscription
  • 15,000+ published hours
  • 100+ qualifications covered
  • Live and self-study formats
  • Multi-credential coverage (CPA, CMA, CIA, CFE, and others)

Who myCPE ONE may be best for

Professionals who hold more than one credential and want to earn CPE for several designations from a single subscription, plus those seeking the lowest-priced unlimited option.

  • Tiered unlimited subscriptions
  • Technical and professional content across tax, accounting, audit, and legal or regulatory updates
  • Live webinars
  • Self-study offerings

Professionals who prioritize technical tax, accounting, and regulatory content and prefer a tiered subscription.

What Western CPE offers

  • Credit packages rather than an unlimited subscription
  • 450+ on-demand courses, including 60+ ethics options
  • Live webcasts and destination conferences
  • Credits redeemable against eligible courses in the library over the term

Who Western CPE may be best for

CPAs who know how many credits they need, prefer a transaction-based model, and do not want an unlimited annual subscription.

What CPAacademy.org offers

  • Course-by-course enrollment, a large share of sessions free
  • Paid sessions around $35
  • Primarily live webinars, sponsor-supported
  • NASBA-registered credit

Who CPAacademy.org may be best for

Professionals who need occasional credits and prefer enrolling course by course rather than committing to an annual subscription.

What to look for when choosing an online CPE course

Check the provider’s NASBA status

Confirm the provider appears on NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Sponsors. Registry status shows the provider meets National Registry standards for approved delivery methods, but it does not guarantee a specific course counts toward your license.

Review your state’s CPA CPE requirements

Requirements can differ by total hours, ethics credits, reporting period, acceptable delivery method, and fields of study.

Choose the right learning format

  • Live webinar: real-time instruction with instructor interaction.
  • On-demand: previously recorded programming accessible on your schedule.
  • Self-study: individual, self-paced study with applicable completion requirements.

NASBA describes QAS self-study as an individually completed, self-paced format where learners control timing, place, and pace.

Compare relevant courses, not just catalog size

A provider offering 10,000 credits is not automatically better for every CPA. What matters is whether the catalog includes the subjects, delivery methods, and jurisdiction-specific credits you actually need.

Frequently asked questions

The best option depends on your CPE requirements, preferred learning format, subject needs, and budget. Compare providers based on NASBA registration, live and self-study availability, ethics coverage, course relevance, and subscription structure rather than catalog size alone.

Among the major providers reviewed here with published annual figures, Surgent currently advertises 2,300+ live webinars per year. Becker publishes more than 1,000 annual webcasts. Provider schedules and catalog sizes can change, so verify availability when enrolling.

Online CPE can qualify for CPA continuing education when the provider, course, delivery method, and credit meet the requirements of your licensing jurisdiction. State boards of accountancy have final authority over which CPE credits they accept.

Live CPE takes place at a scheduled time and typically allows real-time participation. On-demand programs can be accessed later, while self-study programs allow participants to progress independently. Requirements for earning credit differ by delivery method.

There is no single national CPE-hour requirement for every CPA license. Requirements vary by state and may include specific ethics, technical subject, or reporting-period rules. Check your state board before selecting courses.

An unlimited subscription can be useful for professionals who need many credits, regularly attend professional updates, or want flexibility throughout the year. Professionals who need only a small number of credits may prefer individual courses or credit packages.

No. NASBA Registry sponsorship indicates that a provider has met applicable National Registry standards for approved delivery methods, but individual state boards retain final authority over CPE acceptance. Always check your jurisdiction’s requirements.

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