After you earn your CPA license, Massachusetts requires you to keep up with your learning through continuing professional education. We're providing an in-depth look at the Massachusetts CPE requirements, renewal information, and other tips and resources to help you maintain your license.

Renewing your Massachusetts CPA license

The state issues CPA licenses on a two-year period, with the biennial period beginning July 1 and ending on June 30th of both off and even-numbered years. Your initial license will expire on the last day of June of the next year following the year it was issued. The state does mail out renewal notices beginning 60 days before your license expires so you don't miss your renewal date.

To renew your license, follow these steps: 

1. Create an account with the ePlace Portal or or log in to your existing account
2. Upload your proof of CPE 
3. Pay the $161 fee and submit your renewal
4. Print out your proof of renewal for your records 

Massachusetts CPE requirements

To meet your CPA CPE requirements, you will need to complete 80 hours of qualifying coursework within each two-year period. Within those 80 hours, you complete four hours of ethics CPE. 

Becker's CPE course, Ethics, Integrity, and AICPA Code of Professional Conduct (expanded version) will meet your Massachusetts ethics requirement.

Massachusetts does not have any minimum content requirements outside of ethics, so you can earn CPE in a wide variety of topics to help you grow valuable skills in relevant topics. You can also meet your CPE requirements via the following learning formats: 

• In-person events or live, interactive webcasts
• Self-study, on-demand courses and CPE podcasts
• Formal programs, or through taking university or college courses (limit of 15 CPE hours per renewal cycle)
• Through instructing, lecturing, or authoring published works (limit of 20 CPE hours per renewal cycle)

It's important to note that you can not carry over CPE credits from one renewal cycle to the next.

Meeting initial CPA CPE requirements

For newly licensed CPAs, you will still need to earn CPE during your first renewal cycle, but your requirements do differ, depending on the month you receive your license: 

1. July, August, or September: 80 hours for the first renewal cycle
2. October, November, or December: 70 hours
3. January, February, or March: 60 hours
4. April, May, or June: 50 hours

Meeting your Massachusetts CPE requirements with Becker

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

• NASBA-approved courses
• Over 1,000 live webcasts annually, 750 on-demand courses, plus weekly CPE podcasts 
• CPE courses in 19 fields of study, including tax, ethics, IT, personal development, and finance 
• 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 Massachusetts CPA CPE requirements

We know that fulfilling CPE requirements can feel like a hassle, especially when you're juggling other responsibilities that may often seem like a higher priority. To help you take the stress out of professional education, try these tips:

Find CPE that suits your schedule

The biggest challenge to earning CPE is making time for it. Consider taking on-demand courses you can watch when it works best for you, whether it’s during your lunch break or while you’re sitting in the car waiting for your kid to finish softball practice. Remember, Massachusetts CPA CPE requirements do not limit how much self-study you can complete. You can even try CPE podcasts where you listen to the material then take a brief quiz to ensure you understand the material. Earn CPE on your drive to work, while washing dishes, or taking a walk.

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 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 

Massachusetts CPE requirements state that you need 80 hours of CPE over two years. We recommend breaking this up over the period so you're not scrambling to earn all your hours right 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 learn what you need to know. 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!