Once you have your CPA license, you'll need to complete continuing professional education to renew your license and remain in good standing. We're sharing the North Carolina CPE requirements for CPAs and license renewal steps to take the confusion out of meeting your requirements. 

Renewing your North Carolina CPA license

All CPAs in North Carolina need to renew their license every year before July 1. To renew your license, follow these steps: 

1. Complete your required CPE and gather the documentation
2. Log in to the North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners or create a login if this is your first time renewing. Note: All CPAs must use the Board's portal for renewal. 
3. Complete your renewal form and upload proof of CPE
4. Pay the license renewal fee 
5. After you've finalized the transaction, make sure to print proof for your records.
    

North Carolina CPE requirements

To meet your CPA CPE requirements, you will need to complete 2,000 minutes, or 40 hours, of CPE during each annual renewal period. Within the 2,000 minutes, you will need to meet the specific criteria:

• 50 minutes (1 credit or hour) of regulatory or behavioral professional ethics CPE
• At least 480 minutes (8 credits or hours) must come from a classroom setting instruction, such as a live webcast or in-person seminar. 
• No more than 1,000 minutes (20 credits or hours) can come from completing a college course
• No more than 500 minutes (10 credits or hours) can come from publishing or authoring professional books or articles
• No more than 1,000 minutes (20 credits or hours) can come from teaching a college-level course
• You can carry up to 1,000 minutes (20 credits or hours) forward to the following year with the exception of ethics CPE

If you receive your CPA license in the middle of a renewal period, your CPE requirement is prorated on a quarterly basis. For example, if you earn your CPA license in October 2024, you will need 1,500 minutes (30 hours or credits) before renewing your license by July 1, 2025.

Becker's CPE course, Ethics - Understanding and Applying the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, will meet your North Carolina CPE requirements for ethics. 

Meeting your North Carolina CPA CPE requirements with Becker

Becker offers the relevant courses today's CPAs need in a flexible format so you can 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, quarter, 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 North Carolina CPE requirements

If meeting your CPE requirements seems like a hassle, we're sharing some tips that can take the stress out of continuing education. 

Find CPE that works with your lifestyle

For most CPAs, just making the time is the biggest challenge. While NC CPA CPE requirements do state that you need eight hours of live or in-person coursework, the other 32 hours can come from self-guided coursework. Becker has a flexible webcast calendar so you can take part in live courses at different times through the day, plus evenings and weekends. We also offer on-demand classes you can watch anytime and anyplace, and for the ultimate convenience, you can earn CPE credits by listening to our weekly accounting podcast. 

Keep up with your progress

When you have to earn 40 hours in a single year, it's hard to keep track of what you need and what you've already completed. With Becker’s CPE Compliance Tracker, you can keep all your CPE in one place and upload completion certificates from other sources. This makes it easy to see your progress, what you have left, and get recommendations for classes that align with your interests, all in one dashboard.

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 your mindset around 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!