Ohio CPA CPE requirements
After you earn your CPA license, the Ohio Board of Accountancy requires you to take continuing professional education (CPE) courses before you can renew it. We're sharing the Ohio CPA CPE requirements and license renewal information so you can maintain your license and remain in good standing.
Renewing your Ohio CPA license
Ohio requires all CPAs to renew their license every three years. The triennial reporting period begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 three years later with the renewal period opening on October 2. If you renewed your license in 2024, you will need to renew it before December 31, 2027.
For first-time CPAs, you must renew your license at the end of your second full year of licensure. For example, if you receive your license June 4, 2024, you can renew your license beginning on October 2, 2027 and must do it by December 31, 2027.
To renew your license, follow these steps:
- Complete all your Ohio CPE requirements.
- Log in to the Elicense renewal site—or set up a new account if you're new.
- Once you've logged in, submit your CPA license form and CPE documentation.
- Pay the renewal fee and finalize.
- Print out documentation and keep for your records.
Ohio CPA CPE requirements
The Ohio CPA CPE requirements stipulate that all CPAs must earn 120 hours of CPE during each three-year reporting period. Within these 120 hours, you'll also need to meet the following:
- Earn at least 20 hours of CPE per year. This is designed to ensure CPAs are continually learning and prevents CPAs from earning all 120 hours within a single period
- Earn at least 24 Accounting and Audit CPE credits if you work in A&A or prepare or sign financial reports
- Earn at least 24 tax CPE credits if you perform any tax work on any engagement or prepare or sign any tax returns as a CPA
- Earn at least three Board-approved ethics CPE credits in Professional Standards and Responsibilities
Becker's CPE course, Ohio - Professional Standards & Responsibilities, will meet Ohio's three-hour PS&R requirement
Meeting your Ohio CPE requirements with Becker
Becker offers the relevant courses you need in a flexible format to help you meet your CPE requirements more easily.
- NASBA-approved provider
- Over 1,000 live webcasts annually, plus over 750 on-demand courses and weekly CPE podcasts
- CPE courses across 19 fields of study, including tax, accounting, audit, ethics, and technology
- Experienced instructors with years of practical knowledge bring real-world insights to complex concepts
- Monthly, quarterly, and annual update courses in tax, audit, and accounting keep you aware of the latest changes in laws, regulations, and court rulings
Tips to meet your Ohio CPE requirements
If you struggle to meet your CPE requirements, try these tips to take the stress out of continuing education.
Find CPE that is flexible to your lifestyle
Most CPAs have trouble making time for CPE—not surprising given that you have a demanding career and responsibilities outside of work, too. But Ohio doesn't have limits on how much CPE you can earn through self-study, so consider taking courses on-demand or even listening to CPE podcasts so you can fit learning into your lifestyle.
Keep up with your progress
It's not easy to remember how many hours you've completed, how much you have left, and if you've met the A&A or tax requirements, especially over three years. Using Becker's CPE Compliance Tracker, you can keep all your CPE in one place, import documents from other sources, and see your progress, what you need, and get recommendations for courses all in one convenient dashboard.
Pace yourself
Don't try to earn 60 hours of CPE right before your deadline! Instead, make sure to block out four or five hours each month devoted to learning. This will give you a cushion if you miss a month for busy season or vacation.
Take courses that interest you
Meeting your Ohio CPE requirements doesn't have to be a chore, if you take classes that interest you. Consider what you want to learn more about or where you want your career to go and choose classes that align with that. For example, if you want to learn more about real estate accounting or international taxation, Becker has courses in those topics.