Continuing Education Quick Reference Guide
Active Status License Renewal
A total 80 hours of CE must be completed in the two-year period immediately preceding license expiration, including:
- A minimum of 20 hours completed during each year of the two-year license renewal period, including 12 hours in technical subject matter.
- For example: For a license set to expire on January 31, 2023 a licensee must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CE, with 12 hours in technical subject matter, between February 1, 2021 through January 31, 2022. In addition, a minimum of 20 hours of CE, with 12 hours in technical subject matter, must be completed between February 1, 2022 through January 31, 2023. These hours are included in the 80 -hour CE requirement.
- Four hours of ethics education. Please note this course is not interchangeable with the Regulatory Review Course.
- A two-hour Board-approved Regulatory Review course if more than six years have lapsed since you last completed a Board-approved Regulatory Review course. Please note this course is not interchangeable with the ethics course.
- If subject to the government auditing or accounting and auditing CE requirement,you must complete 24 hours of CE as described in those sections plus four hours of Fraud CE.
- If subject to the Preparation Engagement CE requirement, you must complete eight hours of CE as described in that section plus four hours of Fraud CE.
- The remaining hours may be completed in qualifying technical or non-technical subject matter of your choosing, so long as a minimum of 40 hours are completed in technical subject matter.
All CE must be completed during your two-year licensure period. You cannot carry over CE hours from one license renewal period to another. If you renew early and complete additional CE before your license expiration date in the current license renewal period, you cannot count it toward the 80 hours of CE required for your next license renewal.
For more detailed (CE) requirement information, please see the Overview of the Renewal Process.
New Licensees
You must complete 20 hours of CE for each full six-month period from the date your license was issued to your next license expiration date. This is the method to calculate the total CE hours required for active license renewal. It is not required that you complete 20 hours of CE during each six-month period. Your CE must be taken between the date your license was issued and your first expiration date.
If you are required to complete government auditing or A&A, you need to complete six hours of CE in the appropriate subject matter as part of each 20 hours of CE.
If you are required to complete preparation engagement CE, you need to complete two hours of CE in the appropriate subject matter as part of each 20 hours of CE.
If the time between the date of issuance and the next license expiration date is less than six full months, no additional CE is required for license renewal.
You do not need to complete the ethics course, the regulatory review course, or meet the yearly 20-hour requirement on your first renewal if you have had your license for less than two full years.
Status Conversion
If converting your license to an active status within 90 days of the next expiration date, you must complete the license renewal application documenting completion of the required CE hours listed below. The renewal application can be completed using CBA Connect.
If converting your license to an active status more than 90 days before the next expiration date, you must complete a Status Conversion Form documenting completion of the required CE hours listed below. The Status Conversion form can be emailed to renewalinfo@cba.ca.gov (preferred) or mailed to the CBA.
A total of 80 hours of CE must be completed during the two-year period preceding status conversion, including:
- A minimum of 20 hours completed within the one-year period immediately preceding license status conversion, including 12 hours in technical subject matter.
- Four hours of ethics education.
- A two-hour Board-approved Regulatory Review course if more than six years have lapsed since you last completed a Board-approved Regulatory Review course. Please note this course is not interchangeable with the ethics course.
- If subject to the government auditing or A&A CE requirement, you must complete 24 hours of CE as described in those sections plus four hours of Fraud CE.
- If subject to the preparation engagement CE requirement, you must complete eight hours of CE as described in that section plus four hours of Fraud CE.
- The remaining hours may be completed in qualifying technical or non-technical subject matter of your choosing, so long as a minimum of 40 hours are completed in technical subject matter.
Pursuant to California Code of Regulations section 37.5, licensees converting their license to an active status must submit fingerprints to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the purpose of having a state and federal criminal offender record background check. Licensees who have renewed their license in an active status after January 1, 2014 have likely already met the requirement to submit fingerprints. If you have not renewed in an active status since 2014 and need to know if the CBA has your fingerprints on file, please email renewalinfo@cba.ca.gov.
Continuing Education after Status Conversion
Once your license is converted to active status, you must complete 20 hours of CE for each full six-month period from the date of license status conversion to the next license expiration date. This is the method to calculate the total CE hours required for active license renewal. It is not required that you complete 20 hours of CE during each six-month period. Your CE must be taken between the date of conversion and your next expiration date.
If you are required to complete government auditing or A&A, you need to complete six hours of CE in the appropriate subject matter as part of each 20 hours of CE.
If you are required to complete preparation engagement CE, you need to complete two hours of CE in the appropriate subject matter as part of each 20 hours of CE.
If the time between the date of license status conversion and the next license expiration date is less than six full months, no additional CE is required for license renewal.
You do not need to complete the ethics course, Regulatory Review course, or meet the yearly 20-hour CE requirement on your first renewal after status conversion if you have been in an active status for less than two full years.