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:

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:

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.