CBA approves two new activities that can count for CPA continuing education credit

The California Board of Accountancy voted to include two new activities as acceptable ways for licensees to earn continuing education (CE) credit: participating in standard-setting workshops for the Uniform CPA Exam and serving as a pretester for CE courses to calculate completion time.

The move came after a staff presentation from Sarah Benedict, manager of the license renewal and continuing competency unit, who described the two activities and the work group's support for the additions. Benedict said the pretesting role “is essentially the same as taking the course as a paid participant,” and staff recommended allowing the activities to give CPAs more flexibility and to help CE providers find pretesters.

Why it matters: CE policy determines how active licensees meet renewal requirements. Adding these activities creates more pathways for licensees to earn credit and helps CE providers document course completion times.

Board action: The Committee on Professional Conduct and the full board recommended and approved staff’s policy direction to add the two CE activities to a future rulemaking package. The board’s roll call recorded affirming votes and the chair noted the motion carried.

Next steps: Staff will include the new activity definitions in a rulemaking package and follow the state’s formal regulatory process to implement the change, including public notice and comment before any regulatory amendments take effect.