NASBA and AICPA propose changes in CPE provider standards

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of CPAs issued a set of proposed revisions to their standards for continuing professional education programs to address constant technology changes.

Most of the proposed revisions represent clarifications within the CPE standards, which were last updated in 2019. The proposed clarifications address typical issues with digital programs, such as internet-based CPE learning from a group of teachers. The revised standards aim to clarify how to award CPE credit when multiple presenters are actively involved in running one CPE program session. The revisions would also offer more clarity on how to communicate and document the required attendance and monitoring mechanisms for this program.

One of the proposals would clarify that group live and group internet-based programs are determined by how the learner interacts with other participants and the instructor, instead of how the learning is consumed by the student. The proposed revisions also include specific examples of each delivery method with web-enabled, two-way video participation to be included as a group live program.

The review by NASBA and the AICPA of the 2019 standards started in May 2022. The proposed revisions come after extensive reviews and evaluations of the standards by the CPE Standards Working Group, NASBA's CPE Committee and the Joint AICPA/NASBA CPE Standards Committee. The boards of directors of both NASBA and the AICPA approved the proposed revisions of the exposure draft during meetings this fall.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of the hard work of those involved in the revisions process," said Jessica Luttrull, NASBA's associate director of the national registry, in a statement Thursday. "We believe the changes included in these revised standards will assist CPE program providers and help keep CPE relevant and meaningful to CPAs."

The exposure draft is available for download at nasbaregistry.org. An explanatory memorandum accompanies the exposure draft and highlights the proposed changes from the existing 2019 standards and the NASBA Fields of Study document. NASBA and the AICPA are looking for comments on the exposure draft through March 31, 2023. They can be emailed to comments@nasba.org. 

"CPE helps CPAs maintain professional competence and provide quality services," said Michael Grant, the AICPA's senior director of learning innovation and assessment, in a statement. "Through continued education, CPAs are more prepared to instill confidence in an unstable and evolving economic environment, strengthen capital markets and expand opportunities for sustainable growth worldwide."