CPE requirements for CPAs
Rhode Island CPA CPE Requirements
Checked against the NASBA Registry and the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy. Published on September 4, 2026 · Last checked September 5, 2026
The short answer
Rhode Island CPAs must complete 120 hours every three years. The requirement includes 6 hours of ethics every three years. Self-study is capped at 80 hours. The reporting period ends on June 30, every 3 years.
- Total hours
- 120
- every 3 years
- Annual minimum
- None
- Ethics
- 6 hrs
- every three years · general course qualifies
- Self-study
- 80 of 120 hrs
- Period ends
- June 30
- every 3 years
- Carryover
- None
How many CPE hours do Rhode Island CPAs need?
Rhode Island CPAs must complete 120 hours every three years.
Reporting period: 7/1 to 6/30 triennially.
NASBA Registry wording: 120 hours.
What is the Rhode Island ethics CPE requirement?
Rhode Island requires 6 hours of ethics every three years. A general ethics course qualifies.
NASBA Registry wording: Six (6) hours in subjects devoted to professional ethics every three years: • Subjects devoted to professional ethics will include programs devoted to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, including opinions issued there under, as well as programs relating to the legal, professional or ethical codes of any authoritative organization or accounting professional specialty organization.
Does Rhode Island limit self-study CPE?
Rhode Island caps self-study at 80 of the 120 hours.
When is Rhode Island CPE due?
The reporting period ends on June 30, every 3 years.
License renewal: June 30 triennially.
There is no grace period.
Can Rhode Island CPAs carry over extra CPE hours?
Excess hours do not carry over to the next reporting period.
Are there other Rhode Island CPE limits?
- Instruction: The maximum credit for instructors, speakers or discussion leaders is 60 hours over 3 years.
- Business Management and Organization.
- Published materials: Authorship credits are limited to 60 hours over 3 years.
- Self study: This type of CPE is limited to 80 hours over three (3) years and credits must be QAS approved or interactive.
- Nano learning: CPE credit is accepted only in 0.2 increments.
What other Rhode Island CPE policies apply?
- Rhode Island Board accepts CPE credits for programs offered by National Registry sponsors.
- Qualifying programs are formal programs of learning that contribute directly to the professional competence of a CPA or PA after he or she has been issued a permit to practice public accounting.
- Exemption: A non-resident licensee seeking renewal of a certificate in this state shall be determined to have met the CPE requirement of this rule by meeting the CPE requirements for renewal of a certificate in the state in which the licensee's principal place of business is located by signing a statement to that effect on the renewal application of this state. Non-resident applicants for renewal shall demonstrate compliance with the CPE renewal requirements of the state in which the licensee's principal place of business is located by signing a statement to that effect on the renewal application of this state. If a non-resident licensee's principal place of business state has no CPE requirements for renewal of a certificate, the non-resident licensee must comply with all CPE requirements for renewal of a certificate in this state.
Does Pacific CPE count toward Rhode Island CPE?
Pacific CPE is a sponsor on the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors (Sponsor #143718), delivering QAS self-study courses. Rhode Island accepts self-study for up to 80 of its 120 hours, so Pacific CPE courses can cover that portion of the requirement.
A general ethics course satisfies Rhode Island's 6-hour ethics requirement. Pacific CPE's ethics courses include Frivolous Tax Arguments and Scams, Ethics and Integrity for Industry CPAs, Fraud Prevention and Management Misconduct.
Sources
- NASBA Registry: Rhode Island CPE requirements · revised 5/3/2023
- Rhode Island Board of Accountancy: CPE requirements · the board's own page
- Rhode Island Board of Accountancy website
Every figure on this page was checked against the NASBA Registry summary for Rhode Island (revised 5/3/2023) and the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy's own CPE page. Verified by Pacific CPE on September 4, 2026. The sources are re-checked automatically about every 30 days; the last check, on September 5, 2026, found no changes. Where the board's rule and the NASBA summary differ, the board's rule is shown. Rules change. If you find a difference, tell us and we will re-check the sources.