Colorado CPA CPE Requirements (2026): 80 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
Colorado requires 80 hours of continuing professional education per biennial reporting period, which runs from January 1 of even-numbered years through December 31 of odd-numbered years. The renewal deadline is November 30 of odd-numbered years. CPAs accrue 10 hours for every full calendar quarter their certificate is active during the reporting period.
Ethics courses total 4 hours per cycle, and the providers offering ethics courses must be registered with the Board or have their content approved. No more than 2 of those ethics hours may be in Colorado Rules and Regulations. New licensees face an additional requirement: a 2-hour CR&R course within 6 months of initial licensure.
Colorado does not pre-approve courses or providers. If both the licensee and the provider comply with NASBA/AICPA CPE Standards, the education will be accepted. Sponsors listed on NASBA's National Registry are automatically accepted. Personal development hours are capped at 16 hours (20% of the 80-hour requirement).
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics | 4 | Every renewal | Providers offering ethics courses must register with the Board and/or have their content approved by the Board. No more than 2 hours may be in Colorado Rules & Regulations (CR&R). |
| Colorado Rules & Regulations (CR&R) | 2 | First renewal | New licensees must complete a CR&R course within 6 months of initial licensure. Counts toward license renewal reporting and toward the 4-hour ethics requirement. |
Renewal Pathways
Exemptions
- Out-Of-State Principal Place Of Business — Applicants with principal place of business outside Colorado may satisfy requirements by certifying completion in their home state.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Colorado CPE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Colorado that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — No carry-over provision identified. Hours must be completed within the designated biennial reporting period.
- Personal development hours capped at 20% of required hours (16 hours max for 80-hour requirement).
- Published materials and instructed credit combined are limited to 50% of required CPE in a reporting period.
- Credit calculated at 1 CPE credit for every 50 minutes of study time based on AICPA/NASBA standards.
- CPAs must maintain their own CPE records for at least 5 years.
- Reporting period: January 1 of even-numbered year through December 31 of odd-numbered year.
- Renewal deadline: November 30th of odd-numbered years.
- Ethics course providers must register with the Board and/or have their content approved by the Board.
Provider Requirements
Colorado does not pre-approve courses or providers. If both the licensee and the CPE provider comply with the NASBA/AICPA CPE Standards, the continuing education will be accepted. Sponsors on NASBA's National Registry are automatically accepted.
Tips for Colorado CPAs
- Ethics course providers must be registered with the Colorado Board — verify before enrolling, as not all NASBA-approved ethics courses qualify.
- Personal development hours are capped at 16 (20% of 80 hours), so plan your non-technical coursework accordingly.
- New licensees must complete the 2-hour Colorado Rules & Regulations course within 6 months — this counts toward both the ethics and total hour requirements.
- Maintain your own CPE records for at least 5 years, as Colorado does not track hours centrally.
Sources
- Compiled from published secondary sources — confirm current rules directly with the Colorado State Board of Accountancy
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited
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