Alabama CPA CPE Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
40 hrs/year
Reporting cycle
Annual (Oct 1 - Sep 30)
Ethics requirement
2 hrs ethics + 8 hrs A&A each year
Issued by
Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy
Alabama is an annual-hours state, not a multi-year total, and that is the detail that trips people up. Every single year you owe 40 hours, with an 8-hour accounting and auditing minimum and 2 hours of ethics baked inside that 40. There is no two-year window to spread the load across and no clean reset other than the next year.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is how an active Alabama license actually works, in plain English.
The base requirement: 40 hours every year
The Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy (ASBPA) requires 40 hours of CPE in each annual reporting period for an active license. The reporting year runs October 1 through September 30, so your clock does not follow the calendar year. CPE must come from sponsors on the NASBA National Registry or otherwise acceptable to the Board.
The subject minimums inside the 40
- At least 8 of the 40 hours must be in accounting and auditing (A&A) each year.
- At least 2 of the 40 hours must be in ethics each year, and they count within the 40, not on top of it.
- Behavioral or personal development courses are capped, so you cannot fill the whole 40 with soft-skills content.
- You are responsible for proving a course qualifies, and you must keep written evidence of completion for five years.
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Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Because Alabama measures CPE annually, all 40 hours, the 8-hour A&A minimum, and the 2-hour ethics requirement must be complete by September 30 each year. The annual cadence is unforgiving: there is no second year to make up a shortfall, so a missed September 30 is a missed cycle.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the 40-hour annual total with dedicated buckets for the 8-hour A&A minimum and the 2-hour ethics requirement, so the mix is never a surprise.
- Store every completion certificate with its course, so an ASBPA audit is a one-click export.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your September 30 deadline.
- Hold licenses in more than one state? Each gets its own card, deadline, and progress, all on one dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Alabama require?
40 hours every year for an active license, including at least 8 hours of accounting and auditing and 2 hours of ethics.
Is the requirement annual or multi-year?
Annual. Alabama measures 40 hours in each October 1 to September 30 reporting year, with no multi-year total to spread hours across.
How much ethics CPE do I need?
2 hours of ethics each year, counted within the 40-hour total rather than in addition to it.
How long should I keep my CPE records?
Five years. You must be able to produce written evidence of completion if the Board audits you.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
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Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
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