Alaska 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
80 hrs / 2 years
Annual minimum
20 hours/year
Ethics requirement
4 hrs ethics
Issued by
Alaska Board of Public Accountancy
Alaska keeps the structure clean: 80 hours over a two-year period with a 20-hour floor each year and a 4-hour ethics course inside the total. The cycle is fixed, not personal - it runs on the calendar and ends December 31 of odd-numbered years for everyone, so your deadline does not move with your birthday.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is what an active Alaska license requires, in plain English.
The base requirement: 80 hours over two years
The Alaska Board of Public Accountancy requires 80 hours of CPE during the two-year reporting period for an active license. The period runs on the calendar and ends December 31 of odd-numbered years. Alaska focuses on professional competence rather than mandating a long list of subject areas, so a course qualifies if it contributes directly to your competence as a CPA and comes from an acceptable sponsor.
The annual minimum and ethics
- You must complete at least 20 hours in each year of the two-year period - the 80-hour total alone is not enough.
- 4 hours of ethics are required during the period, and they count within the 80, not on top of it.
- Regulatory ethics, Circular 230 ethics, and behavioral ethics are among the subject areas that qualify for the ethics requirement.
- CPE should come from sponsors on the NASBA National Registry or otherwise acceptable to the Board.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
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.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Alaska licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years, and your completed CPE must be reported to the Board as part of that renewal. The full 80 hours, the 20-hour annual minimum in each year, and the 4-hour ethics course all need to be done before you file.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the two-year 80-hour total alongside the 20-hour annual minimum so neither clock slips past you.
- A dedicated ethics bucket, shown separately from your general hours.
- Store every completion certificate with its course, so a Board audit is a one-click export.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your December 31 deadline, plus one dashboard for every license you hold across states.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Alaska require?
80 hours over a two-year period, with a minimum of 20 hours in each year.
How much ethics CPE do I need?
4 hours of ethics during the two-year period, counted within the 80-hour total rather than in addition to it.
When does my Alaska reporting period end?
December 31 of odd-numbered years, which is also your license renewal deadline.
Does Alaska require specific subject areas?
Beyond the ethics requirement, Alaska focuses on professional competence rather than mandating subject-area minimums - a course qualifies if it contributes directly to your competence as a CPA.
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.
CredTally tracks all of this for you
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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