District of Columbia 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
Reporting cycle
2 years (Jan 1 - Dec 31)
Ethics requirement
4 hrs professional ethics
Issued by
DC Board of Accountancy
The District of Columbia keeps it about as simple as a CPA CPE requirement gets: 80 hours over a two-year period, with 4 hours of professional ethics inside that total and no separate annual minimum to juggle. The cycle is fixed on the calendar and renews December 31 of even-numbered years.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is how an active DC license works, in plain English.
The base requirement: 80 hours over two years
The District of Columbia Board of Accountancy requires 80 hours of acceptable CPE during the two-year licensing cycle, which runs January 1 to December 31. There is no separate per-year minimum, so you can weight your hours toward either year as long as the full 80 are done before renewal.
Ethics, approved providers, and limits
- At least 4 of the 80 hours must be in professional ethics, counted within the total rather than on top of it.
- The Board accepts programs from exempt organizations such as the AICPA, NASBA, state boards, and accredited colleges, or from providers on NASBA's National Registry or that are QAS-approved.
- Committee and firm meetings are limited to 25% of the required credits.
- Instruction is limited to 50%, and preparation of publications to 25%, of the required credits.
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?
DC licenses renew December 31 of even-numbered years, and the two-year reporting period runs on the calendar. The full 80 hours, including the 4 ethics hours, must be complete before you renew.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the two-year 80-hour total with a dedicated 4-hour professional ethics bucket, shown separately from your general hours.
- Flag the credit-type caps - committee or firm meetings, instruction, and publications - so a category limit never quietly disqualifies 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, with every state license on one dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does the District of Columbia require?
80 hours over a two-year period for an active license, including 4 hours of professional ethics.
Is there an annual minimum?
No. DC applies the 80 hours across the full two-year cycle with no separate per-year floor.
How much ethics CPE do I need?
4 hours of professional ethics, counted within the 80-hour total rather than in addition to it.
When is the deadline?
December 31 of even-numbered years, when DC CPA licenses renew.
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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