Florida 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
Subject minimums
8 hrs A&A; max 20 hrs behavioral
Ethics requirement
4 hrs Florida-approved ethics
Issued by
Florida Board of Accountancy
Florida packs three sub-requirements into one 80-hour, two-year total: a minimum of accounting and auditing hours, a cap on behavioral hours, and a Florida-specific ethics course. The reestablishment period runs July to June, but renewal lands on December 31 - a split that catches people off guard.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is how an active Florida license works in plain English.
The base requirement: 80 hours over two years
The Florida Board of Accountancy, part of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), requires 80 hours of CPE per two-year reestablishment period, which runs from July 1 to June 30. Credits must be earned in increments of at least one-half hour.
Subject-area minimums and Florida ethics
- At least 8 of the 80 hours must be in accounting and auditing (A&A).
- No more than 20 hours may be in behavioral subjects.
- 4 hours of ethics are required, and the course must be specifically approved by the Florida Board of Accountancy - other states' or NASBA-only ethics courses do not count.
- All of these - A&A, behavioral, and ethics - count within the 80, not on top of it.
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?
The reestablishment period closes June 30, but the license renewal deadline is December 31. Two automatic extensions exist - to September 15 and then December 31 - but each carries a penalty of additional A&A hours (8 more, then 16 more), so finishing by June 30 is the clean path.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the 80-hour total with dedicated buckets for the 8-hour A&A minimum and the 4-hour Florida ethics course, plus a cap warning on behavioral hours.
- Separate reminders for the June 30 reestablishment close and the December 31 renewal so the split deadlines never surprise you.
- 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 each deadline.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Florida require?
80 hours per two-year reestablishment period, including at least 8 hours of accounting and auditing and 4 hours of ethics.
What ethics course satisfies Florida?
A 4-hour ethics course specifically approved by the Florida Board of Accountancy. Courses approved only by other jurisdictions do not count.
Why are the period and the deadline different dates?
The reestablishment period runs July 1 to June 30, but the license renewal deadline is December 31. Extensions exist but add required A&A hours.
Is there a cap on any subject?
Yes. No more than 20 of the 80 hours may be in behavioral subjects.
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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