Minnesota 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
120 hrs / rolling 3 years
Annual minimum
20 hours/year
Ethics requirement
8 hrs per rolling 3 years
Issued by
Minnesota Board of Accountancy
Minnesota measures CPE on a rolling three-year basis, which means there is no clean reset - the Board can look at the most recent three years at any time. You need 120 hours across that window, at least 20 every year, and 8 hours of ethics within the rolling triennium. There are also subject-area floors: most of your hours must be technical, and a chunk must come from live or blended formats.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is what an active Minnesota license requires, in plain English.
The base requirement: 120 hours over a rolling three years
The Minnesota Board of Accountancy requires 120 hours of CPE over a rolling three-year period, with the reporting (fiscal) year running July 1 to June 30. Because the window rolls, hours age out of the back of it each year, so consistent annual activity matters more than a single big push. CPE is reported annually, with each year's hours due by December 31.
Annual minimum, ethics, and subject floors
- At least 20 hours must be completed in each one-year period - the three-year total alone is not enough.
- 8 hours of ethics (regulatory/technical or behavioral/non-technical) are required within the rolling three-year period.
- A minimum of 60 hours must come from technical fields of study as defined in the NASBA Fields of Study.
- At least 24 hours must come from group or blended-learning programs, and self-study CPE must be from NASBA Registry sponsors.
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Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Minnesota's CPE year runs July 1 to June 30, and each year's hours must be reported by December 31. The rolling three-year requirement means you should monitor your trailing 36 months continuously rather than waiting for a single deadline - if the oldest year drops off and the new year is light, you can fall below 120 without realizing it.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the rolling three-year 120-hour total alongside the 20-hour annual minimum, with separate buckets for the 8-hour ethics requirement and the 60-hour technical floor - progress shown per requirement as the window rolls.
- Store every completion certificate with the course it proves, kept privately in your certificate vault.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before each December 31 reporting deadline.
- Hold licenses in more than one state? Each gets its own card and deadline on one dashboard, and a Board request becomes a one-click audit export.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Minnesota require?
120 hours over a rolling three-year period, with a minimum of 20 hours each year.
How much ethics CPE does Minnesota require?
8 hours of regulatory or behavioral ethics within the rolling three-year period.
What does rolling three-year mean for me?
The Board can review your most recent three years at any time. Hours age out of the back of the window each year, so you need steady annual activity, not one big catch-up.
When are Minnesota CPE hours due?
The CPE year runs July 1 to June 30, and each year's hours must be reported by December 31.
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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