Mississippi 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 (Jul 1 - Jun 30)
Ethics requirement
4 hrs/yr; 1 hr Mississippi law
Issued by
Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy
Mississippi is an annual-hours state with a twist: you owe 40 hours every reporting year, but the year runs July 1 to June 30 while the license itself renews on January 1 - two different dates to keep straight. The ethics requirement is also more specific than most, requiring a Mississippi-law component every year, not just generic ethics.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is what an active Mississippi license requires, in plain English.
The base requirement: 40 hours every year
The Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy requires 40 hours of CPE in each annual reporting period, which runs July 1 to June 30. Because the requirement resets every year, there is no multi-year window to lean on. Independent study is not accepted, and self-study courses must be approved under the NASBA QAS program.
Ethics, the Mississippi-law hour, and limits
- 4 hours in ethics, professional conduct, and public accountancy law and regulations are required each year.
- At least 1 of those 4 ethics hours must be exclusively in Mississippi Public Accountancy Law and Regulations - a generic ethics course alone will not satisfy it.
- No more than 20 hours of personal-development courses may be claimed in a compliance year.
- Up to 20 excess hours may be carried into the immediately following compliance year.
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 CPE reporting period closes June 30, and you must report your hours on the Board-prescribed form by August 1 - even if the number is zero. The license itself renews January 1. Keep the two dates distinct: complete and report your annual hours by the summer deadline, then renew the license at the start of the year.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track your 40-hour annual total with a separate bucket for the 4-hour ethics requirement, including the mandatory Mississippi-law hour - progress shown per requirement.
- Store every completion certificate with the course it proves, kept privately in your certificate vault.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before both the June 30 reporting close and the January 1 renewal, so the split dates never surprise you.
- 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 Mississippi require?
40 hours every reporting year, which runs July 1 to June 30. Mississippi measures hours annually rather than over a multi-year total.
What ethics CPE does Mississippi require?
4 hours each year in ethics, professional conduct, and public accountancy law, with at least 1 hour devoted exclusively to Mississippi Public Accountancy Law and Regulations.
Why are the reporting and renewal dates different?
The CPE reporting period closes June 30 (reported by August 1), but the license renews January 1. They are two separate deadlines to track.
Can I carry over extra hours in Mississippi?
Yes - up to 20 excess hours may be carried into the immediately following compliance year.
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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