New Jersey 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 / 3 years
Annual minimum
20 hours/year
Ethics requirement
4 hrs NJ law and ethics
Issued by
New Jersey State Board of Accountancy
New Jersey layers several sub-requirements onto a triennial 120-hour total: a 20-hour annual floor, a 60-hour technical minimum, a New Jersey-specific law and ethics course, and an additional accounting and auditing minimum if you work in attest. The triennial period is fixed for everyone, so the deadline is the same year for every active licensee.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is how an active New Jersey license works in plain English.
The base requirement: 120 hours over three years
The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy requires 120 hours of CPE per three-year reporting period, with a minimum of 20 hours each year. The reporting period runs January 1 to December 31 on a fixed triennial schedule shared by all licensees (for example, the periods ending in 2023, 2026, and 2029). Self-study sponsors must be registered with NASBA.
Technical hours, ethics, and the attest rule
- At least 60 of the 120 hours must be in technical subjects such as accounting, auditing, taxation, and professional ethics.
- 4 hours must be in New Jersey law and ethics, in a course specifically approved by the Board.
- If you are engaged in the practice of public accountancy or the attest function, at least 24 hours must be in accounting, auditing, review, and compilation.
- These sub-requirements count within the 120-hour total, 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?
New Jersey CPA licenses renew triennially, and the reporting period closes December 31 of the renewal year. Because the period is fixed for everyone rather than tied to your birth month, every active licensee shares the same triennial deadline - plan your 20-hour annual minimums against it so the final year is not overloaded.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the three-year 120-hour total with dedicated buckets for the 60-hour technical minimum, the 24-hour A&A requirement, and the 20-hour annual floor.
- A separate bucket for the 4-hour New Jersey law and ethics course, shown apart from your general hours.
- Store every completion certificate with its course in a private vault, so a Board audit is a one-click export.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your December 31 triennial deadline.
- Hold licenses in more than one state? Each gets its own card, deadline, and progress on a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does New Jersey require?
120 hours over a three-year reporting period, with a minimum of 20 hours each year and at least 60 hours in technical subjects.
What ethics course satisfies New Jersey?
A 4-hour course in New Jersey law and ethics that is specifically approved by the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy.
Do I need extra accounting and auditing hours?
Yes, if you are in public accountancy or the attest function: at least 24 of the 120 hours must be in accounting, auditing, review, and compilation.
When does my New Jersey reporting period end?
December 31 of the renewal year, on a fixed triennial cycle shared by all licensees (for example, 2023, 2026, and 2029).
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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