Wisconsin 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
Renewal cycle
Biennial (ends Dec 14, odd years)
Ethics requirement
3 hrs ethics (formal learning)
Issued by
Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board
Wisconsin runs a fixed 80-hour, two-year cycle that ends on an unusual date - December 14 of every odd-numbered year - and it splits your hours by format: at least half must come from formal learning, and the ethics requirement specifically has to be formal too. The annual floor keeps you from backloading the whole thing into year two.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is how an active Wisconsin license works in plain English.
The base requirement: 80 hours over two years
The Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board requires a minimum of 80 hours of CPE during each two-year period immediately preceding the renewal date, with at least 20 hours completed each year. At least 40 of the 80 hours must come from formal learning activities rather than informal self-directed study.
Ethics and the formal-learning split
- 3 hours of ethics are required during the two-year period, and these must come from formal learning activities.
- At least 40 of the 80 total hours must be formal learning; the remainder may be informal.
- The 3 ethics hours count within the 80, not on top of it.
- Up to 40 excess credits may carry forward to the next compliance period, and limited carry-back of first-year credits is allowed to satisfy a prior period.
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?
Wisconsin CPA credentials renew biennially, with the compliance period running December 15 to December 14 and ending in odd-numbered years. Initial credential holders renewing less than a year after issuance are exempt for that period; those renewing between one and two years out complete 40 hours, with 20 in the second year.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the two-year 80-hour total with a dedicated bucket for the 3-hour formal-learning ethics requirement and a separate view of your 40-hour formal-learning minimum.
- 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 14 deadline.
- Hold CPA licenses in more than one state? Each gets its own card, deadline, and progress tracking on a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Wisconsin require?
80 hours every two years, with at least 20 hours each year, in a cycle ending December 14 of odd-numbered years.
How much ethics CPE do I need in Wisconsin?
3 hours of ethics during the two-year period, and those hours must come from formal learning activities.
What is the formal-learning requirement?
At least 40 of the 80 hours must come from formal learning activities; the rest may be informal self-directed study.
Can I carry over extra hours?
Yes. Up to 40 excess credits carry forward, and limited carry-back of first-year credits can satisfy a prior compliance period.
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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