[hasy]

Hi All,

I understand that it is silly of me and I promise that I will always be on this. But there was a requirement during the off-year of renewal, you still must complete 20 CPE for that year. I only completed 12 CPEs. Does anyone have any experience in this?

I emailed the compliance group and this is their reply, “Disciplinary action for not complying with the renewal requirements can range from an educational letter, a citation and fine, or to a referral to the Attorney General for formal disciplinary action which is dependent on various factors, including but not limited to, the severity of the violation and reoccurrences.”

I’m hoping that they don’t revoke my license for this, though, part of me, thinks I could get off with an educational letter, as it is the first offense and I will have completed all my CPE by the current year.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[vbmer]

No first-hand experience with this, but I would be shocked if they pulled your license for a first offense, and I agree that a warning or small fine is the most likely result.

[Recked]

What state are you in?
It's more likely than not that if you did not raise a red flag on yourself, no one would have noticed you were a few credits short.
I know in NY they do not verify your CPE in any way, you just check a box.
They do random CPE audits, and something like 80% of CPAs come up short on the audit, but there are limited repercussions.
–
You should not have contacted your state board about this.
You should have done what everyone else does and just check off the box that you completed all of your CPE.
If you have to prove it, you send in your 12 valid credits in that year, plus your additional 8 in “makeup credits” in the following year.
And you've obviously learned from this, so just don't let it happen again.

[thunderlips]

depending on state will pay a fine per hour you are short and most likely put on probation. curious why you did that given you worked so hard to obtain?

[vbmer]

@recked, I disagree. Keeping track of CPE is annoying, and there is definitely rampant misreporting out there, but we are professionals, and I don't think it is ever okay to knowingly misreport CPE to your state board. You are also knowingly misrepresenting yourself to your clients by holding yourself out as a CPA, a license that has CPE requirements, regardless of how silly they are in practice.

[Recked]

I agree with you on all counts.
I personally diligently track and exceed my CPE requirements for both the CPA and EA, just in case any of my credits end up not qualifying or something similar.
–
Was just providing some real life examples of some CPA's I happen to know.

[margaret874]

Every state is different. My colleague in Maryland let her license lapse for over a decade. The MD Board told her that she needed her 80 CPE's + Ethics and they would reinstate her. I hope you have a happy ending to your tale. Best wishes & let us know how you fare.

[Author]

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