National Registry of CPE Sponsors
About the Program
Developed in 1990, the National Registry of CPE Sponsors is a program offered by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to recognize CPE program sponsors who provide continuing professional education (CPE) programs in accordance with nationally recognized standards. Many State Boards of Accountancy require CPAs to earn required CPE credits through companies approved on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. The names of approved CPE program sponsors are published here on Learning Market. State Boards of Accountancy and their licensees can refer to this listing to identify and select approved learning providers.
In December 2011, NASBA and the National Registry of CPE Sponsors were approved as a qualified accrediting organization by the IRS as part of the IRS Registered Tax Return Preparer program. This designation allows members of the National Registry that want to offer continuing education programs to Registered Tax Return Preparers to use an abbreviated IRS registration process to become a qualified continuing education provider for that program.
Over 1,700 program sponsors currently hold approved Registry sponsor status after demonstrating compliance with the Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs (2012) (Standards) approved jointly by the AICPA and NASBA. NASBA reviews applications on an ongoing basis and approves organizations to offer continuing professional education worth CPE credits for CPAs and other licensed professionals.
Benefits of the National Registry
- Learning providers become listed among quality CPE program sponsors that have been approved to conduct programs in compliance with uniform standards for continuing education in the accounting profession.
- CPE program sponsors become registered on a national basis instead of having to register with individual State Boards of Accountancy.
- Approved learning providers are deemed to be qualified continuing education providers by the IRS and permitted to use an abbreviated registration process with the IRS to obtain approval to offer programs to IRS Registered Tax Return Preparers.
- Registered CPE program sponsors are authorized to use the National Registry of CPE Sponsors logo and approved CPE program sponsor language in all marketing materials. Many accountants look for the logo as soon as they receive program materials in the mail.
- The overall quality of CPE is improved as learning providers strive to maintain the quality standards required to be a member.
Who Should Join?
Companies willing to make a commitment to meet the highest CPE program standards are welcome to apply for membership in the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. The National Registry of CPE Sponsors is intended solely for learning providers offering programs that will improve a CPA's and/or Registered Tax Return Preparer’s professional competence.
Becoming an approved Registry sponsor and CE provider for Registered Tax Return Preparers can greatly enhance exposure for your organization and potentially create a new revenue stream for your organization. Public accounting firms that are approved on the Registry can take advantage of cost savings by offering in-house CPE training, rather than paying for the travel and registration fees associated with sending professionals outside the company for external training.
