Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
How to Choose Your Tax Preparer CE Course
Moneymagpie Team
7th Aug 2025
Every licence renewal cycle, tax preparers across the United States face the same reality: it’s time to knock out a few continuing education (CE) hours. Some may see this as just another box to check, while others take it as a chance to get ahead by learning new strategies, staying up to date on tax law changes, and even earning credentials that may help them attract new clients.
But here’s what you won’t hear a lot: not all CE courses are created equal. The right course will not only keep you compliant with the IRS and state requirements but also save you hours of boredom. We’ll leave you to guess what happens when you take the wrong one. Hint: It’s not a lovely experience.
So, then, how do you choose a course that’s worth spending your time and money on? Here are a few pointers.
- First, Understand What You Need
- Look for Accreditation
- Think About Your Preferred Learning Style and Schedule
- Consider Courses With Topics That Pay Off
- Ensure the Provider Handles Reporting
Use CE as a Career Tool, Not Just a Requirement
1. First, Understand What You Need
Before you start looking for “cheap CE for tax preparers” on Google or any other platform, for that matter, you’ll want to figure out the requirements you’re supposed to meet first. If you’re an IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) participant, you will have to complete 18 hours of CE, which include a 6-hour Annual Federal Tax Refresher (AFTR) course.
As an Enrolled Agent (EA), you’re looking at 72 hours every three years, with at least 16 hours each year, with 2 of these being dedicated to ethics CE. Some state rules will layer on extra hours, which may include state-focused topics. Understanding these requirements helps you choose top-quality tax preparer continuing education that not only guarantees compliance but also boosts your competency.
2. Look for Accreditation
This is where many tax pros trip up. Not every course provider is approved by the IRS, and not every program counts toward EA, CPA, or even state-specific requirements. Luckily, the IRS and most states that require you to take CE maintain a list of approved providers, so use that to decide whether the course you are interested in is a great choice.
If you’re an EA or CPA, you should consider taking your course from a provider that offers NASBA or NAEA-approved courses so your CE is recognised nationwide. Also, keep in mind that the IRS has revoked CE approval for providers in the past, so checking credentials up front can save you from scrambling later.
3. Think About Your Preferred Learning Style and Schedule
Some tax preparers thrive in live webinars, workshops, and other in-person forms of learning where they can ask questions and stay engaged. Others will do better when it comes to self-paced, on-demand classes that they can tackle late at night or during slow seasons.
So, think about what you are interested in. If you want a course that offers maximum flexibility, go for an online format. You can, instead, choose an in-person, live course for maximum interaction and networking opportunities. Alternatively, mix self-paced studies with live sessions, as this has been shown to help students retain 40% more information than those who stick to a single format.
4. Consider Courses With Topics That Pay Off
There’s nothing wrong with grabbing a basic tax update course and calling it a day, but CE can do a lot more than just keeping your legal. It can make you more money! Courses that focus more on specialised topics like real estate investing, small business tax planning, multi-state filings, and cryptocurrency are great options as they can help you land higher-paying clients.
In truth, tax professionals who prefer to niche down often report earning 20-30% more since they become the go-to experts in their fields.
5. Ensure the Provider Handles Reporting
It’s not a pleasant experience when you finish your CE hours and then you have to submit your proof manually to the IRS or your state’s licensing board. So, go for a provider who handles all the reporting for you and makes it possible to get an instant certificate of completion.
This way, the only thing you’re left to worry about is the last stage of renewing your licence, which is submitting your application.
Use CE as a Career Tool, Not Just a Requirement
While taking CE may not be an exciting moment for you, the last thing you want to do is treat it as a chore, since you’ll get the bare minimum out of it. Instead, view it as a way to differentiate yourself, stay ahead of tax law changes, or expand into new niches and see how that turns it into a revenue booster.
Not sure where to get started with your CE journey? Check out rocketcert.com to see what they offer. Their expertly written and fully narrated online courses are what you need to have a fun study experience.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
Subscribe
Login
0 Comments
