What Are the Best Self-Study CPE Platforms for CPAs?

Key Takeaway

This page compares nine leading self study CPE platforms for CPAs on course library size, format options, accreditation, starting price, and rating, to help CPAs choose the right self study provider.

• Compares nine self study CPE providers, including CPEThink.com, Surgent CPE, Gleim CPE, Becker, CPA Self Study, Western CPE, CPECredit.com, MasterCPE, and CCH CPELink, on library size, format, accreditation, price, and rating.
• Shows that CPEThink.com offers 800 plus self study courses starting at $12.95 per course, with subscriptions starting at $69.95, ethics courses and webinars included with all subscriptions, and a 100 day money back guarantee.
• Explains the differences between text based and video self study courses, noting that text supports self paced reading and analytical thinking while video improves engagement and listening comprehension.
• Lists the qualities of a strong self study CPE sponsor, including a good money back policy, industry experience, full catalog access, unlimited exam attempts, high third party ratings, and NASBA and IRS accreditation.

What Are the Best Self-Study CPE Platforms for CPAs?: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which providers does this self study CPE comparison cover?

This comparison covers nine self study CPE providers, including CPEThink.com, Surgent CPE, Gleim CPE, Becker, CPA Self Study, Western CPE, CPECredit.com, MasterCPE, and CCH CPELink.

What does CPEThink.com offer in its self study course library?

CPEThink.com offers over 800 self study courses starting at $12.95 per course, with subscriptions starting at $69.95, ethics courses and webinars included with all subscriptions, and a 100 day money back guarantee.

How do text based and video courses differ for self study CPE?

Text based courses support self paced reading and analytical thinking, while video courses offer higher engagement and listening comprehension, so a blended approach works well for most learners.

What qualities should CPAs look for in a self study CPE sponsor?

CPAs should look for a strong money back policy, full course catalog access, unlimited exam attempts, and high third party ratings, along with NASBA and IRS accreditation.

How does CPEThink.com compare on industry experience and ratings?

CPEThink.com has operated since 2004 as the fifth online CPE provider worldwide and holds ratings of 4.8 to 4.9 out of 5.0 on Trustpilot and Shopper Approved.

CPA self-study CPE programs are getting increasingly popular because they let you complete CPE hours at your own pace and are considerably more affordable than other learning formats. Curious to know which CPE providers offer the best self-study courses? This page compares nine leading providers of CPE self-study courses based on several factors, which will help you join the right one.

Got a clear idea of what the best CPA self-study CPE platforms are? These short details will help you make the right decision quickly.

CPEThink.com:

When it comes to self-study CPE courses, CPEThink.com is your go-to option. With a starting price of just $12.95, they make earning credits easier than ever. And if you want to make each credit's cost even lower, simply buy one of their subscriptions.

Surgent CPE:

While Surgent CPE allows you to earn 1,000+ credits using their self-study package, if you want to access self-study webcasts along with self-study PDF courses, you've to buy their most expensive plan, priced at $899.

Gleim CPE:

Gleim CPE has eight bundles offering 1 to 100 CPE hours, but the total number of courses is not published. It's also important to note that their website says that all their EA-specific courses meet IRS requirements, but we couldn't find their IRS CE Provider ID. Lastly, Gleim CPE doesn't have any CPE-specific Trustpilot reviews, meaning their programs' quality can't be judged easily.

Becker:

First, Becker doesn't have any subscription that only has CPA self-study CPE courses. Also, their initial package, which is available at $329, doesn't cover state-specific ethics courses. If you want to access their whole course catalog, you must pay $799 (1-year) or $1,429 (2-year).

CPA Self Study:

One major downside of CPA SelfStudy is that you can only earn 550+ credit hours using their entire catalog, even after buying the subscription mentioned above. So, it can be difficult to meet specific learning objectives. And the unavailability of any official Trustpilot profile makes it hard to understand their content's quality without enrolling in one of their courses.

Western CPE:

While Western CPE has a large course catalog, they only have seven credit-based packages, and their prices range from $192 to $1,960. Plus, they need you to pay $29 just for one credit, which is considerably more expensive than several providers mentioned above.

CPECredit.com:

You must buy the highest package, priced at $499, to access their whole course catalog. The package mentioned above lets you access only 400+ online courses, and it doesn't include ethics courses. Also, they don't have any Trustpilot reviews, which can demonstrate their overall or content's quality.

MasterCPE:

They have an affordable subscription, but that doesn't let you access ethics courses. And ethics courses must be bought separately, which will increase your CPE budget. Lastly, their poor Trustpilot rating is enough to discourage many learners looking for a credible sponsor.

CCH CPELink:

First, $65 for just one credit is way more expensive than all other providers mentioned above. Although they have seven self-study bundles, their prices range from $99 to $791. They also offer an unlimited self-study subscription at $299 per year.

How CPE Self-Study Courses Compare to Live Formats?

• Self-study CPE courses provide unparalleled flexibility by letting you complete them at your own pace, while live formats have specific dates and times.
• To earn credits with self-study programs, you need to pass online final exams. Live formats require you to fulfill certain requirements regarding attendance and responses to polls without any final exams.
• The absence of a real-time instructor makes the ability to learn independently paramount in self-paced courses, while live formats let you understand complex topics in real time by interacting with the presenter.
• With self-study programs, you can allocate time as per your requirements. But live formats follow a fixed teaching pace.
• Depending on the provider, CPE self-study courses are usually more cost-effective than live formats mainly because of their additional infrastructure requirements.

What Makes a Strong Self-Study CPE Library?

• One that has hundreds of courses developed by experts. CPEThink.com has 800+ self-study courses, each created by highly experienced professionals.
• One that covers both general and state-specific ethics courses, making it easy for you to meet all your ethics requirements with a single provider.
• A library that has both fundamental and complex courses.
• One that allows you to earn anywhere from a few to several credits depending on your requirements.
• A library that has courses at affordable prices, making it easier to access quality CPE even for those with budget constraints.

How Text-Based Self-Study Courses Differ from Self-Study Videos?

• If you prefer structured reading and concentrate actively, go with text-based courses. Choose video courses when you need visual demonstrations.
• The former is great for controlling your learning pace completely, while the latter may feel rigid when you need to play, pause, or rewind repeatedly.
• Text-based courses promote structural memorization and analytical thinking, while video courses have high engagement rates and boost listening comprehension.

Ideally, you should take a blended approach to make the most out of both forms of self-study programs.

What To Look for in a Good CPA Self-Study CPE Sponsor?

• A good money-back policy. CPEThink.com has a 100-day, 100% money-back guarantee on all purchases.
• Many years of industry experience. CPEThink.com started its journey in 2004, becoming the fifth online CPE provider in the world.
• Access to the whole course catalog, regardless of the subscription you buy. All subscription tiers of CPEThink.com give access to all their courses, including ethics programs. Plus, their two unlimited packages (1-year and 2-year) include free webinars.
• Several final exam attempts and certificate prints. With CPEThink.com, you get both for unlimited times.
• Good ratings on third-party review websites. CPEThink.com has received 4.8-4.9 out of 5.0 on Trustpilot and Shopper Approved.
• NASBA QAS and IRS CE provider accreditations. CPEThink.com has both prominently displayed on their website.

Read the CPA CPE unlimited or comparison of CPE subscription prices page to learn how CPEThink.com's plans stand out. Need side-by-side comparisons? Read Surgent vs. CPEThink, CPE Credit vs. CPEThink, CPE Becker vs. CPEThink, and Western CPE vs. CPEThink.

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