Minnesota: A Basic Ethics Guidebook for Minnesota CPAs (Video) (Course Id 2856)

• Who is this course for?
  This course is designed for Minnesota CPAs and accounting professionals who need Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits and want to better understand the ethical and regulatory responsibilities governing the practice of public accounting in Minnesota.
• What is this course about or what problem does this course solve?
  This course provides a practical ethics guidebook for Minnesota CPAs by covering ethical frameworks, the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, Minnesota Statutes, and Minnesota Administrative Rules to help CPAs navigate ethical dilemmas and apply ethical judgment in professional accounting situations.
• Where can the knowledge from this course be used?
  The knowledge from this course can be used in public accounting firms, tax practices, assurance and attest engagements, compilation services, and any professional accounting environment where Minnesota CPAs must comply with ethical standards and regulatory requirements.
• Why is this course important to a CPA or Accountant?
  This course is important because it helps CPAs and accountants understand how to place the public interest ahead of self-interest, apply ethical decision-making in real-world situations, and comply with the professional conduct standards and Minnesota laws that govern their accounting responsibilities.
• When is this course relevant or timely?
  This course is especially relevant for Minnesota CPAs preparing to satisfy their ethics-related CPE requirements for the 2026 licensing period and for professionals who need updated guidance on current Minnesota ethics rules and professional conduct expectations.
• How is a course like this consumed or used?
  This course is completed as a QAS self-study video and text-based online course that includes review questions and requires participants to pass a 20-question final exam with a score of at least 70% within one year of purchase to earn 4.0 CPE credits.

A CPA is challenged in today’s work world to not only serve his/her client or employer but also to protect the public interest by ensuring that there is transparency in financial reporting or there is fair administration of the tax laws.  In balancing the two interests, a CPA may find him or herself in an ethical dilemma. This course covers not only basic ethical frameworks, but also specific rules from the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, and the Minnesota Statutes and Administrative Rules.  These sources govern the practice and responsibilities of Minnesota CPAs. It concludes with a section on how a CPA can put his or her ethics into action.

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, the participant will be able:

1. To apply the ethics of professional accounting as CPAs through the analysis of case studies involving both actual situations and hypothetical facts.
2. To apply ethical judgment in interpreting the rules and determining public interest. Public interest should be placed ahead of self-interest, even if it means a loss of job or client.
3. To analyze and apply the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and Minnesota law that pertain to CPAs licensed to practice in the state. Students will become familiar with the Minnesota Administrative Rules and Code of Professional Conduct, and the Policies adopted by the Board currently in effect and how the statutes, rules, and policies pertain to them. 
4. To determine the course of action that would uphold the intent of the rules in the performance of professional accounting services/work, not just to adhere to the mere technical compliance of such rules.
5. To review and discuss the rules and their implications for persons in a variety of practices, including: