What Are the Best CPE Resources for Internal Auditors?

Key Takeaway

This page compares six CPE resources for internal auditors, including CPEThink.com, the IIA, Protiviti, PwC, Free Live CPE, and CPAacademy.org, and explains what counts toward CIA CPE without an IIA approved sponsor.

• Explains that CPEThink.com is a NASBA QAS Self Study sponsor, not an IIA approved sponsor, and that CIAs are responsible for documenting the eligibility of any self study course themselves.
• Covers other ways to earn CIA CPE including formal self study programs, conferences, in house training, college courses, and other eligible activities like certification exams and publications.
• Lists the quality criteria to check before counting a self study course, including clear objectives, qualified course developers, current content, and proof of completion.
• Explains how to document a self study course for CPE reporting, including the program title, provider name, completion date, eligible hours, and a completion certificate.
• Compares the free webinar and webcast options from Protiviti, PwC, Free Live CPE, and CPAacademy.org against paid self study courses.
• CPEThink.com has been an online CPE provider since 2004, offers courses and subscriptions at cost effective prices, and backs every course with a 100 day money back guarantee.

What Are the Best CPE Resources for Internal Auditors?: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What providers does this page compare for internal audit CPE?

It compares CPEThink.com, the IIA, and Protiviti, along with PwC, Free Live CPE, and CPAacademy.org.

Is CPEThink.com an IIA approved sponsor?

No, CPEThink.com is a NASBA QAS Self Study sponsor, and CIAs must document the eligibility of its courses themselves.

What other activities count toward CIA CPE without an IIA approved sponsor?

Formal self study programs, conferences, and in house training can count, along with passing certification exams and authoring publications.

What should you check before counting a self study course toward CIA CPE?

Check for clear objectives and qualified course developers, along with current content and proof of completion.

What does a self study course record need for CPE reporting?

It needs the program title and provider name, along with the completion date, eligible hours, and a completion certificate.

Why consider CPEThink.com for internal audit CPE?

It has been an online CPE provider since 2004, with cost effective courses and subscriptions, backed by a 100 day money back guarantee.

Internal auditors, including CIAs, can meet their CPE requirements with both free resources and paid self-study options, but choosing the right provider among them can be difficult. To help you, this page compares six internal audit CPE resources.

What Counts Toward CIA CPE If You Are Not Using An IIA-Approved Sponsor

Different methods are available to complete internal audit training apart from using an IIA-approved provider. It's important to note that, irrespective of the method you choose, you're fully responsible for making sure that your CPE hours comply with the guidelines set forth by the PCB.

Educational programs:

• Formal self-study and correspondence programs relevant to internal auditing.
• Conferences and seminars from local, state, or national auditing or accounting organizations.
• Formal in-house training programs.
• College/university courses.
• Technical sessions at meetings of local, state, or national/federal accounting or auditing organizations and chapters.
• Relevant industry-specific educational programs from other professional societies or organizations.

You should be able to meet all your CIA CPE and other internal audit requirements by enrolling in any of these programs, if they adhere to the IIA's guidelines.

Other eligible activities:

• Passing certification exams.
• Contributing to or authoring publications.
• Translating publications.
• Giving oral presentations like conferences, seminars, or in-house training.
• Participating in one of three categories, as noted in the IIA's CPE Policy page, as a subject matter expert.
• Getting involved in external quality assurance reviews.

All of these eligible activities have maximum CPE hours. For example, passing a certification exam is capped at 40 CPE hours in the year the exam is passed. Read the IIA's CPE Policy for details.

How CPEThink's Auditing-Relevant Self-Study Courses Fit into Internal Audit CPE

Whether you're looking for specific CIA continuing education or other types of IIA CPE, you may choose CPEThink. Their NASBA QAS Self-Study courses relevant to internal audit topics can help you meet your CPE requirements. But you must document the eligibility yourself and maintain supporting records for at least three years.

• You can choose from their courses relevant to internal audit and check each one against the IIA's quality criteria. These criteria include clear program objectives, clear education or experience prerequisites (if applicable), development by qualified individuals, current program content, proof of program completion or participation, and the correct number of CPE credits earned.
• They have a good number of online, self-study courses that cover a wide range of topics directly relevant to the subjects that internal audit practitioners need to master.
• You may also take their ethics courses to fulfill your annual ethics training requirement.
• They provide instant completion certificates. While you must self-attest CPE completion to the IIA yourself, having the certificates quickly makes it easier to keep them organized.

How To Document a Self-Study Course for Your CPE Reporting Form

The IIA doesn't require CIAs or other internal auditors to upload CPE documents during the annual renewal process. You must use the CCMS (Certification Candidate Management System) to complete the process online. But if you're selected for a random audit, you must submit all supporting documentation to the IIA.

When documenting a self-study course, the file should have:

• Program title and/or content description.
• The name of the provider that offered the course.
• The exact date you completed it.
• The number of eligible CPE hours mentioned by the provider. A 50-minute session of instruction is typically equivalent to 1 CPE hour.
• Proof of completion like a certificate of completion or a completion letter received from the provider.

What To Check Before Counting a Self-Study Course Toward CIA CPE

CIAs and other internal auditors must assess whether their CPE learning activities qualify before enrolling in them.

Here are the essential factors you need to check before enrolling in a self-study program.

• Relevance to internal auditing. The course must strengthen your knowledge or skills that improve your work performance.
• A structured learning framework. It should clearly explain what you're expected to learn after completion.
• It should be developed by individuals with appropriate instructional design capabilities and subject-matter expertise.
• It must contain current and accurate information relevant to internal auditing.
• The provider's overall credibility. Look for transparent information about the course content, the number of eligible CPE hours, and the method of completion certificate issuance.
• Accurate completion records and supporting documentation. These must contain all the information mentioned above.

In short, a self-study internal auditing CPE course should develop your professional competence, have effective educational content, and satisfy IIA's requirements if your reported credits are reviewed. If in doubt, consult the IIA's current CPE policy and confirm any unclear requirements before enrolling in an internal audit training course.

Why Consider CPEThink for Internal Audit CPE?

• The company has been in the industry since 2004 and is the fifth online CPE provider worldwide.
• Although it's not an IIA-approved or IIA-sponsored CPE provider, as a NASBA QAS Self-Study sponsor (ID 108299), its courses relevant to internal auditing can help meet your CIA continuing education or IIA CPE requirements.
• All their courses are quite cost-effective, and you can make the cost of an individual course even lower by purchasing one of their CPE subscriptions.
• They have received 4.8 to 4.9 ratings out of 5.0 on Trustpilot and Shopper Approved, which indicate their overall credibility.
• Irrespective of the course you purchase, they give you a 100-day, 100% money-back guarantee. This large window provides more than enough time to get your money back if you're not satisfied with the course material.

Explore CPEThink.com's internal audit CPE courses today!

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