What Are Text CPE Courses, and Who Are They Best For?

Key Takeaway

This page explains what text based CPE courses are, who benefits most from this format, and what to consider before choosing one.

• Text based CPE courses provide written study materials that CPAs and Enrolled Agents can read online or download as a PDF to complete at their own pace.
• This format works well for independent learners, professionals with unreliable internet access, and anyone who prefers deep reading and searchable content over video.
• CPEThink.com text courses are interactive NASBA QAS self study courses that include review questions and a final exam required to earn CPE credit.
• CPEThink.com text courses include three evaluative feedback questions per CPE credit, presented per section or chapter.
• Completion certificates are available immediately after passing the final exam and are also emailed to the learner.
• CPEThink.com is a NASBA QAS Self Study Sponsor (ID 108299) and an IRS CE Provider (ID 1SXC8).

What Are Text CPE Courses, and Who Are They Best For?: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What format do text CPE courses use?

Text CPE courses provide written study materials that you can read online or download as a PDF.

Who benefits most from text based CPE courses?

They work well for independent learners, professionals with unreliable internet access, and anyone who prefers deep reading over video.

How many review questions do CPEThink.com text courses include?

CPEThink.com text courses include three evaluative feedback questions per CPE credit, presented per section or chapter.

When is the completion certificate available after passing the exam?

The completion certificate is available immediately after passing the final exam and is also emailed to you.

Are text courses offered alongside video courses at CPEThink.com?

Yes, CPEThink.com offers both text and video courses as interactive NASBA QAS self study options.

What sponsor and provider approvals does CPEThink.com hold?

CPEThink.com is a NASBA QAS Self Study Sponsor (ID 108299) and an IRS CE Provider (ID 1SXC8).

Are you an accounting or finance professional who prefers deep reading at your own pace? If so, text CPA CPE courses are designed for that style of learning. CPEThink.com offers a large collection of text-based courses that you can read online page by page or download as PDF files to complete them offline.

What Are Text-Based Courses?

As the name indicates, these courses have written materials that you complete as per your schedule without attending in-person classes or live webinars. These CPA CPE self-study courses let you earn credits to satisfy your board, provided you can manage learning independently and are self-disciplined.

Here's how they work:

• You complete the provided study materials at your convenience. You can also divide bigger chunks of content into short, manageable sections.
• Some providers, like CPEThink.com, offer online CPE courses that you can also download in PDF format. This essentially allows you to complete them without having a steady Internet connection after they're downloaded.
• You get the passing score on the final exam, which is essential to earn CPE credits.
• After clearing the exam, you receive the completion certificate that mentions all the course-related details. The time to get the certificate depends on your provider.
• You retain the certificate as per your board's recordkeeping requirements. Submitting it to the board will also be necessary if you're selected for a CPE audit and need to furnish proof of CPE completion.

Who Benefits Most from This Format

• Independent learners who want to balance education with work and other responsibilities without needing to follow an instructor's timetable.
• Individuals who want to locate relevant information easily and quickly instead of watching multiple sections of a video several times, although chapter markers and transcripts can make this relatively easier.
• Learners with unreliable Internet access, slow connections, or restricted data plans benefit from self-study CPE courses that are available in downloadable PDF formats.
• Budget-conscious learners, since CPE subscriptions lower the cost of an individual course.
• Professionals who need to revisit rules, procedures, or regulatory guidance frequently, as easily searchable text materials make it easier to retrieve information quickly while working on something.
• Learners who prefer deep reading and reflection, which are useful when a topic requires careful interpretation instead of a quick overview.
• Individuals with unpredictable or busy schedules because you can study in short intervals without committing to continuous video sessions or in-person classes.

How Text Courses Compare to Video Courses as a Format Choice

• Text courses are particularly useful for complex concepts, in-depth explanations, regulatory guidance, and subjects that require deep reading. Video CPA courses are ideal for learning methods, practical skills, and processes that are easier to understand visually.
• Text-based CPA CPE courses give you complete control over the learning pace. For example, you can slow down to understand difficult concepts, move quickly through easy sections, and revisit important ones without replaying a video many times.
• Searching text is a lot easier than finding information in a video. With the former, you just need to use the "search" function and enter specific terms or keywords to locate anything you want. But it's time-consuming and cumbersome to find a specific detail in a video. You must scrub through the timeline to revisit a particular explanation.
• Text courses work in any environment as you don't need any audio/video gear or even a continuous Internet connection if the sponsor provides downloadable materials. On the contrary, video courses require a suitable device, often adequate bandwidth, and sometimes headphones / a quiet environment.
• Text courses allow you to pause, think about concepts, compare information, and reflect on complex topics, which can be harder to do with video courses.
• At CPEThink.com, both text and video courses are interactive NASBA QAS self-study which include review questions and a final exam, and you earn the credits by passing the final exam.
• CPEThink.com grades final exams instantly and makes the completion certificate available immediately after you pass, which helps when you need the credits quickly.

What To Consider Before Enrolling in a Text CPE Course

• See if the provider is listed on NASBA's National Registry of CPE Sponsors, and if it has QAS approval for self-study CPE courses. This helps confirm that the courses meet NASBA standards, your state board always has final say so check your state board's rules as the authoritative source. CPEThink.com is both a NASBA QAS Self-Study Sponsor (ID 108299) and IRS CE Provider (ID 1SXC8).
• The course has review questions to evaluate your understanding of the topic. CPEThink.com's text courses have 3 evaluative-feedback questions per CPE credit, presented per section or chapter.
• Make sure the course has up-to-date, relevant content because accounting standards, tax laws, and regulatory guidelines change frequently. See whether the material reflects the latest relevant developments.
• As noted above, downloadable courses make the learning process easier than online-only courses. You can take CPEThink.com's text-based CPA CPE courses online page by page or download them as PDF files to read the materials offline.
• Whether the provider has sufficient industry experience and the courses are developed by subject matter experts, as both heavily matter when it comes to meeting your learning objectives. As the fifth online CPE provider worldwide (founded in 2004) and with a team of 30+ authors and instructors, CPEThink.com has the experience and subject matter expertise to support your learning objectives.
• Find out whether you get the completion certificate almost immediately after passing the final exam or if it requires additional processing. This heavily matters when your CPE reporting deadline is approaching. CPEThink.com lets you view, print, or download the completion certificates instantly after you pass the final exam, and you also have them in your email inbox.
• The sponsor has high user ratings, and the course has a good money-back guarantee. Users have given CPEThink.com ratings between 4.8 and 4.9 on Trustpilot and Shopper Approved, and all their courses come with a 100-day, 100% money-back guarantee.

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