Overall Montana CPA CPE Requirements
Overall, CPE is the primary method for ensuring AICPA members keep their abilities and skills sharp. Because doing so means individual CPAs can offer quality service to third parties. However, state Boards of Accountancy regulate and oversee CPAs in their given location. And this means the recertification and CPE requirements also differ by state or territory. So, the Montana CPA CPE requirements look different from those of other places. Consequently, CPAs need to know their specific state requirements to make license renewal go as smoothly as possible.
Ultimately, Montana CPAs must renew their licenses every three years. And furthermore, during that time they must complete 120 CPE hours. The table below further highlights the deadlines and limitations for CPAs in Montana.
| License Renewal Date | CPE Reporting Period | Total CPE Hours | Self-Study Credit Limitations |
| December 31 annually | January 1 – December 31 triennially | 120 hours | None |
Subject Area Requirements
During each license recertification period, CPAs in Montana must take at least 2 hours of Professional Ethics. A further 60 hours must be in technical fields of study. However, there are no other subject area requirements.
Credit Limitations and Calculation
CPAs can earn up to 50% of the required CPE amount through formal instruction and presentation of educational material. Credit for instruction equals presentation time plus preparation, where preparation does not exceed twice the length of presentation. Credit only applies once per instructed course for every three-year recertification period.
CPAs will not earn CPE hours for attending or instructing basic-level college or university courses. However, for admissible college or university courses, credit shall accrue as 15 CPE hours per semester hour. Furthermore, non-credit courses calculate at a rate of 1 CPE hour per qualifying classroom hour.
CPAs can also obtain credit for authoring and publishing instructional or educational material. Though credits of this type must not surpass 25% of the total hours requirement.
The maximum credit allowed for serving as a report reviewer under the Board’s professional monitoring program is 16 hours in any given calendar year. Overall, 1 hour of credit shall be granted per hour spent reviewing reports. Technical reviewer credit is further limited to 50% of the total hours requirement.
Group programs and blended learning programs must last at least 1 hour. However, credit can accrue in one-fifth or one-half hour increments after the first full hour has been completed.
Self-Study Limitations
Formal self-study programs offer CPE credit equal to the amount granted by the sponsor. But only so long as the sponsor is recognized by the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors. Self-study programs are calculated on a 50-minute hour. All other formal self-study programs receive continuing professional education credit equal to half the amount granted by the sponsor. Self-study from sponsors not recognized by NASBA’s National Registry must last at least 50 minutes. Furthermore, self-study programs must initially be worth one-half credit. Though they may be earned in one-fifth or one-half hour increments after completing the first full hour.
Nano-learning credit is always earned in one-fifth hour increments.
Other Policies and Exemptions
A nonresident licensee can meet Montana CPE requirements by completing those of the state where their principal office is located. If the principal place of business state has no CPE requirements, they must comply with all requirements for renewal in Montana.
The CPE requirements automatically waive for CPAs in any of the following categories. But only if they do not offer services to third parties:
- Retirees
- Currently unemployed licensees
- Licensees who have temporarily left the workforce willingly
- Formally “inactive” licensees
Members can request exemption waivers for the following reasons:
- Health issues
- Military service or active duty
- Natural disasters of an extreme sort
- Any other similar circumstances
Additional Resources for Montana CPA CPE Requirements
Article written by Braden Norwood
Last updated March 13, 2023
