FAQs

  • What is the best way to renew my license?

    License renewal forms are scheduled to be sent to licensees by Nov. 2 and are to be renewed online by Dec. 31, 2023. If you do not receive a renewal form due to a change of address, see the information in the next FAQ below.


  • What should I do if I haven't received a license renewal notice?

    If you've moved in the last three years, update your address at newjersey.mylicense.com/eGov/Login.aspx. If you haven't changed your address and haven’t received a renewal notice by Dec. 1, email the board to request a renewal form via email.


  • What if I plan to move or have moved or changed my address in the past three years?

    The post office WILL NOT forward your renewal notice. Submit a change of address at newjersey.mylicense.com/eGov.


  • What could happen if I renewed my license as active and don’t complete the required total number of credits by the end of the triennial?

    If you will not be completing the required number of credits by Dec. 31, 2023, you should consider placing your license in inactive status. If you erroneously requested an active license for the next triennial, contact the board immediately and request to change your license status to inactive. You should not hold yourself out as an active CPA or practice accountancy in the State of New Jersey if you have not complied with the CPE requirements. The board can impose severe financial penalties should you maintain your active license with a CPE deficiency.

    Also, the licensee is primarily responsible for documenting the satisfaction of CPE. All 120 hours of CPE must be obtained from:

      • An approved provider that has a sponsor number issued by the board.
      • A provider registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
      • An unregistered sponsor that has an individual course approved by the board.
    The board also has special rules that apply for college and university courses as well as those provided by national or state-level professional organizations. If you do not have the requisite credits by the end of the triennial — and if you are selected for audit — you can be subject to a fine and will be required to make up any deficient credits.


  • What is the NJCPA’s role in the renewal process?

    The New Jersey Society of CPAs is the professional organization representing the state’s CPAs. While the Society can provide guidance, answer questions and offer CPE courses, it is the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy that regulates the profession and is the regulator with respect to CPE requirements, license renewal or issuance, and any related penalties issued.


  • How can I contact the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy?


  • What should I do if I don’t think I’ll have enough credits by the end of the triennial?

    You should select the “inactive” option on your license renewal. You can then take the required number of credits and reapply for active status.


  • Does the board require CPAs to earn a minimum number of CPE credits annually?

    Yes, CPAs desiring to renew an active license must complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional education in each year of the triennial period. Even if you have more than 100 credits af­ter the second year of the triennial and therefore require less than 20 credits in the final year, you must still earn 20 credits in the third year even if this would mean total credits will exceed 120.


  • Are there specific requirements regarding the composition of the 120 credit hours required to renew my license?

    Yes. Here's a breakdown of credits needed:

    Area of Practice Period Total Credit Hours Minimum Per Year Specific Requirements
    CPAs in Public Practice

    See definition below: NJSA Chapter 45:2B-44)1

     

    		 1/1/21-12/31/23 120
    		 20 A minimum of 60 credits in technical subject areas (24 of which must be in Accounting & Auditing)

    4 in NJ Law & Ethics
    All other CPAs 1/1/21-12/31/23 120 20 A minimum of 60 credits in technical subject areas

    4 in NJ Law & Ethics

    Reminder: if you took advantage of the extended deadline to complete CPE for your New Jersey CPA license renewal for the previous reporting period (2018-2020), credits taken between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2021, that were applied to the 2018-2020 triennial reporting period cannot also be counted for the 2021-2023 triennial, including credits in New Jersey law and ethics.
    1. 45:2B-44. Definitions; accountancy act of 1997: “Practice of public accountancy” means the performance or the offering to perform attest services for a client or potential client, by a licensee, registered firm or individual qualifying for practice privileges under section 6 of P.L.2008, c. 45 (C.45:2B-50.1). The “practice of public accountancy” also means the performance or the offering to perform by a licensee or individual qualifying for practice privileges under section 6 of P.L.2008, c. 45 (C.45:2B-50.1) of one or more of the following: a compilation of a financial statement to be performed in accordance with SSARS, management advisory, financial advisory or consulting services, or the preparation of tax returns or the furnishing of advice on tax matters.

  • What are the requirements for taking the law and ethics course? Can I fulfill the ethics requirement through self-study?

    Each applicant for a triennial license renewal must complete a four-credit course on New Jersey Law and Ethics provided by a sponsor approved by the board. The NJCPA is an approved provider and offers ongoing Law and Ethics courses. Applicants are not permitted to fulfill the New Jersey Law and Ethics requirement via self-study.

    New licensees are required to take the Law and Ethics course within six months before or after the date of initial licensure (refer to the “From” date on your license) and send a copy of the course completion certificate to the board within 30 days of attending the course. New licensees are not required to satisfy the remaining CPE requirements for the initial renewal of his or her license.


  • Where can I find a list of approved CPE sponsors?

    CPE sponsors must have a sponsor number with the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy or be approved by NASBA. To make sure the course you’re taking is by a board-approved CPE sponsor, you can do a search here. Select “Accountancy” under profession and “CE Sponsor” under License Type.


  • How are self-study credits applied?

    The board allows providers to grant credits at the rate of one credit for every 50 minutes of correspondence and individual self-study program participation. Self-study credits must be obtained through a NASBA-approved self-study provider. Effective September 2015, there is no limit to the amount of CPE that can be earned through self-study. However, the four-credit New Jersey law and ethics course must be taken through an in-person program or webinar by an approved provider.


  • Is nano learning — 10-minute self-study videos that grant a fifth (0.2) of a credit — applicable for the 120 hours of CPE learning?

    Effective Jan. 1, 2018, nano learning is now accepted in New Jersey.


  • Can a college professor or CPE instructor receive credit for teaching a CPE course?

    A full-time instructor or discussion leader isn’t eligible to obtain CPE credit for activities related to the licensees’ full-time employment.

    For non-full-time instructors or discussion leaders, one CPE credit will be given for each 50-minute period of instruction. For the lecturer’s, instructor’s, discussion leader’s or speaker’s preparation time, there shall be two additional hours of CPE credit awarded for each credit hour of instruction. The instructor shall not be given credit for subsequent sessions in the same year involving substantially identical subject matter, except after one year, the board may give one additional credit hour for each 50-minute period of service for the initial presentation, provided the original material has been updated.

    The maximum credit given for service as a lecturer, instructor, discussion leader or speaker may not exceed 60 credit hours for the triennial period. Licensees must file a “Request for CPE Credit for Teaching” with the board for its approval.

  • Is there anything else I should know?

    Complete your CPE requirements, and renew your license early. It is recommended that you renew your license personally and answer all questions honestly.

    If you are looking for courses to take, visit our event search.

  • How soon after licensure must a new CPA licensee take the New Jersey Law & Ethics course?

    New CPA licensees are required to take the New Jersey Law & Ethics course within six months of licensure. Furthermore, they are required to send a copy of the course completion certificate to the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy within 30 days of completing the course.

  • I’m also licensed in New York state. Does taking the New Jersey Law & Ethics course satisfy the ethics requirement in New York?

    The New Jersey Law & Ethics course no longer satisfies the ethics requirement in New York if your principal place of business is in New York. In January, the New York State Board of Public Accountancy voted and approved a change to the state’s ethics program guidelines. Previously, a CPA licensed in multiple jurisdictions could use an ethics course in another state to satisfy the ethics requirement in New York. Under the new rule, if your principal place of business is in New York state and you are licensed in New York, you MUST take a New York ethics course to satisfy your ethics requirement. However, CPAs licensed in multiple jurisdictions including New York, who have a principal place of business outside of New York, can satisfy New York’s ethics requirement by taking an ethics course in the CPA's primary state of practice. If you’ve already taken the four-hour New Jersey Law & Ethics course, the credits will satisfy your New Jersey ethics requirement and the credits for that course may be used toward your overall New York CPE credit requirement. If you have questions about your personal situation, you may call the New York State Board at 518-474-3817 (Choose Option #1, then extension #160).

  • Does taking the New York Law & Ethics course satisfy the ethics requirement in New Jersey?

    No, you must take the New Jersey Law & Ethics course.