5 Top-Rated Online CPE Platforms CPAs Actually Use in 2025

Looking for reliable online CPE platforms for CPAs? Trust me, I've been there - sifting through countless options while trying to meet those annual continuing education requirements.

In this guide, I'll break down the 5 best online CPE courses for CPAs that professionals actually use in 2025. Whether you're hunting for state-specific ethics courses or advanced certification programs, I've done the research so you don't have to.

Top Online CPE Platforms CPAs

1. MYCPE ONE

MYCPE ONE stands out as one of the most comprehensive CPE platforms tailored for accounting professionals. Established since 2019, this platform has rapidly gained popularity among CPAs seeking to fulfill their continuing education requirements through diverse learning options.

MYCPE ONE Key Features

MYCPE ONE provides an extensive content library with over 15,000 hours of CPE-approved material spanning across 500+ subject areas. This impressive catalog covers everything from accounting and taxation to finance, HR, and technology topics. Moreover, the platform offers 50+ state-specific ethics courses, ensuring compliance regardless of your location.

What sets MYCPE ONE apart is its variety of learning formats to accommodate different learning preferences:

• Live webinars with direct instructor interaction
• On-demand video courses for self-paced learning
• Audio podcasts for learning on the go
• E-books for those who prefer reading
• Virtual conferences for in-depth topic exploration

The platform excels in compliance management through several practical tools:

• Certificate Vault: Store all your CPE certificates in one centralized location, including those earned outside MYCPE ONE
• Compliance Tracker: Automatically track your progress toward meeting state-specific requirements
• Audit-Ready Reports: Generate comprehensive reports should you face a board audit
• Mobile App Access: Learn anytime, anywhere through dedicated iOS and Android applications

MYCPE ONE Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Extensive Content Library: With 15,000+ hours of content, you'll find courses on virtually any topic relevant to accounting professionals.
2. Cost-Effective Subscription Model: MYCPE ONE offers 7 Days Free Trial access to all courses - potentially reducing continuing education costs by up to 80% compared to pay-per-course models.
3. Multiple Learning Formats: The variety of formats accommodates different learning styles and schedules.
4. Comprehensive Compliance Management: Automated tracking for all 50 states eliminates the hassle of manual record-keeping.
5. Advanced Certification Programs: Access to 100+ specialized certification programs allows professionals to diversify their practice.

MYCPE ONE Pricing

MYCPE ONE operates on a straightforward subscription model with two primary tiers:

Both plans start with a 7-day free trial, allowing you to explore the platform before committing.

When compared to competitors, MYCPE ONE offers considerable value:

• MYCPE ONE: $199/year
• Surgent: $899/year
• Illumeo: $399/year
• Becker: $799/year

This price difference is particularly noteworthy considering the extensive library size - MYCPE ONE offers 15,000+ hours compared to Surgent's 10,000+, Illumeo's 1,800+, and Becker's 1,700+ hours of content.

2. WebCE

WebCE has established itself as a registered sponsor with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. With over 25 years in the industry, this platform serves more than 1.5 million online courses annually to approximately 1 million professionals nationwide.

WebCE Key Features

First of all, WebCE offers a robust learning ecosystem designed for accounting professionals seeking quality continuing education. The platform's key features include:

• 24/7 Access: All courses remain accessible for a full 12-month period after purchase, allowing professionals to complete requirements at their own pace.
• Multiple Learning Formats: Courses include interactive online study materials, exams, and convenient scheduling options.
• State-Specific Content: The platform offers courses that meet specific state board requirements, ensuring compliance regardless of location.
• PDF Downloads: Most courses include downloadable PDFs for offline reference during tax season.
• Instant Results: The platform provides immediate feedback on exams and assessments.
• Next-Day State Reporting: WebCE handles reporting to regulatory bodies, typically completing this process within one business day.

In addition to these core features, WebCE recently introduced an auto-read feature that narrates course material, enhancing the learning experience for auditory learners. The platform also provides electronic certificates of completion and unlimited free retakes of exams.

WebCE Pros and Cons

Pros:

• User-Friendly Platform: The intuitive interface makes navigation simple for all types of tax preparers and accounting professionals.
• Comprehensive Study Materials: Course content is regularly updated to ensure relevance with current tax laws and regulations.
• Interactive Learning Experience: Many users appreciate the interactive elements and access to expert guidance.
• Customer Support: WebCE offers live, U.S.-based customer support for technical assistance and course selection guidance.
• Consistent Quality: Many long-term users report consistently high quality over years of use, with one noting: "I've been using WebCE for about 20 years, and it's always my go-to for CE".

Cons:

• Content Volume: The broad range of courses might feel overwhelming for some users new to the platform.
• Course-Exam Alignment: A few users have reported discrepancies between course materials and exam questions.
• Audio Quality: Some courses use AI narration which has pronunciation issues with acronyms and technical terms.
• Dated Material: Occasionally, users report finding outdated information in some course materials.

3. Illumeo

Illumeo brings a unique approach to online CPE for accountants, offering a blend of self-paced courses and live webinars tailored specifically for finance professionals. Founded in 2009, this platform has gradually established itself as a specialized player in the continuing education market.

Illumeo Key Features

At the heart of Illumeo's offering is an extensive library of CPE content. The platform provides access to over 1,800 CPE courses and more than 120 live webinars annually. These resources cover every function within the CFO/Controller organization, making it versatile for various finance roles.

The platform stands out with several distinctive capabilities:

• Competency Assessments: Establish baseline ratings for each employee through over 200 benchmark-based job analyzes
• Personalized Learning: Customized development plans with course recommendations based on identified skill gaps
• Global CPE Tracking: Monitor progress across multiple certification types simultaneously
• Self-Authoring Tools: Create and publish custom courses for team-specific training needs

Illumeo supports more than 25 types of professional certifications, including CPA, CMA, ACCA, ISACA, CPP, SHRM, HRCI, and more. This breadth makes it particularly valuable for professionals holding multiple credentials.

Beyond standard CPE offerings, Illumeo provides specialized certification programs:

• Certified Data Analytics Professional (CDAP)
• Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Certification
• Revenue Recognition Certification
• Blockchain Applications Analyst
• Accounts Payable Certification

The platform's learning management system (LMS) features enable organizations to create hierarchies, track user progress, and generate powerful reports. This extends to single sign-on capabilities, HRIS integration, and mobile-friendly access across devices.

Illumeo Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Comprehensive Course Library: With 1,800+ courses, the selection covers niche and specialized content beyond basic requirements
• Instructor Interaction: Users can ask questions directly to instructors even for on-demand courses
• Budget-Friendly Options: More affordable than many competitors, with unlimited CPE access
• Robust Compliance Tools: Track CPE across all 50 states and multiple certification types
• Mobile Learning: Fully responsive platform works on phones, tablets, and computers

Cons:

• Limited Webinar Flexibility: Webinars follow a rigid schedule, primarily Tuesday/Thursday at 11am PT/2pm ET
• Platform Experience: Though functional, the user interface isn't as polished as some competitors
• Content Engagement: Some users report courses can feel less interactive than gamified alternatives
• Webinar Platform Limitations: Uses GoToWebinar which occasionally has technical issues

4. Surgent

With 35 years in the industry, Surgent has positioned itself as a veteran provider of online CPE for CPAs, serving over 250,000 accounting and finance professionals. The platform's primary focus is efficiency, utilizing predictive AI technology to create personalized learning experiences.

Surgent Key Features

Surgent's platform centers around an adaptive learning approach, helping professionals complete their continuing education more efficiently. Their distinctive offerings include:

• Massive Content Library: Access to over 10,000 CPE credit hours across their catalog, making it one of the largest collections available for accounting professionals
• Frequent Updates: When laws change, Surgent rapidly updates course content, typically adding 15+ new courses monthly
• Varied Learning Formats: Multiple options including live webinars (2,300+ annually), on-demand webcasts, self-study PDFs, and gamified courses
• Expert-Led Instruction: Courses delivered by 100+ industry experts, many with decades of teaching experience[192]
• Compliance Coverage: Meets requirements in all 50 states and Washington D.C., with approvals from NASBA, the IRS, and CFP Board

Furthermore, Surgent's platform provides instant CPE certificates immediately after course completion, eliminating the waiting period often associated with other providers. Their predictive technology measures student strengths and weaknesses, helping formulate targeted study plans that reportedly prepare students up to 4x faster than other review courses.

Surgent Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Comprehensive Course Selection: More courses than many competitors, including advanced and specialized topics
• Industry-Leading Faculty: Over 500 CPE Speaker of the Year Awards among their instructors
• Scheduling Flexibility: Daily events across all time zones, including Saturday sessions
• Guaranteed Satisfaction: Money-back pass guarantee on exam review materials

• Inclusive Subscriptions: Unlike some competitors, Surgent includes key courses like tax updates and state-specific ethics

Cons:

• Premium Pricing: Higher subscription costs compared to several competitors
• Interface Experience: Though functional, some users report the platform lacks the polish of newer alternatives
• Support Limitations: Quality of customer service depends on package tier
• Content Depth Variation: Some courses are comprehensive while others may be more concise

For exam preparation specifically, Surgent claims an 88% pass rate for students who complete their CPA review courses with their recommended ReadySCORE. This proprietary tool has proven remarkably accurate, typically within 1% of actual exam scores.

Essentially, Surgent offers a reliable, established option for accounting professionals seeking comprehensive continuing education, albeit at a premium price point. The platform particularly suits those who value efficiency, instructor expertise, and content variety in their online CPE courses for CPAs.

5. CCH CPELink

As part of Wolters Kluwer's suite of professional tools, CCH CPELink stands as a trusted name in continuing education for tax and accounting professionals. This platform focuses on delivering expert-led content through varied formats to meet diverse learning preferences.

CCH CPELink Key Features

CCH CPELink offers a robust selection of continuing education options designed specifically for accounting professionals:

• Extensive Course Library: Hundreds of CPE courses covering tax, accounting, auditing, and ethics topics led by expert instructors in their respective fields
• Multiple Learning Formats: Available as live webinars, on-demand self-study, and downloadable PDF courses to accommodate different learning styles
• Compliance Manager Tool: Included free with subscription packages, this tool actively monitors CPE deadlines and mandatory subject requirements across all states
• Mobile-Friendly Interface: Self-study courses are designed to be interactive and accessible across desktop, laptop, and mobile devices
• Expert Instruction: Courses led by industry experts who bring practical experience to their teaching

Alongside these core offerings, the platform provides instant access to online self-study courses immediately after purchase, allowing professionals to work through material at their own pace. All courses include downloadable materials, unlimited exam attempts, instant grading, and certificates of completion.

CCH CPELink Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Comprehensive Selection: Broad range of courses spanning various disciplines within accounting and taxation
• Quality Content: High-quality materials developed by industry experts and leading practitioners
• Intuitive Navigation: User-friendly interface makes finding and completing courses straightforward
• Robust LMS: Learning management system effectively tracks progress and manages courses
• QAS Compliance: Self-study courses meet NASBA's Quality Assurance Service requirements and are accepted in all states

Cons:

• Premium Pricing: Costs can be higher compared to some other providers in the market
• Limited Free Options: Few complimentary course selections available for trial purposes
• Technical Issues: Some users report occasional platform glitches during course completion
• Limited Interactivity: Interactive features may be less robust than some competing platforms

User feedback indicates that the platform's strengths lie in its content quality and expert instruction rather than cutting-edge technology features. Accounting professionals appreciate the practical knowledge gained through courses that typically apply directly to their daily work.

For CPAs seeking established, reputable online CPE courses with strong compliance tracking features, CCH CPELink presents a solid option backed by Wolters Kluwer's extensive experience in professional education.

Conclusion

Choosing the right CPE platform ultimately depends on your specific needs, budget, and learning preferences. After examining these top online CPE platforms, several key differences emerge that can guide your decision.

My research shows most CPAs actually use a combination of these platforms throughout their careers, rather than sticking exclusively to one provider. Many professionals maintain a primary subscription while occasionally purchasing individual courses from other providers for specialized topics or state-specific requirements.

Remember to consider factors beyond price - course quality, user experience, mobile accessibility, and compliance management tools significantly impact the overall value you receive. Additionally, most platforms offer free trials or sample courses, allowing you to test the learning experience before committing.

Therefore, take time to evaluate which platform aligns best with your professional goals and learning style. Whether you prefer structured webinars, self-paced courses, or a mix of formats, these five platforms represent the most trusted options for meeting your continuing education requirements in 2025.