NASBA CPE Audit Service: What It Does for CPAs and What to Keep
NASBA's CPE Audit Service lets CPAs report CPE hours and documentation electronically to their board. Some boards also use it for renewal, reinstatement and reciprocity.
If your board uses the NASBA CPE Audit Service, you may be asked to enter your CPE online instead of waiting for a paper audit. NASBA describes it as a central place where CPAs report the details of their CPE courses, with the result shown after each entry. Boards choose whether to use it, and some use it for renewal, reinstatement and reciprocity as well. This guide explains what the service does, what we could and could not confirm about cost and rules, and which records you should keep whatever your board decides. For what boards ask for in an audit, read our CPE audit records guide, and for a tracking layout see our CPE tracking log template.
At a glance
| Item | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| What it is | NASBA's service for CPAs to report CPE hours and documentation electronically to the board |
| Result | CPAs see an updated compliance result after each course entry (NASBA) |
| Other board uses | Some boards also use it for renewal, reinstatement and reciprocity |
| Cost to CPAs | Not confirmed; NASBA calls it complimentary for participating boards |
| Is it compulsory? | Depends on your board; Ohio says it may become mandatory later and is available now |
| Records | Keep certificates anyway; New York says at least 5 years, Ohio until the end of the next reporting period |
What the service does
NASBA's CPE Audit Service is described as a centralised location for CPAs to report the details of their CPE courses. A CPA enters the courses, and NASBA says the CPA sees an updated compliance result after each entry. NASBA's 2024 article presents the service as a tool to strengthen CPE compliance enforcement for boards.
Which boards use it
The service is for participating boards, so whether you need it depends on where you are licensed. Oregon, Utah, South Carolina and Montana are among the states where our state guides mention it, including our Oregon, Utah, South Carolina and Montana guides. Ohio calls the service a CPE tracking tool, says Ohio CPAs can use it now and says it may become mandatory later. Check your board's page for its current position.
Is it free?
We could not confirm what, if anything, CPAs pay. NASBA describes the service as complimentary for participating boards, and neither the Ohio page nor NASBA's service page that we read states a cost to the CPA. Do not assume either way, and ask your board if a charge is a concern.
It is not CPAverify
The CPE Audit Service records your courses. CPAverify checks licences. They do different jobs, and neither verifies a sponsor. For that check, use the process in our guide to verifying a NASBA CPE sponsor.
Why you should still keep certificates
Reporting the hours does not mean you can throw the paperwork away. New York states that licensees should keep completion certificates showing the participant, title, sponsor and ID, subject area, credits, delivery method, date and location for at least 5 years. Ohio requires records until the end of the next reporting period, accepts a sponsor letter or official transcript, and says unofficial transcripts, self-made lists, handouts and receipts are not enough. We could not find a general document list from NASBA, and Illinois's FAQ names no specific documents, so follow your own board's page.
Practical steps
Check whether your board uses the service. If it does, enter courses as you finish them instead of at renewal, so the compliance result is current. Save each certificate in one folder with the course title and date. If you hold licences in more than one state, our CPA mobility and CPE guide explains how requirements overlap.
What we could not confirm
We did not find an official page describing a CPE Monitor tool in 2026, so we do not cover it. We also could not confirm whether the service covers every delivery method a board accepts. Read your board's instructions for what it expects you to upload.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NASBA CPE Audit Service?
A NASBA service where CPAs report their CPE hours and documentation electronically to their board.
Do I have to use it?
It depends on your board. Ohio, for example, says it is available now and may become mandatory later.
Is the CPE Audit Service free for CPAs?
We could not confirm. NASBA calls it complimentary for participating boards, and the pages we read state no cost to CPAs.
Do I still need to keep my certificates?
Yes. New York says at least 5 years, and Ohio says until the end of the next reporting period.
Does it check whether a course sponsor is approved?
No. Use NASBA's Confirm Registry Sponsor tool for sponsors.
Next steps
Read our CPA CPE requirements guide and our complete guide to CPE for CPAs for the rest of the rules. If you are comparing study options, see our Learnsignal pricing page.
Source: NASBA CPE Audit Service mission page, NASBA blog on the CPE Audit Service (20 June 2024), Ohio Accountancy Board CPE audit service and CPE verification pages, New York State Education Department CPE questions and answers, Ohio Administrative Code 4701-15 and the Illinois CPA CPE FAQ. Checked October 2026.
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Learnsignal Education Team
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