CPE Certification Checklist for 2024: A Step-by-Step Resource for Financial Professionals

Written by CFI Team

Reviewed by Jeff Schmidt

Read Time 3 minutes

Is Your CPE Certification on Track for 2024?

With the year winding down, it’s time to ensure your CPE certification is on track for 2024. This checklist gives you everything you need to stay compliant and build valuable skills before year-end.

CPE certification, or Continuing Professional Education certification, is a structured way for finance professionals to maintain and enhance their skills through accredited courses. By fulfilling CPE requirements, professionals keep pace with industry changes and build expertise in areas essential to their roles.

Who Needs CPE Certification?

Many certified finance professionals, like CPAs and CFPs, are required to complete annual CPE credits to keep their credentials active. For these professionals, CPE certification is more than a formality — it’s a tool to stay current in a fast-evolving field.

Meeting your CPE certification requirements ensures your skills stay sharp, supporting both immediate job success and future career growth.

How CPE Certification Supports Your Career Growth

Obtaining and maintaining CPE certification is a smart career move. It provides key advantages like boosting your knowledge and sharpening your skills for an evolving field.

Professional Growth: CPE certification helps you expand your skills and stay updated on trends, tools, and regulations, enhancing your expertise for current and future roles.

Credibility and Compliance: Completing CPE requirements demonstrates your commitment to high standards, reinforcing your credibility and ensuring compliance with industry expectations.

Career Opportunities: By investing in CPE certification, you show a dedication to growth that signals readiness for advanced roles, setting you apart as a forward-thinking finance professional.

With these benefits in mind, let’s walk through the steps you need to complete your CPE Certification for 2024.

CPE Certification Checklist – Steps to Getting Certified in 2024

To make the most of your CPE certification journey in 2024, follow these key steps to ensure a smooth and efficient process:

✅ Step	Description
✅ Determine Your Required Credits	• Begin by checking the specific CPE credit requirements for your designation (e.g., CPA, CFP, FRM). • Each certification has unique credit needs, so confirm what you need to complete for the year.
✅ Choose an Accredited Provider	• Ensure your courses come from an accredited provider like CFI to guarantee that your credits count toward CPE certification.
✅ Track and Report Your Hours	• Keep an organized record of your completed courses and hours. • Many certifications require progress reporting, so accurate records will simplify the process. • CFI’s platform makes tracking easy.
✅ Check for 2024-Specific Requirements	• Some designations may have updates or changes in 2024. • Stay informed of any new requirements or deadlines to ensure full compliance by year-end.

Following this checklist ensures you stay on track, and selecting the right provider will further simplify your certification process.

Choosing the Right CPE Certification Provider

Selecting the right CPE provider is essential for a smooth certification process. Here are factors to consider when choosing the best provider for your needs:

Accreditation: Ensure the provider is NASBA-accredited, like CFI, to guarantee that your courses meet certification requirements.
Course Flexibility: Look for self-paced, online options to ensure your courses fit into your schedule.
Quality and Expertise: Select providers like CFI with high-quality course materials and experienced instructors, ensuring practical, applicable learning.

By selecting a provider that meets these criteria, you’ll simplify your path to certification and gain more value from each course.

Types of CPE Certification Courses

A well-rounded CPE certification plan includes a variety of course types that meet both certification requirements and skill-building goals.

Here are some key categories to consider:

Core Accounting and Finance Skills:
- Foundational courses in financial accounting, financial statement analysis, and corporate finance.
- These courses build essential finance knowledge that applies across multiple roles.
Technical and Analytical Tools:
- Courses covering tools like Excel and Power BI for tasks like financial modeling and data analysis.
- Mastering these tools helps you work efficiently, with fewer errors.
Risk Management:
- Courses focused on assessing and managing financial risks, from lending to market volatility.
- These capabilities are vital for roles that involve safeguarding financial assets and minimizing risk exposure.
Data Analysis and Business Intelligence:
- Skills in data interpretation and data visualization are increasingly valuable.
- Courses in this area enable you to transform data into strategic insights that drive decision-making.
Leadership and Professional Development:
- Courses in leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence help you grow beyond technical skills.
- These skills prepare you for roles that require effective team management and project oversight.

CFI’s catalog offers a broad selection across all these categories, designed to support you at every step of your CPE certification journey.

How CFI Can Support Your CPE Certification Journey

CFI supports busy professionals in completing CPE certification efficiently and effectively with:

Comprehensive CPE Courses: Access an extensive catalog of NASBA-accredited courses across key finance areas, from core skills to specialized topics.
Flexible Online Learning: Complete your CPE certification requirements at your own pace.
All-Access Memberships: Unlimited access to all of CFI’s CPE courses at a cost-effective rate.

Jumpstart your CPE certification journey with CFI’s trusted courses, supporting your goals and driving your career forward.

Take the Next Step: Complete Your 2024 CPE Certification with Confidence

Completing your CPE certification is essential for staying compliant and advancing your finance career. By following this checklist and choosing a reputable provider like CFI, you can confidently complete your 2024 CPE requirements and gain skills that benefit your long-term growth.

Ready to complete your CPE Certification checklist? Start now with CFI’s accredited courses, and make this the year you achieve your CPE goals!

Earn Your Credits!