How to Earn Your CPE Credits While Working Full-Time (Yes, It’s Possible!)

Written by CFI Team

Reviewed by Jeff Schmidt

Read Time 4 minutes

Achieving Balance: Earning CPE Credits Without Adding Stress

Balancing a full-time job with earning CPE credits can feel overwhelming. Between tight deadlines, back-to-back meetings, and personal commitments, it might seem impossible to squeeze in Continuing Professional Education. But with the right strategies — and a little creativity — it’s easier than you think.

This guide shows busy finance professionals how to integrate CFI’s flexible, on-demand CPE courses into their daily routines, making it simple to earn CPE credits.

1. Choose Flexible, On-Demand CPE Courses

The key to managing your CPE requirements while working full-time is flexibility. Traditional in-person courses often require days off work, making them impractical. Fortunately, self-paced, online CPE courses provide the freedom to learn on your schedule.

Why Self-Paced Works:

Online learning providers like CFI allow you to access short, modular lessons designed to fit into small windows of 10 to 30 minutes. Whether you’re waiting at an airport gate, enjoying your morning coffee, or winding down in the evening, you can make progress without disrupting your day.

Pro Tip: Use CFI’s mobile-friendly features to complete a quick lesson during a coffee break or while waiting for a meeting. These bite-sized lessons ensure consistent progress without overwhelming your schedule.

Once you’ve chosen a flexible course format, the next step is to create a routine that ensures consistent progress without disrupting your busy schedule.

2. Plan Ahead and Create a Learning Routine

Balancing work with earning CPE credits requires planning. Treat your learning time like any other important appointment — schedule it into your calendar and commit to it.

How to Build Your Routine:

Morning Boost: Begin your day with a short lesson to set a productive tone.
Lunch Break Learning: Dedicate your midday break to micro-learning sessions.
Weekend Wins: Use weekend mornings for longer modules or course reviews.

Stay on Track: Tools like Google Calendar or Asana can help you organize study sessions and track progress. By planning ahead, you make consistent progress without feeling rushed.

With a clear plan in place, you can make your learning even more impactful by applying it directly to your current role, turning education into a career asset.

3. Integrate Learning with Your Current Role

Earning CPE credits doesn’t have to feel like a separate task. The best courses are those you can apply directly to your work, turning your learning into an asset for your role and your team.

Real-World Applications:

Financial Modeling: Use insights from CFI’s Budgeting and Forecasting course to improve the accuracy of your forecasts or create better decision-making tools for your team.
Leadership Development: Apply lessons from the Communicating & Leading with Influence course to enhance collaboration with colleagues.
Data Analysis: Incorporate techniques from the Dashboards and Data Visualization course to build impactful dashboards for financial presentations.

By aligning your learning with your work, you’re building momentum. To stay motivated and productive, break your CPE goals into smaller, manageable milestones.

4. Break Down Large Goals into Smaller Milestones

Completing your required CPE credits can feel daunting, especially when you’re staring at a big number like 120 hours for CPAs. Instead of focusing on the total number of required credits, break it down into manageable steps that keep you motivated.

How to Stay on Track:

Start Small: Begin with shorter courses (1–2 hours) to build momentum and confidence.
Celebrate Wins: Reward yourself when you hit key milestones, like completing a course or earning 10 credits, to stay motivated.

As you tackle your CPE journey one step at a time, don’t forget to leverage the resources and support available through your employer — it can make all the difference.

5. Leverage Employer Support

Your employer likely values your professional growth and may provide resources to help you earn your CPE credits. Tapping into this support can ease the financial and time commitment of continuing education.

Ways Employers Can Help:

Financial Reimbursement: Check if your company offers reimbursement for CPE courses through professional development, or learning and development (L&D), programs.
Dedicated Learning Time: Propose a plan to complete relevant CPE courses during work hours, especially those directly tied to your job responsibilities.
Share Your Knowledge: After completing a course, present your key takeaways to your team. This reinforces your learning and highlights its value to your organization.

Finally, ensure your CPE efforts pay off by selecting high-impact courses that provide the practical skills you need to excel in your role.

6. Prioritize Practical, High-Impact Courses

Not all CPE courses offer the same value. To maximize your time and investment, choose courses that provide hands-on, practical skills you can use immediately in your role.

What to Look For:

Interactive Exercises: Courses with real-world scenarios and case studies that help you practice key skills.

Relevant Topics: Choose courses aligned with your career goals, such as FP&A, risk management, or leadership.
Trusted Providers: Opt for recognized industry providers like CFI, which deliver NASBA-accredited courses tailored specifically for finance professionals.

With the right courses, a solid plan, and employer support, earning your CPE credits becomes not just manageable, but a rewarding step toward your career goals.

Earn Your CPE Credits Without the Stress

Earning CPE credits while working full-time doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With flexible online courses, smart scheduling, and a focus on practical skills, you can integrate learning into your routine seamlessly.

CFI’s NASBA-accredited courses make it easy to meet your requirements while gaining valuable expertise. Whether you’re brushing up on financial modeling or exploring leadership training, CFI’s courses are designed for busy professionals like you.

Start your journey today — explore CFI’s CPE catalog and earn credits on your schedule.

Earn Your Credits!