Where to verify your credential, renew, and check current continuing-education rules. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are licensed by a State Board of Accountancy, Enrolled Agents (EAs) are regulated federally by the IRS, and CFP® professionals are regulated by the CFP Board. Use the guide below to reach the right authority for your credential — and see each state’s CPA rules on our own state requirement pages.
CPAs — State Boards of Accountancy
Every CPA is licensed by the Board of Accountancy in the state or U.S. territory that issued the license. There are 55 boards in all — the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Your board sets your total CPE hours, ethics requirement, reporting period, and renewal deadline. Find and contact your board through NASBA’s State Board directory, and confirm which CPE providers and NASBA Fields of Study it accepts.
Enrolled Agents — IRS
EAs are credentialed directly by the Internal Revenue Service and are not licensed by a state board. Continuing education, renewal, and PTIN rules for EAs are set federally under IRS Enrolled Agent requirements, including a Circular 230 ethics component. Non-credentialed tax preparers with a PTIN can review the voluntary Annual Filing Season Program.
CFP® Professionals — CFP Board
CFP® certificants are governed nationally by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, not a state agency. Continuing-education hours, the ethics requirement, and renewal cycles are set by the CFP Board.
Requirements change and vary by jurisdiction. This directory is general guidance, not legal advice — always confirm current rules directly with your State Board of Accountancy, the IRS, or the CFP Board.
