CPE is a delicate and divisive topic. All 670,000+ active CPAs need to meet CPE requirements to keep their licenses and, you know, their jobs, but I don’t think it’s anyone’s idea of a good time. For most of us, it’s more of a chore than an opportunity.
So, how do you find a CPE subscription that doesn’t just get the job done but also helps you learn valuable skills, without the “Bueller” style lectures that put you to sleep?
Becker is one of the most popular options, and in this Becker CPE Review, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know after carefully studying five on-demand courses, two live webinars, three podcasts, and using the compliance tracker. We’ll cover pricing, included courses, delivery and format, learning styles, and so much more.
Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
- If you’re a visual learner, Becker CPE’s high-quality video lectures and live webcasts will keep you engaged and make complex topics easier to grasp.
- If you want flexibility, Becker’s mix of on-demand courses and live webinars makes it easy to fit CPE into your schedule.
- If you appreciate guided tools, the built-in compliance tracker will help you stay on top of your credits without added stress.
- If you’re a podcast fan, Becker’s credit-approved CPE pods make learning feel more like leisure than a chore.
- If you’re watching your budget, Becker’s higher pricing might not be ideal compared to more affordable competitors.
- If you prefer set class times with instructor interaction, Becker’s live webinar schedule may feel limited outside of peak months.
Becker CPE Subscription At a Glance
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Becker served nearly 2 million students as an exam prep provider, most of whom were CPA candidates. It’s no surprise that many happy customers return to Becker for their continuing education needs, but does that make it the right option? Let’s take a look.
Becker offers four distinct packages, and they look a little like this:
| Subscription | Prime (1 or 2 Year) | Select | Essentials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $799-$1,429 | $499 | $329 |
| Financing | Starts at $60/mo |  | |
| Access | 1-2 Years | 1 Year | 90 Days |
| Live Webcasts | 1,000+ | 480+ | 480+ |
| On-Demand Courses | 700+ | 570+ | 475+ |
| Ethics Courses | 50+ | 50+ | |
| Exclusive Features | CPE Compliance TrackerCurrent Events and Hot Topics Courses20+ CPE Podcasts | Critical Update Courses | |
Key Features
- 📺 1,000+ Live CPE Webinars every year with Q&A and a partial credit option
- 📚 700+ On-Demand Self-Study Courses with downloadable course content
- ⚖️ 50+ Approved Ethics Courses for every U.S. state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam
- 🎧 20+ CPE Podcasts on mainstream podcast platforms approved for credit
- 💡 Premium Course Options including critical updates, current events, and hot topics
- 📊 Personalized CPE Compliance Tracker for easy tracking and custom course recommendations
Becker CPE Review
Pros
- CPE podcasts are a fun, easy way to break up the CPE “grind”
- Monthly financing for Prime 2-year is an affordable way to get the premium package
- Personalized CPE compliance tracker is very clean, helpful, and easy to use
- If you live in the U.S., your ethics courses are covered in the Prime and Select subscriptions
- Live webinars are flexible, offering partial credit and night and weekend options
Cons
- Fewer live events than Surgent CPE (1,000 vs 2,300+)
Becker CPE Discount Code
Save $715 on Becker CPE. With a wide range of live and on-demand courses, plus tools to help you track and meet your compliance requirements, Becker is a solid option for professionals who want straightforward, reliable continuing education. Check out our other CPE course coupons to compare.
Becker CPE Subscription: In-Depth Details
If you’re here, you want to get into the nitty gritty before you make your decision, and you’re in the right place! Now that you have a quick overview of what you’d be getting into, let’s dig into the content and structure, discuss the webinars, talk about support and access, check out the bonus tools, and figure out whether the high price is worth it for the value you’re getting.
Content and Structure
You’re a busy adult with a life outside of checking CPE courses off a list. How does Becker work for real human beings with jobs, hobbies, and families?
Well, when it comes to on-demand courses, Becker works brilliantly. Regardless of your subscription, you’ll have access to a library of hundreds of on-demand video lectures at your fingertips. Lunch break at noon? Go for it. Can’t sleep and it’s 3 AM? Go for it. The same goes for their podcasts.
And the instruction itself is great, too. One reviewer recommends Becker CPE, explaining,
“I’m an instructional designer for an accounting firm. Becker is gonna be your best shot.”
The live experience is a little bit different. Live courses are available at 9 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM CST during weekdays. Becker also offers night and weekend options, though only during “peak months,” not throughout the entire year.
If you love live learning but work a day job, Becker may not be the best fit, depending on when you’re planning to complete your credit requirements. However, if you prefer self-study, Becker is a great choice.
The Experience: On-Demand Courses
Though the webcasts are obviously a big selling point, I’m more of an independent learner myself, so I ran straight to “on demand” in the format filter and went for a stroll. Firstly, I love that the courses have review scores (which students input immediately after watching the course), so you can ensure you’re not wasting time on a dud.
Once you grab the course and jump in, you’ll have a panel that features the video and optional subtitles, a note-taking section on the side, and an outline on the left divided into sections. The outline lets you skip around as needed and features three quick breaks where you have to answer a question.
At the end, your “final exam” is five straightforward questions, which you’ll know if you paid even a little bit of attention—I was taking notes for this article while watching, and I answered everything right on the first try without using any supplementary materials, so don’t stress over the difficulty.
One student agreed, expressing how they appreciated Becker’s easy CPE exams:
“Agree on becker. Just banged through 12 hours of CPE yesterday. Their courses are just like 3-hour videos, and they give you a PDF to reference during the exam that has all the answers.”
Now, let’s talk about the video itself. I watched five on-demand lectures, but my favorite was “Navigating AI Ethics: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility” led by Dr. Kelly Pope. Dr. Pope was riveting. She’s clearly smart, but she talks like someone explaining something they’re excited about to a friend—not pretentious, just here to share information. For lack of a better description, it felt like watching a commentary YouTube video, but replace your Drew Gooden or Stephanie Soo with a literal doctor and published author.
Unsurprisingly, the energy was electric, and she brought up some fascinating points and statistics. It was the kind of thing I might listen to in my free time; the credits were just the cherry on top.
CPE Compliance Tracker
Becker’s CPE compliance tracker is one of my favorite subscription features. You get to track your progress by topic (ex., ethics, technical, auditing) in aesthetically pleasing charts, and there really is a feeling of accomplishment as you see that bar grow. It’s specific to your state or jurisdiction, so you don’t have to do any research yourself: stop stressing and guessing and just follow their lead.
Then, based on what you still need, you get personalized recommendations for completing your CPE requirements. You can even upload certificates from external continuing education providers to keep your progress in one place. It’s definitely my favorite CPE tracker (and I’ve tried a lot of trackers over the years), and it’s also available as a standalone offer. So, even if Becker isn’t your thing, the tracker definitely is.
Subscription Value
Let’s be honest: Becker is not cheap, especially compared to the competition. You’re paying several hundred dollars more yearly, which adds up. However, Becker makes a compelling argument for their pricing.
Consider those pros: engaging lectures, interesting and relevant course topics, a massive library of live and on-demand classes, an easy-to-use compliance tracker, and my favorite, those CPE pods. Some subscriptions give you the bare minimum, and a surprising number of them don’t have approved ethics courses (which, let me tell you, is not fun to find out on December 21st… hypothetically). Becker gives depth, without the added stress of 20-question final exams on a topic you just learned.
So if price is your primary factor, no. Don’t get Becker. But if you want an enjoyable experience with flexibility, live classes, and lectures that won’t have you chugging caffeine and using grounding techniques to stay tuned in, give one of Becker’s free CPE courses a try.
Becker CPE Reviews: Trustpilot vs. Reddit
Before I wrap everything up, I wanted to discuss what other people say about Becker to give some context.
Trustpilot Reviews
Becker has a 4.6-star average rating on Trustpilot across 500+ reviews. Here’s every Trustpilot review that mentions CPE at the time of writing:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nancy Viafora
“Excellent Instructors – Quick Certificates”
I’ve been using an online Becker CPA CPE Prime subscription for a number of years now. All of the instructors and panel speakers have been excellent, seeming to be both well-informed on their subject matter and good communicators. This is particularly helpful in areas of information with which I am not currently familiar. Today’s CPE certificates were available for printing and saving digitally within a few minutes of the ending of the last course I took.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Taylor Stevens
“Becker has a solid CPE product and they…”
Becker has a solid CPE product and they offer a wide variety of classes. The interface is easy to use and I have been satisfied with my experience.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dalen Sato
“Great Customer Service support”
I signed up for a one-year subscription of the CPE courses. Soon after I had issues logging in and accessing the courses. The initial call did not resolved the issue but Kendra from Customer Service followed up with her technical team and called me back the next day. Some technical changes had to be made but it was resolved fully. Throughout the process, Kendra was extremely knowledgeable and knew how to get additional help when needed all the time being great to work with. Kudos to Kendra for making a frustrating experience very satisfying in the end.
Reddit Reviews
However, reviewers on Reddit are a little less enthused. That being said, even as a regular Reddit user (don’t judge me), I don’t usually go on there to gush over something, nor will you find me there when I’m having a great day. Nevertheless, these perspectives matter, and I want to share them anyway in case they bring up any deal-breakers for you. As you can see, the most common negative reaction is over the price. One also discusses a negative customer service experience, but I think it’s fair to say this feels like an exception, not the rule.
“Considering Other Options”
u/dustymuzzle
I used Becker last year and liked it, but it’s more than double the price, and I wasn’t crazy about some of the instructors.
“It’s Expensive”
u/giggleblue
I use it and like it, but it’s expensive, so I expense it.
“Bad Customer Service”
u/Caillebotte_1848
Becker might be worth it if you need a ton of hours quickly. I paid $450 for my subscription. I’ve found that Becker’s customer service is TERRIBLE. I had problems with a 2-hour course and they refused to grant me the credit even though I sat through the entire webcast.
CPE Course Comparisons
Becker vs Gleim CPE
Pick Becker CPE if you want a polished, all-in-one experience with live webinars, 1,700+ course options, podcasts, and a personalized compliance tracker. Great for CPAs managing multiple licenses or those who want variety and interactivity.
Pick Gleim CPE if you’re a minimalist who just wants to knock out credits affordably. Ideal for self-directed learners who don’t care about live content and want simple, reliable reading-and-quiz formats.
Becker vs Illumeo CPE
Pick Becker CPE if you prefer live instruction, ultra-slick UX, and mobile-friendly features like podcast-based learning and state-specific compliance tracking.
Pick Illumeo CPE if you want a lower-cost option with broad topic variety, self-paced learning, and webinar-heavy subscriptions for live credit fulfillment.
Becker vs Lambers CPE
Pick Becker CPE for best-in-class production value, huge course variety, and advanced tracking tools. Especially useful if you value tech, webinars, and professional polish.
Pick Lambers CPE if you want a simpler, budget-friendly way to complete your hours with straightforward video, PDF, and webinar access—all in one flat-rate plan.
Becker vs Surgent CPE
Pick Becker CPE if you want a guided learning experience with a mix of on-demand videos, live webcasts, podcasts, and structured learning paths.
Pick Surgent CPE if you need real-time updates and the most current webinars on hot-button topics like new legislation. Best for CPAs who want rapid-response CPE and live-only credit formats.
Bottom Line
Becker CPE isn’t cheap, but that extra investment might be the difference between enjoying your CPE courses and making the most of that time, or trying to stay awake during boring lectures about boring topics. If experience and enjoyment are big factors for you, I highly recommend giving Becker a try.
Sold on Becker CPE?
Grab your subscription and get a head start on completing your credit requirements (and having some fun while progressing your career!).
FAQs
Yes, if you value a flexible, user-friendly platform with strong content and tracking tools—though it’s pricier than some alternatives.
You typically receive a certificate within 5–10 minutes of completion for on-demand and live courses. This is faster than average compared to other platforms, like WebCE and state societies, which may take up to 24 hours.
Typically, 50 minutes of instruction equals 1 CPE credit, though some formats (like nano learning) vary.
Yes, in most cases, accredited college courses in relevant subjects can qualify for CPE credit. However, you should probably check with your state board to double-check.
Yes, CPE credits usually apply only within a specific reporting period (often 1–3 years), depending on your state board.
Most CPAs need 40 hours per year or 80–120 over a 2–3 year cycle, but this varies by state and specialty.
