For a lot of CPAs, CPE is all about checking credits off a list. But is it ever worth paying more to make the most of your annual continuing education requirements?
Becker says yes, and in this Becker CPE Review, I’ll dissect that concept.
After spending some good old-fashioned quality time with Becker’s CPE courses, podcasts, and compliance tracker, here are the main points worth considering before picking (or passing on) Becker’s continuing education courses.
Is Becker CPE Right for You?
- If you want a stress-free way to stay compliant, then Becker’s personalized CPE compliance tracker makes it easy to see exactly what you need and what you’ve already completed.
- If you value high-quality instruction, then Becker’s well-designed slides and consistently strong speakers are a big plus.
- If you like learning on the go, then Becker’s CPE podcasts—paired with quick quizzes—are one of the best mobile-friendly options I’ve used.
- If you’re price-sensitive, then Becker may feel expensive upfront, but the depth and usefulness of the content help justify the cost.
- If you want CPE that actually helps your career, then Becker offers far more than just checkbox compliance.
Becker CPE Review: The Basics
Becker CPE is an on-demand, subscription-based CPE platform designed for CPAs who want both regulatory compliance and meaningful professional growth. Rather than focusing narrowly on one topic area, Becker offers a broad catalog that spans tax, audit & accounting, ethics, industry-specific topics, and current events.
What really differentiates Becker is how polished the experience feels—from course discovery to completion tracking—making it a strong option for busy professionals who don’t want to waste time navigating clunky systems.
One user describes Becker’s ease of use for completing CPE quickly:
“I use Becker for example. Get access to all their on demand content which I’m sure they have a discount on at year end, make sure you check and use the promo. Go thru all the easiest courses, hit next next next – trial and error on the tests, pass, save certificate move on.”
Pros
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Excellent personalized CPE compliance tracker
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Wide variety of high-quality, NASBA-approved courses
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Strong speakers with clean, well-designed slides
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Outstanding podcast format for earning CPE on the go
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Courses that are genuinely useful, not just filler
Cons
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Pricing is higher than many competitors
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Course catalog can’t be sorted by rating (even though ratings are visible)
Becker CPE Package Options
Essentials Package (Short-Term, Compliance-Focused)
The Essentials package is best for CPAs who need a short-term solution to knock out required CPE efficiently while still accessing Becker’s core content quality. It’s a solid fit for professionals who already know what credits they need and want reliable, NASBA-approved courses without committing to a full year.
Includes:
- 90-day access
- 475+ on-demand courses
- 50+ newly added course hours
- Unlimited credit consumption
- Downloadable course content
- NASBA-approved content
Select Package (Full-Year, Expanded Coverage)
The Select package is ideal for CPAs who want broader coverage and a full year of access, especially those who need ethics credits or industry-specific content. It builds on Essentials by expanding both the catalog and applicability across states and roles.
Includes everything in Essentials, plus:
- 1-year access
- 570+ on-demand courses (total)
- 25+ industry-specific courses
- 50+ approved state board of ethics courses
Prime Package (Most Comprehensive Option)
The Prime package is Becker’s most complete CPE subscription and best suited for CPAs who want a set-it-and-forget-it solution for compliance, updates, and ongoing professional development. It’s available as a 1-year or 2-year subscription, making it especially appealing for long-term planning.
Includes everything in Essentials and Select, plus:
- Personalized CPE Compliance Tracker
- Podcasts for CPE credit
- Current events courses
- Hot topics courses
- Critical update courses (tax, A&A, ethics)
- 110+ newly added course hours
- 700+ on-demand courses (total)
Becker CPE Package Comparison Table
What You Get Inside Becker CPE
One of my favorite aspects of Becker CPE is how easy it is to stay organized. The personalized CPE compliance tracker clearly shows completed credits, remaining requirements, and progress toward state-specific obligations. I didn’t have to manually track anything or second-guess whether I was meeting requirements.
The course catalog is extensive, with:
- Up to 700+ on-demand courses
- Up to 110+ newly added course hours
- Current events and hot-topic courses
- Critical updates in tax, audit & accounting, and ethics
- Up to 50+ approved state board ethics courses
- Up to 25+ industry-specific courses
I especially liked that many courses display user ratings, which made it easier to choose high-quality content. While it was slightly annoying that I couldn’t sort by rating, it was still easy to scan for well-reviewed courses and avoid newer or unrated ones if I wanted a safer pick.
Learning Experience, Design, and Content Quality
Becker’s platform feels clean, modern, and professional. Courses load quickly, navigation is intuitive, and nothing feels cluttered. The slides are well-designed, with minimal text and clear visuals, which made it easier to stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
The speakers were consistently strong—knowledgeable, clear, and easy to follow—without reading directly from slides. That alone puts Becker ahead of many lower-cost CPE providers.
The podcasts for CPE credit were another highlight. I frequently listened while commuting or running errands, then completed the quiz once I was back. It made earning CPE feel far less disruptive to my day.
Is Becker CPE Worth the Cost?
Becker CPE is undeniably more expensive than many alternatives—but after using it, the value tradeoff made sense to me. Instead of rushing through low-quality courses just to earn hours, I felt like I was actually learning things that mattered to my work and career.
Between the compliance tracker, high production quality, and breadth of relevant topics, Becker feels less like a checkbox solution and more like a professional development subscription. For CPAs who want to grow their expertise while staying compliant, that distinction matters.
Customer Support, Access, and Platform Reliability
While using Becker CPE, the platform felt consistently reliable, which matters a lot when you’re earning credits for compliance. Progress saved automatically, completed courses were clearly marked, and certificates were available immediately after finishing quizzes, so there was never any uncertainty about whether credits counted.
I didn’t need to contact customer support often, largely because the platform is straightforward and well-organized. The compliance tracker, course status indicators, and clear navigation made it easy to see exactly where I stood at any point. Courses loaded smoothly, quizzes submitted without issues, and nothing ever felt glitchy or unstable.
Plus, I appreciated the option to choose from packages with a variety of access lengths, including 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years. And getting to choose whether I wanted to watch CPE podcasts through the Becker platform on my laptop or just listen to them in an app like Spotify or Apple Podcasts on my phone.

How Becker CPE Compares to Other CPE Providers
Check out the quick comparisons below or dive into this deeper analysis of the top CPE courses for CPAs.
| Provider | Overall Vibe | Best For CPAs Who… | Less Ideal If You… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Becker CPE | Polished, professional, career-oriented | Want high-quality CPE they can actually learn from, with strong speakers, clean slides, and an excellent compliance tracker | Are only looking for the cheapest or fastest way to earn credits |
| Surgent CPE | Efficient, utilitarian, time-focused | Want to finish CPE as quickly as possible using adaptive learning | Prefer deeper dives or more thoughtfully designed courses |
| Illumeo | Broad, modern, cross-functional | Want a mix of technical accounting, leadership, and business skills | Want a tightly focused CPA-only experience |
| Lambers CPE | Straightforward, traditional, no-frills | Know exactly what credits they need and want a simple, practical path | Want a highly polished platform or multiple learning formats |
Becker CPE vs. Surgent CPE
Surgent is best known for its adaptive learning approach and efficiency. It’s a great option for CPAs who want to complete CPE as quickly as possible and appreciate technology that prioritizes time savings.
Becker, on the other hand, places more emphasis on content depth and presentation quality. The courses tend to feel more polished, the speakers more consistent, and the slides easier to follow. While Surgent excels at speed, Becker is better suited for professionals who want CPE that actually contributes to their knowledge and long-term career growth.
- Choose Becker if: you want high-quality instruction and professional development, not just fast credits.
- Choose Surgent if: your top priority is efficiency and minimizing time spent on CPE.
Becker CPE vs. Illumeo
Illumeo offers a broad catalog that blends technical accounting topics with leadership, soft skills, and business education. It’s particularly appealing for professionals looking to expand beyond traditional CPA topics into management or executive skills.
Becker’s catalog stays more tightly aligned with the needs of practicing CPAs—tax, audit, ethics, and critical updates—while still offering variety. The platform feels more focused and purpose-built for compliance and staying current in the profession. For CPAs who want relevance and depth over breadth, Becker tends to feel more cohesive.
- Choose Becker if: you want CPE that stays closely tied to accounting and regulatory expertise.
- Choose Illumeo if: you want a wider mix of business, leadership, and technical content.
Becker CPE vs. Lambers CPE Review
Lambers is a strong option for CPAs who prefer a direct, no-frills approach to CPE. Its courses are practical and straightforward, making it a good choice for professionals who know exactly what credits they need and want to earn them efficiently.
Becker offers a more refined and guided experience, particularly with its compliance tracker and course discovery tools. The ability to see ratings, explore current events, and listen to podcasts for credit gives Becker a more modern feel. While Lambers is effective, Becker tends to be more engaging and easier to integrate into a busy schedule.
- Choose Becker if: you want a polished platform with multiple ways to earn CPE.
- Choose Lambers if: you prefer simplicity and a traditional CPE experience.
Bottom Line
Becker CPE is best for CPAs who don’t just want to get CPE done, but want to get something out of it. While it’s pricier than many competitors, the combination of a powerful compliance tracker, high-quality instruction, excellent podcasts, and a massive course catalog makes it a strong long-term investment.
If your priority is the cheapest way to earn credits, Becker may not be the best fit. But if you want a CPE subscription that actually helps you stay sharp, informed, and competitive in your career, Becker is one of the most well-rounded options available.
FAQs
Yes, Becker offers NASBA-approved CPE content.
Yes, subscriptions allow unlimited credit consumption during the access period.
Yes, Becker offers up to 50+ approved state board ethics courses.
Absolutely; the CPE podcasts are one of its strongest features.
For CPEs who want to make the most of every CPE credit, Becker is worth the price.






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