Best Continuing Professional Education CPE Software

Posted by Sophia Duplin

Maintaining your Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements isn’t just about compliance—it’s about staying competitive. Whether you’re an accounting firm managing hundreds of learners or an individual CPA striving to stay current, the right CPE software can simplify tracking, automate certificate management, and enhance the entire learning experience.

 

But with so many platforms promising easy reporting, integrated webinars, and automated accreditation tools, how do you know which one actually delivers? 

 

The best CPE software solutions go beyond hosting courses—they centralize documentation, integrate with your LMS, and ensure your compliance data aligns with NASBA standards and other governing bodies. They also provide analytics that help organizations measure engagement and learner progress in real time.

 

In this guide, we’ll break down the top CPE software platforms on the market, compare key features, and outline how to choose the right system based on your firm’s size, compliance needs, and delivery format. Whether you deliver live, on-demand, or hybrid courses, this article will help you find a solution that not only meets your accreditation requirements but also elevates your learners’ professional growth.

 

1. BeaconLive

BeaconLive stands out as a top choice for CPE (Continuing Professional Education) software because it combines robust functionality, compliance automation, and a seamless user experience in one platform. It delivers interactive webinars, live and on-demand content, and certificate issuance with built-in tracking across multiple credit types.

 

It’s especially strong in handling the administrative complexity of CPE compliance: managing credit carryovers, enforcing format limits, and automating certificate delivery in exact alignment with state rules.

 

BeaconLive Integration is another strength — it supports APIs, eCommerce, event integration, and white-label branding.

 

What really elevates BeaconLive is its service model: clients benefit from expert support, event moderation, and CE compliance consulting, turning the software into a full partner in running accredited CPE programs.

 

Pros:

  • BeaconLive automates certificate issuance and compliance workflows (e.g. carryover, format limits, jurisdiction rules), removing much of the manual overhead for administrators handling CPE credits.
  • The platform integrates webinar + event delivery with LMS/CE capabilities, so you don’t need separate tools—everything from registration to credit tracking is unified.
  • BeaconLive provides dedicated CE specialists, event moderators, and technical support to guide clients—turning the software into a partner rather than just a tool.
  • The system supports a wide array of credit types (NASBA, CLE, CME, etc.), enabling organizations to manage CPE across multiple professions in one platform.
    Strong branding and customization options (white-label catalogs, registration pages, dashboards) let associations maintain consistent identity while managing CPE programs.

Cons: 

  • As a full-featured CE / webinar stack, BeaconLive’s pricing can lean high, making it harder for smaller providers to justify cost without a strong revenue model.
  • The feature depth and configuration options can present a learning curve, especially for teams unfamiliar with webinar/CE workflows or complex accreditation rules.
  • Some users report that certain advanced customizations or integrations require extra professional services or higher-tier plans, adding to total cost of ownership.

Platform Capabilities: 

  • Automated CE & Certificate Workflow: Automatically issue credits and certificates based on attendee behavior, enforce format or jurisdiction rules, track carryovers, and maintain audit records.
  • Webinar & Hybrid Event Delivery: Host live, hybrid, simulated-live, and on-demand CE events with interactive tools like polling, chat, breakout rooms, and Q&A.
  • CPE / CE Tracking & Dashboards: Provide learners and administrators dashboards to monitor earned credits, expiration, required vs. elective courses, and compliance status.
  • Custom Registration & eCommerce: Build branded registration pages, embed course catalogs, integrate payments, upsells, and promo codes directly in your CE workflow.
  • Service + Support Model: Beyond software, BeaconLive offers event moderators, CE specialists, technical support, and onboarding as part of the client relationship.

Why Choose BeaconLive:

When selecting CPE software, you want more than a platform — you need a partner for compliance, scale, and experience. BeaconLive rises above because it merges deep CE functionality with world-class service. 

 

Instead of wrestling with disparate tools, you get an integrated ecosystem: registration, delivery, credit tracking, and certificate issuance all in one system. 

 

Its compliance engine handles nuanced rules (jurisdictions, carryovers, format limits), so your team spends less time troubleshooting and more time creating content.

2. MYCPE ONE

MYCPE ONE is a comprehensive CPE (Continuing Professional Education) platform designed to empower accounting, tax, finance, audit, HR, and IT professionals. It offers access to over 15,000 hours of NASBA-approved content across 500+ subjects, including state-specific ethics and compliance packages.

 

Key strengths include a centralized certificate vault (allowing upload of external certificates), downloadable compliance reports, and mobile app access for learning on the go. The platform is trusted by over 3,000 firms and supports various delivery formats: group live, group internet, self-study, and nano-learning.

 

Moreover, following a merger and rebranding, MYCPE ONE now positions itself as a unified services suite for CPA and accounting firms, combining continuing education with back-office support functions.

 

Pros:

  • Extensive content library with over 15,000 hours of NASBA-approved CPE covering tax, audit, HR, and multiple designations — broad coverage for diverse professionals.
  • Subscription model gives “unlimited access” to all courses for a fixed price, simplifying budgeting and reducing per-course fees.
  • Strong compliance infrastructure: credit tracker, certificate vault, state-specific packages, and integrated reporting to boards.

Cons: 

  • With so much content, quality variance may arise — some courses might be less polished or less up-to-date compared to flagship providers.
  • The user interface and search / filtering tools may not scale smoothly for large teams or firms with advanced needs.
  • Less brand prestige in certain circles compared to legacy CPE providers; some organizations may perceive risk in adopting newer platforms.

Platform Capabilities: 

  • Comprehensive state & designation coverage — MYCPE ONE supports CPE credit tracking across all 50 U.S. states, multiple designations (CPA, EA, SHRM, CMA, etc.), and offers state-compliance packages to simplify regulatory complexity.
  • Certificate vault + audit-ready reporting — Learners store all earned certificates (even external ones), generate organized compliance reports, and produce audit packs for regulatory bodies or employers.
  • Multi-format learning content — The platform offers live webinars, on-demand courses, podcasts, eBooks, virtual conferences, and other modalities to meet varied learning preferences.
  • State-specific ethics and compliance packages — MYCPE ONE organizes bundles that include required ethics content and relevant state compliance courses to meet licensing board mandates.
  • Mobile access & platform interfaces — With iOS/Android apps and responsive design, professionals can complete coursework on the go, monitor progress, and view certificates from mobile devices.

3. Surgent CPE

Surgent CPE delivers a comprehensive continuing professional education library tailored especially for accounting, tax, and financial professionals. It offers 10,000+ CPE credit hours across live webinars, on-demand webcasts, and downloadable self-study courses.

 

As a NASBA-registered, IRS-approved, and CFP Board-recognized provider, Surgent ensures its courses meet regulatory compliance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

 

Key advantages include instant certificate generation, frequent content updates for tax/regulation changes, and a Firm Portal to manage team learning and usage.

 

That mix of depth, flexibility, regulatory alignment, and administrative tools has made Surgent a go-to option for professionals who need both quality and reliability.

 

Pros:

  • Surgent CPE offers affordable subscription packages relative to many competitors, giving wide access to live webinars and on-demand content without breaking the budget.
  • Webinars are scheduled across multiple time zones, with frequent live sessions allowing flexibility and reducing need for late nights or “catch-up” viewing
  • Certificates are delivered promptly after course completion, simplifying your compliance reporting and eliminating manual follow-ups for credit submissions. 

Cons: 

  • Many self-study courses are locked behind higher-tier subscription levels, limiting flexibility for users on basic plans who may prefer self-paced learning.
  • The on-demand library is sometimes criticized as less extensive than live offerings, constraining choices for learners unable to attend scheduled webinars.
  • There is no trial or free preview, forcing users to commit without first sampling the quality or format of the content.

 

Platform Capabilities: 

  • Live Webinar Delivery with Q&A & Interaction: Surgent supports real-time webinar sessions including interactive elements, enabling learners to ask questions, engage with instructors, and benefit from real-time discussion to deepen understanding. 
  • On-Demand / Self-Study Course Library: The platform hosts hundreds of recorded webcasts, PDF-based self-study modules, and course materials learners can access anytime within their subscription term.
  • Automated Certificate Issuance & Reporting: After course completion, Surgent immediately sends certificates and tracks credits earned, helping users streamline compliance and audits.
  • Firm / Organizational Portal & Tracking Tools: For firms, Surgent provides a management interface to assign courses, view consumption metrics, and oversee staff progress via performance dashboards.
  • Topical Breadth & Timely Content Updates: Surgent maintains a wide catalog spanning accounting, tax, auditing, ethics, technology, regulatory updates, ensuring learners stay current with evolving professional standards.

4. Becker

Becker’s CPE software delivers a comprehensive continuing education platform built for accounting and finance professionals. It offers live webcasts, on-demand courses, and podcast-style lectures across more than 19 fields of study, all aligned to state and NASBA compliance standards.

 

A standout feature is its flexible subscription model: users can earn unlimited credits through tiered plans while accessing a robust compliance tracker.

 

Becker supports multiple delivery formats—self-paced modules, interactive webinars, and audio content—so learners can choose the method that fits their schedule.

 

Its built-in tracking tools help professionals maintain records, monitor credit carryovers, and ensure compliance with licensing rules. 

 

Pros:

  • Comprehensive course catalog & formats: Becker offers hundreds of on-demand courses, live webcasts, and varied formats, giving learners flexibility across topics and credit types.
  • Integrated compliance tracking: Their built-in compliance tracker helps professionals monitor state requirements, credit carryovers, and maintain audit readiness without juggling spreadsheets.
  • Polished user experience & branding: Users report a sleek UI, mobile-friendly access, and intuitive navigation, making course access and progress tracking seamless.

Cons: 

  • Higher cost relative to competitors: Becker’s premium features and brand carry a higher price tag, which may deter smaller firms or individual users with tight budgets.
  • Limited modular customization: Some users find it harder to fully customize learning paths or mix module bundles than in more modular systems.
  • Content overload & decision fatigue: With vast offerings, learners may struggle to pick courses or feel overwhelmed by the quantity rather than guided curation.

Platform Capabilities: 

  • Multi-format Content Delivery & Scheduling: Becker supports live webinars, on-demand modules, podcasts, and even state-specific “critical update” courses — enabling associations to deliver content in media learners prefer.
  • Compliance & CPE Audit Management: Tracks credit accrual by jurisdiction, enforces format limits and carryover rules, issues certificates automatically with detailed audit logs, and helps organizations maintain compliance continuity.
  • Adaptive & AI-Driven Recommendations: Becker suggests courses based on past behavior, specialization needs, and trending topics in fields like tax or auditing, tailoring the experience.
    Robust Analytics & Progress Reporting: Learners and administrators can view dashboards with completion percentages, knowledge gaps, time spent, and trend analysis to guide learning paths.
  • Integration & White-Label Capabilities: Connects to LMS, HR, AMS platforms, and supports branding control so organizations can present Becker offerings under their own visual identity.

5. Illumeo

Illumeo is a comprehensive continuing education and learning platform tailored for audit, accounting, corporate finance, and HR professionals.

 

It provides a built-in course library of thousands of self-study courses and live webinars, supports more than 25 CPE/CE credit types, and includes a compliance tracker covering all 50 U.S. states.

 

Illumeo’s strengths lie in its AI-powered course recommendations, integrated analytics, and ease of integration with HR/LMS systems—allowing organizations to manage learning paths, compliance, and reporting from one platform.

 

Pros:

  • Offers a vast, enterprise-grade CPE course library (thousands of on-demand courses, many CPE types) under one subscription.
  • Strong integration, reporting, and compliance tracking across states and designations simplifies administrator oversight.
  • AI-driven personalization, competency assessments, and learning paths help tailor training to individual skill gaps.

Cons: 

  • Live webinars may run on fixed schedules, which may not always align with busy professional calendars.
  • Platform UI or navigation can feel less polished than leading competitors, per some user feedback.
  • Overwhelming course volume might make content selection difficult without strong filtering or guidance. 

 

Platform Capabilities: 

  • Comprehensive Course Library & CPE Coverage: Illumeo offers thousands of on-demand courses, supports 25+ CPE types, covers regulation, ethics, technical domains, and offers free webinars.
  • AI-Based Assessments & Learning Paths: The platform runs assessments, benchmarks skills, then recommends tailored course plans to close gaps for each user.
    Compliance & State Tracking Tools: It tracks CPE credits by jurisdiction/designation, automates certificate issuance, and monitors audit readiness.
  • Integration & Enterprise Features: Illumeo supports SSO, HRIS/enterprise system integrations, API connections, unified reporting, and scalable deployment.
  • Interactive & Support Elements: Users can ask instructors questions (even in on-demand courses), access peer reviews, and benefit from customer support and content updates.

Choosing the Right CPE Software for Long-Term Success

Selecting the best CPE software is more than just finding a platform with tracking and certificates—it’s about choosing a long-term partner that supports compliance, scalability, and growth. The right solution should simplify credit management, automate recordkeeping, and give both administrators and learners an effortless experience.

 

As regulatory standards and learning formats continue to evolve, investing in a robust CPE platform ensures your organization stays compliant and competitive. Look for features like automated credit reporting, real-time analytics, customizable branding, and seamless webinar or LMS integration.

 

These tools don’t just streamline operations—they elevate your learner experience and strengthen your professional credibility.

 

Whether you’re an accounting firm managing multiple licenses or an individual professional pursuing continuing education independently, the right software can save countless hours and reduce compliance stress. 

 

By evaluating leading platforms like BeaconLive, Illumeo, and others, you can confidently choose a CPE system that delivers measurable results—ensuring your continuing education program remains efficient, engaging, and future-ready.

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FAQs

What is Continuing Professional Education (CPE) software?

CPE software helps professionals and organizations manage continuing education by tracking credits, automating certificates, ensuring compliance, and delivering accredited learning experiences efficiently.

How do I choose the best CPE software for my firm?

Look for CPE software with automation, analytics, multi-credit tracking, and integration with your LMS or HR systems to ensure compliance, scalability, and user-friendly reporting.

What features make CPE software stand out?

Top CPE platforms offer on-demand and live learning, NASBA compliance, automated credit reporting, customizable branding, and real-time dashboards for administrators and learners alike.

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