Purpose

The purpose of the compliance audit is to confirm the responses provided to NASBA during the most recently submitted self-certification renewal. The compliance audit is designed to confirm that Registry sponsors continue to adhere to the Statement on Standards for CPE Programs (Standards) in developing, presenting, measuring and reporting of CPE programs.

NASBA’s approach to acceptance on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors is corrective in nature. We work with CPE program sponsors during the initial application process so that all program materials and supporting documentation of the program submitted with the application comply with the Standards.  Similarly, in the compliance audit review, we identify areas of non-compliance and provide those findings to sponsors along with corrective actions to ensure the sponsor knows what must be done to adhere to the Standards going forward.  A sponsor does not fail a compliance audit unless matters are identified that are so significant to potentially impact the CPA when reporting CPE credits to a respective Board of Accountancy in satisfaction of requirements to maintain licensure.

Process

  • The main contact of the organization will receive an email notification that your organization has been randomly selected for compliance audit. You will be required to acknowledge the notification and submit your program list for the period under audit. Your audit period will be specified for you in the email as well as the audit acknowledgement form. The audit acknowledgement form must be submitted along with the appropriate program list within one (1) week of receipt of the audit notice.
  • NASBA will select one program for each approved delivery method from the submitted program list. A second email will be sent to the main contact to indicate the specific programs selected for audit and will include the link to the audit form. You will upload the supporting documentation for the selected program(s) to the audit form. The audit form must be submitted within two (2) weeks of the email notice of the program(s) selection.
  • Failure to comply with the audit request and/or failure to respond to questions during the audit process in a timely manner will result in removal of your organization from the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.
  • All submitted documentation will be reviewed for compliance with the Statement on Standards for CPE Programs (Standards). Once the review is complete, you will receive an email with an audit report indicating the outcome of the audit. The required submitted documentation for the selected program for each delivery method are:


  • Program materials
  • Documentation of element(s) of engagement
  • Written documentation of attendance monitoring procedure(s)
  • Attendance monitoring supporting documentation
  • Instructor/program author biography or credentials
  • Reviewer biography or credentials
  • Promotional materials
  • Submitted participant evaluation form or summary of evaluation form results
  • An issued certificate of completion


  • Date/time/login information for upcoming live webinars. NASBA will review an upcoming live webinar for content, technical accuracy and existence of attendance monitoring mechanisms.
  • Written description of monitoring mechanism(s) used to track active participant engagement during the program.
  • Supporting documentation to evidence the monitoring mechanism(s) employed by participant
  • Instructor/program author biography or credentials
  • Reviewer biography or credentials
  • Promotional materials
  • Submitted participant evaluation form or summary of evaluation form results
  • An issued certificate of completion


  • Completion verification supporting documentation
  • An issued certificate of completion
  • Program list of dates and location of program offerings
  • Documentation of participant of engagement
  • Written documentation of attendance monitoring procedure(s)
  • Instructor/program author biography or credentials
  • Content reviewer biography or credentials
  • Submitted participant evaluation form or summary of evaluation form results
  • Descriptive/Promotional materials
  • Program materials

 


  • Login/password for on-line programs
  • Written description of the qualified assessment grading policy
  • Copy of the qualified assessment questions and answer key
  • Documentation that the qualified assessment measures no less than 75% of the learning objectives
  • Copy of the review questions and feedback
  • Documentation of the methodology used to determine the CPE credits for the program. Refer to Standard No. 17.
  • Program author biography or credentials
  • Reviewer biography or credentials
  • Promotional materials
  • Submitted participant evaluation form or summary of evaluation form results
  • An issued certificate of completion


  • Course instructions summarizing course components and completion requirements
  • Login/password for on-line programs
  • Program materials, including any pre-program, post-program and homework assignments
  • Documentation that homework and pre/post-program assignments do not constitute more than 25% of total CPE credits (for primary group program)
  • Documentation detailing how the CPE credits are determined for the program
  • Instructor/program author biography or credentials
  • Reviewer biography or credentials
  • Promotional materials
  • Submitted participant evaluation form or summary of evaluation form results
  • An issued certificate of completion


  • Login/password for on-line programs
  • Written description of the qualified assessment grading policy
  • Copy of the qualified assessment questions and answer key
  • Copy of the review questions and feedback, if any
  • Documentation of CPE credit confirmation using Method 2 in Standard No. 17-07.
  • Program author biography or credentials
  • Reviewer biography or credentials
  • Promotional materials
  • Submitted participant evaluation form or summary of evaluation form results
  • An issued certificate of completion

Audit Outcome

Audit Passed - No Deficiencies Noted

Congratulations!! You will receive an email with an audit report indicating that no areas of non-compliance with the Standards were noted and the compliance audit is considered closed.

Audit Passed - Minor Deficiencies Noted

You will receive an email with the audit report indicating the compliance audit was passed; however, instances of non-compliance with the Standards were noted. Attached to the audit report is a report of findings to detail the items of non-compliance. The report of findings will include corrective actions to ensure you know what must be done in order to adhere to the Standards going forward. Please take the time to fully read the report of findings and take the appropriate actions to correct those identified deficiencies as soon as possible.

NASBA does not require additional documentation from you and the compliance audit is considered closed.

Audit Failed - Significant Deficiencies Noted

A failed compliance audit results when matters are identified that are so significant to potentially impact the CPA when reporting CPE credits to a respective Board of Accountancy in satisfaction of requirements to maintain licensure.

If your organization fails the compliance audit, you will receive an email with the audit report indicating that instances of non-compliance with the Standards were noted. Attached to the audit report is a report of findings to detail the items of non-compliance. The report of findings will include suggested corrective actions. A failed compliance audit will require the submission of a written corrective action plan that adequately addresses all deficiencies and findings in the audit report within 30 days of receipt of the audit report.

The written corrective action will be reviewed by NASBA. If the submitted corrective action plan is deemed adequate by NASBA, you will receive an acceptance letter from NASBA. If additional modifications are required, you will be contacted by NASBA.

Once the written corrective action plan has been accepted by NASBA, the audit is considered closed.

Failure of a follow-up audit will result in immediate removal from the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

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