Your First Year of Certification: Key Deadlines

Updated Oct. 5, 2011 

Earning your CPA certificate requires so much dedication you might be inclined to sit back and relax once certified. However, it’s important not to miss key dates throughout your first year of certification. The two big dates to mark on your calendars are June 30 and December 31.

June 30:

Why is this date important?
June 30 marks the end of the BOA’s CPE reporting year. A reporting year runs from July 1 through June 30. 

How does this affect me?
Your first CPE reporting year is determined by when you receive your CPA certificate. Individuals who receive their certificate before June 30 will have a different first reporting year than individuals certified after June 30.

  • If you receive your certificate between January 1 and June 30, your first CPE year will begin July 1 of that year.
  • If you receive your certificate between July 1 and December 31, your first CPE year starts July of the next year. 

December 31:

Why is this date important?
December 31 marks the end of the BOA’s certificate year. A certificate year runs from Jan. 1 through 
December 31. 

How does this affect me?
Your initial CPA certificate is only good through 
December 31 of that year. Whether you choose to remain active or go inactive, you will need to renew your CPA certificate with the Minnesota Board of Accountancy (BOA) by December 31. You will then be placed in the BOA’s three year certificate renewal cycle based on the first letter of your last name.

    Key 2011 dates based on date certificate was received:

  I received my certificate between Jan. 1 - June 30, 2011         I received my certificate between July 1 - Dec. 31, 2011
First CPE year starts: July 1, 2011 July 1, 2012
Minimum 20 CPE hours needed by: June 30, 2012 June 30, 2013
Renew CPA certificate by: Dec. 31, 2011 Dec. 31, 2011

Certificate renewal and CPE reporting beyond 2010

If you were certified anytime in 2011, you must renew your CPA certificate by December 31, 2011.

After that first renewal, you will be placed into the BOA’s three year renewal cycle. Because this cycle is based on the first letter of your last name, you will be required to renew your certificate again in one, two, or three years depending on where you fall in the cycle.

This chart illustrates when you will next renew your certificate following this Dec. 31, 2011.

Last name begins with: Next certifcate renewal date:
A - H Dec. 31, 2012
I - P Dec. 31, 2014
Q - Z Dec. 31, 2013

The CPE reporting year is July 1 - June 30. Following the initial certification year, active CPAs will report their CPE to the BOA between July 1-31 if they did not renew their certificates the previous December.


Want to learn more about certificate renewal?

We’ve broken down the details on the BOA’s renewal cycle so it’s easier to understand. View the complete three-year renewal cycle chart and find links to important BOA renewal forms.

Have questions about your certificate?

The Minnesota Board of Accountancy certifies all CPAs in this state. Direct questions regarding your certificate to the BOA at 651-296-7938.

BOA contact information

Minnesota Board of Accountancy
85 E. 7th Place, Suite 125
St. Paul, MN 55101-2143
Phone: 651-296-7938
Fax: 651-282-2644
www.boa.state.mn.us