On-Line CE

[Black Bart]

Deloitte and APlus CPE

Deloitte CPE for EA's?

The boilerplate on the Deloitte website http://www.deloitte.com/us/dbriefs/cpe says they are registered to grant CPE credit by the NASBA, but does not say that they are on the IRS list of CPE grantors. So it looks like the CPE is valid for CPAs, but not for EAs. Which doesn't mean that we can't still watch and learn.

I took a one-hour Deloitte online course -- free and easy as pie. No test; just had to answer three or four poll questions at 15 minute intervals (all answers are considered correct). I didn't know that it's no good for EAs; I just assumed that NASBA stuff for CPAs was okay with IRS.

In a reversed situation, I took a 4-hour APlusCPE online tax course for $15.95 which boldly stated it was valid for EAs, but after taking the course I got to looking for their NASBA number, couldn't find it, called, they weren't registered with NASBA (but they expected to be in a year or so).

So...you have to read the fine print on all these guys.

[AZ-Tax]

Polling Words or Polling Question...IRS approval letters

I took a one-hour Deloitte online course -- free and easy as pie. No test; just had to answer three or four poll questions at 15 minute intervals (all answers are considered correct). I didn't know that it's no good for EAs; I just assumed that NASBA stuff for CPAs was okay with IRS.

In a reversed situation, I took a 4-hour APlusCPE online tax course for $15.95 which boldly stated it was valid for EAs, but after taking the course I got to looking for their NASBA number, couldn't find it, called, they weren't registered with NASBA (but they expected to be in a year or so).

So...you have to read the fine print on all these guys.

I have been considering the Surgent Webinar which I believe is what you are referring to Black Bart. Surgent's CE's in an email writes: "there are "polling words" 4 per credit hour". Email did not mention polling questions but if all answers are considered correct, not much difference. Either way its some type of attempt to make us watch it. Its my understanding except for the Webinar, all other forms of CE (continuing ed) credits have an exam involved.

Many of these CE credits sponsor dont post their IRS approval letter like Surgent but they will email to you.

[Black Bart]

I'm

I have been considering the Surgent Webinar which I believe is what you are referring to Black Bart. Surgent's CE's in an email writes: "there are "polling words" 4 per credit hour". Email did not mention polling questions but if all answers are considered correct, not much difference. Either way its some type of attempt to make us watch it. Its my understanding except for the Webinar, all other forms of CE (continuing ed) credits have an exam involved....

not sure if I'm understanding you in regard to courses with/without exams. While my free Deloitte course DID NOT have a graded exam and only asked for opinions, the APlusCPE course (4 hrs.-$15.95) DID have a graded exam (fairly difficult too). This is a different company from the Surgent Webinar you mention.

I just now checked Surgent's website and they're advertising "NO EXAMS". The catch is that 8 hours costs $250 for a "sure thing" (which would be nice, but it's too steep for me).

[AZ-Tax]

Try This Surgent Link

not sure if I'm understanding you in regard to courses with/without exams. While my free Deloitte course DID NOT have a graded exam and only asked for opinions, the APlusCPE course (4 hrs.-$15.95) DID have a graded exam (fairly difficult too). This is a different company from the Surgent Webinar you mention.

I just now checked Surgent's website and they're advertising "NO EXAMS". The catch is that 8 hours costs $250 for a "sure thing" (which would be nice, but it's too steep for me).

http://www.rtrpeducation.com/FAQEA.cfm

Go to: Do Surgent’s CE courses for RTRPs also qualify for CE for Enrolled Agents? at bottom of page. Then click on "please click here". Should open window then select "15-hour Webinar Package". 15 hours of Webinar (no exams just polling words so that is what I was told) for $149 but I was told if you miss the Webinar, you can watch same course as Webcast with an exam.

[MRPLOW]

Using Surgent webinar right now. My first time doing online CE, have done classroom for other licenses.
Seems to work great, and surprisingly works on my home computer which doesn't have the greatest internet speed.

No exams, just answer the polling question 4 times per hour. You listen and their is also a powerpoint presentation going on at the same time. You can muti-task a little if you want and pay more attention to topics that you need to brush up on.

Was $150, and they email you a certificate after each class is completed. 2 thumbs up from me for the whole process.

[JohnH]

Hey!
Stop fooling around on the computer - you need to pay attention to your instructor!

[AZ-Tax]

Surgent, geared more for RTRP's vs EA's

Using Surgent webinar right now. My first time doing online CE, have done classroom for other licenses.
Seems to work great, and surprisingly works on my home computer which doesn't have the greatest internet speed.

No exams, just answer the polling question 4 times per hour. You listen and their is also a powerpoint presentation going on at the same time. You can muti-task a little if you want and pay more attention to topics that you need to brush up on.

Was $150, and they email you a certificate after each class is completed. 2 thumbs up from me for the whole process.

I also purchased the $149/15 CPE program but this is really geared for RTRP's vs. EA's though after contacting Surgent, Surgent tells me it's also approved for EA's and that was backed up with a copy of their IRS approval letter. This is the first CPE course I took and yes it was rather easy by sitting and watching the webinar vs. the exams that I have to take annually with my Broker Dealer's Firm element Cont Ed. One of the benefits I liked about Surgent is they offer the same course several times in Nov & Dec including Saturdays which I utilized. I would like to see Surgent and other CPE providers offer a package 24 CPE's of Webinars for a low price but the deterent I see is the RTRP's will most likely outnumber the EA's by a wide margin and may not be a profitable for the providers. I am a member of the NATP and found out the other day I can take another Ethics course as long as the course is not the same Ethics course I took a couple weeks ago.

[taxxcpa]

Free CPE

The above link works fine, but the one I prefer is: http://www.usdbriefs.com/calendar/thyme/thyme/index.php

It's in "calendar" format. Both work, and you can access either one from the other ... or others.

I registered but the browser I was using had ad blocking so I was unable to get into the presentation the other day. I discovered later that I COULD access it using a different browser (IE or Opera). I plan to view the presentations Sept 4th and 5th. Since I already have 44 hours CPE this year, this will be over-kill but I don't mind a few extra hours.