CPE Policies
At MTCPA, we strive to ensure our Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs meet the highest standards and support your professional growth. This page provides detailed information about our CPE policies, including registration, cancellation, attendance, credit reporting, pricing, and other important guidelines.
Whether you’re new to our programs or a long-time participant, we encourage you to review these policies to make the most of your CPE experience. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Cancellation and Transfer Policy:
- Two weeks prior to the course: No fee
- 10 days to 6 business days prior: $25 fee
- 5 business days prior: $50 fee
- Day of the course or no-shows: Full registration fee forfeited
This policy also applies to transfers between live and virtual classes. Fees may be waived in cases of emergency, defined as sudden, unexpected events requiring immediate action due to potential threats to health, safety, the environment, or property.
All registrations must be submitted at least 21 business days before the course. If a course is canceled due to low enrollment, all fees will be refunded in full.
To receive a Certificate of Attendance for proof of CPE credit, participants must sign-in and sign-out with the on-site representative at each event. Each participant will receive a link to the Certificate of Attendance via email within 10 business days after the event.
These certificates are held in your MTCPA portal account to review at any time.
Please note: If no signature appears on the sign-in/out sheet, MTCPA is unable to verify your attendance.
Please keep in mind that content (both written manuals and the presentations) are copyrighted and only for the use of the individual who purchases the course. If you are interested in including others in watching an online event, please let us know and we can walk you through the appropriate way to accomplish this.
- Seminars/Conferences: Registration opens 30 minutes before the start time.
- Full-Day Class: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (1-hour lunch)
- Half-Day Class: 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lunch is provided for all classes. Some may opt for a 30-minute lunch, allowing the class to end at 3:30 p.m.
Special course hours will be listed on individual class descriptions.
All course materials are now electronic only – no printed copy will be available.
You can download the materials up to 5 business days before the class and for up to 30 days after the course.
Access your materials through your portal account here.
AICPA Discount
Members of the AICPA are eligible for an additional $30 discount on full day AICPA courses (unless otherwise noted). Some classes may have different pricing as noted in registration.
Early Bird Discount
A discount is often given for registrations received at least 21 days prior to the course date.
- 4 hour class – save $25
- 8 hour class – save $50
- 12 hour class – save $75
- 16 hour class – save $100
This discount is automatically applied at checkout. Subject to change per event.
Group Discount
Groups of 6 or more can receive a discount of $50 off per person for a full-day class or conference. Please contact us if you'd like to take advantage of this group discount.
[This discount is not valid for the Annual Conference]
In order to receive IRS CE as a tax professional/enrolled agent, please request this after your event registration by emailing us your PTIN number to info@montana.cpa.
- The registration table opens 30 minutes before the class starts.
- CPE credit is awarded only for the time the instructor is presenting.
- All attendees must sign in and out, noting their arrival and departure times. CPE credits are calculated based on a 50-minute hour.
- MTCPA staff or the course administrator will monitor the sign-in sheets.
- Attendees arriving more than 10 minutes late must record their arrival time and sign the sheet.
- Unscheduled breaks longer than 10 minutes should be noted on the sign-in sheet as an absence from the classroom.
- Attendees leaving early must record their departure time and sign the sheet.
Attendance records will be reconciled, and any time missed will reduce the total CPE credits issued.
All MTCPA live classes and chapter events will manually uploaded by MTCPA to NASBA cpeauditservice. You will need to upload CPE not taken from us - such as the webinars listed on our site which are from other providers.
Full payment is required with your registration. You may guarantee your registration with Discover, VISA, MasterCard, or American Express. If a course reaches maximum capacity, only those with guaranteed registrations will be admitted. All fees must be paid by the morning of the event.
Standard Pricing
- Pricing for each course or conference may vary, but MTCPA is committed to offering fair pricing for both members and non-members.
- Virtual and Live in-person CPE courses and conferences are priced the same. There is no price difference between attending virtually or on-site.
Reasoning Behind Standard Pricing:
Equal Value & Content:
- Whether attending virtually or in-person, participants receive the same high-quality education, expert instruction, and materials. Both formats provide equivalent access to course content and resources, ensuring a consistent learning experience.
Interactive Experience:
- Virtual attendees benefit from real-time interaction with instructors, access to Q&A sessions, and participation in group discussions—features that are also available to in-person participants. Both formats encourage active engagement.
Technology & Administrative Costs:
- Offering virtual courses requires substantial investment in technology, webinar platforms, and technical support. These expenses, along with administrative costs, are similar to those incurred for in-person events (venue rentals, on-site logistics, etc.).
Flexibility & Accessibility:
- Standard pricing allows participants to choose the format that best suits their needs—whether for convenience, location, or personal preference—without concern over pricing differences. It promotes flexibility and accessibility for all members.
This policy ensures that all participants receive equal value, regardless of how they choose to attend, while maintaining fairness in pricing and cost structure.
A confirmation email will be sent within 6 hours of processing your registration. If we do not have your email on file, or if you've opted out of receiving emails from MTCPA, you can request to have the confirmation mailed to you.
- Zoom details will be emailed 1-3 days before the event (check your Spam if you don't see it).
- You can also access the webinar via the "Launch Event" button in your portal: https://www.montana.cpa/my-cpe/upcoming
- Download materials through your portal: https://www.montana.cpa/my-cpe > My Materials
- The Zoom link opens 30 minutes before the class starts. Log in using your full name.
- Polls will appear every 10-15 minutes (State Board requirement) – you’ll have 1 minute to respond.
- Use Q&A for questions to the presenter and Chat for general inquiries.
- An evaluation link will be emailed at the end—complete it within a week for CPE credit.
If you are attending a virtual event as a group, ensure that all attendees are registered before the event. This guarantees timely receipt of CPE certificates.
The group member who is logged in to view the webinar must respond to all attendance prompts that appear during the presentation by clicking the appropriate button.
For attendees not directly signed in via the event platform, an additional form of verification is required to award CPE credits. Please provide a scanned document that includes:
- The name and date of the event
- Printed names of all attendees, along with their signatures or initials
To assist you, MTCPA has prepared printable sign-in sheets for your use:
Fillable Form / Regular Form
Please send a scan of the completed sign-in sheet to info@montana.cpa.