This page will answer most questions you may have. If your question isn't covered here, please email your question to us.

The Questions:

Who is Accountants Education Group?

What is self-study CPE?

What is the NASBA Registry of CPE Sponsors and the QAS?

How are Recommended CPE Credit Hours determined?

Are your courses accepted in my state?

How are the courses presented?

How do I order?

Is it safe to order online?

What are Additional Exams Only?

How are the course materials shipped?

Can I check on the status of my order?

How long do I have to complete the course?

How does grading work?

What is Personal Express Service?

Is there a return policy?

The Answers:

Who is Accountants Education Group?

Accountants Education Group is a provider of high quality self-study continuing professional education for Certified Public Accountants. AEG is a company owned and operated by CPAs. We have been recognized as a leader in the field of self-study CPE since 1988. We are committed to providing complete, accurate, and up-to-date education materials for CPAs.

Accountants Education Group is proud to be among the first CPE providers accepted to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Registry of CPE Sponsors and the first to qualify for NASBA's Quality Assurance Service (QAS) program. All of our courses are developed in accordance with guidelines established by NASBA and the AICPA.

Questions can be directed to our staff of CPAs and phone operators who will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

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What is self-study CPE?

All of our courses are presented in the self-study instructional delivery method.  This includes textbook courses as well as online internet courses.

Self-study CPE courses are correspondence programs. You are provided with course materials (textbooks or online materials) which you can study on your own time. We offer a wide variety of subjects so that you can select a topic that will enhance your professional competence in the best manner that makes sense for you. Because there is no specific classroom time, the self-study CPE participant must complete and pass an open-book multiple choice exam that ensures that the appropriate time was dedicated to the course and that an appropriate amount of comprehension was obtained.  None of our courses require any advance preparation prior to taking the course.

Advantages of Self-study Continuing Professional Education

• Save time and money - Our courses are typically far less expensive than seminar fees (and other self-study providers). But that’s only part of the story. Seminars usually involve expenses for travel, hotel, and meals, and they are generally inconvenient. Our courses are delivered to your door.
• Wide variety of topics - You can select from over 80 topics which are available when you want them. You do not have to wait for a traveling seminar to come to your town.
• Study at your convenience - Unlike a seminar which forces you to take time out of your busy schedule, a self-study course can be completed when it is convenient for you. You can participate in a self-study course one hour per day, one chapter per day, during lunch, at night, on weekends, at work, at home, at a park; whenever, and wherever you have the time.
• Study at your pace - You can complete a self-study course at a pace that allows you to really learn the subject. Seminars are taught at the instructors pace. Topics are passed over quickly, so the seminar will end before rush hour begins. Our self-study courses allow you to reread a section, or review an example if it doesn't make complete sense the first time.

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What are the NASBA Registry of CPE Sponsors and the NASBA Quality Assurance Service (QAS)?

NASBA Registry

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)  established the National Registry of CPE Sponsors in order to assist the various state boards in assessing the qualifications of continuing education courses and CPE sponsors. Registry members agree to adhere to NASBA's standards for program development, presentation, measurement, and reporting. The accounting profession benefits from the Registry because it requires a high level of quality of CPE. Accountants Education Group is proud to be among the first accepted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

Accountants Education Group is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219-2417.  Web site:  www.nasba.org  

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NASBA Quality Assurance Service

NASBA established the Quality Assurance Service (QAS) program in response to requests by state boards to improve the quality of continuing education.  QAS standards require the highest level of quality control in preparing CPE.  Currently, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, and Tennessee CPAs must obtain their self-study CPE from QAS sponsors.  Accountants Education Group is proud to be the first accepted to the QAS program.

Accountants Education Group is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a Quality Assurance Service sponsor of continuing professional education. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219-2417. Telephone: 615.880.4200. Web site:  www.nasba.org 

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Our courses are all formal self-study courses developed in accordance with the "Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs" as issued jointly by the AICPA and the NASBA.

Correspondence programs qualify as acceptable continuing professional education programs in the State of Louisiana provided they meet the requirements outlined in Chapter 7 of the State Board’s Rules and Regulations.

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How are Recommended CPE Credit Hours determined?

In accordance with the "Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs" as established by the AICPA and NASBA, CPE credit for our self-study courses is granted to participants based on the average time of completion.

Note that your state board is the final authority for the number of credit hours allowed for a particular program as well as the classification of courses under their specific licensing requirements. CPE requirements vary from state to state. Contact your State Board of Accountancy for information concerning your state's requirements as to the number of CPE credit hours which you must earn, and the acceptable fields of study.

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Are your courses accepted in my state?

Our courses are all formal self-study courses developed in accordance with the "Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs" as established by the AICPA and the NASBA. This ensures that our courses will be accepted nationwide for CPE credit. CPE credit has been awarded in all 50 states and Washington, DC.  (Florida, Minnesota, Oregon and Tennessee CPAs see below.)

Our NASBA Registry Sponsor Number is 103002.

Certain states have formal sponsorship numbers that they assign to their sponsors. Our sponsorship number for these states are:

Most states do not assign formal sponsorship numbers to their sponsors. These states will accept CPE credit obtained from Accountants Education Group courses. States that do not assign formal sponsorship numbers are:

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Florida, Minnesota, Oregon and Tennessee CPAs

Florida, Minnesota, Oregon and Tennessee CPAs are required to take self-study CPE from a sponsor that is QAS certified.  

QAS is NASBA’s Quality Assurance Service program.  Accountants Education Group is a certified QAS sponsor.  All of our courses comply with the requirements of QAS.

Our NASBA QAS Sponsor Number is 001.

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Other AEG Sponsorships: The Institute of Certified Management Accountants has determined that our courses have been designed to fulfill the continuing education requirements of CMAs. The Internal Revenue Service has determined that our programs qualify for continuing professional education for Enrolled Agents (Sponsor #33). AEG courses have been approved for CPE by the Accreditation Council for Accounting and Taxation.

In general, most states will accept CPE credit as long as the course subject enhances the participant's professional competence and meets the requirements of the AICPA/NASBA Statement on Standards for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Programs. Your State Board is the final authority on the acceptance of particular courses for CPE credit. Some states will not accept certain subjects for CPE credit. We have noted any known state objections in the individual course description in the Course Offerings section.

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How are the courses presented?

All of our correspondence courses are in textbook format (except for the Online Ethics Series). At AEG, we believe this is the best medium in which to learn the material. (How much can you really learn by listening to a tape while driving in rush hour traffic and talking on a cell phone?)

All of our courses are authored by CPAs that are experts in the particular field of study that they are teaching in their course. The texts are written exclusively for AEG (and therefore you, our customers) and are produced solely for continuing professional education purposes.

We offer courses in seven subject series:

• Computer Series
• Taxation Series
• Audit and Accounting Series
• Estate Planning Series
• Specialized Business Series
• Management Series
• Online Ethics Series

None of our courses require any advance preparation.  Please see the individual course descriptions for prerequisites.  Each course contains a multiple choice exam that must be satisfactorily completed prior to CPE credit being awarded and a Certificate of Completion being provided. Successful completion of a course requires that a grade of at least 70% be obtained on the exam.

Most courses in the Computer Series include a disk that contains some exercises on it. These courses are designed to be hands-on courses. You will spend as much or more time on the computer as you will reading the text for these courses. You are required to have the appropriate version of the software that the course pertains to in order to complete the course. The software is not included with the courses.

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How do I order?

You have several choices on how to place an order. You can select the option that is most convenient for you. You can order online, by telephone, or by fax with a credit card. You can also mail your order with a credit card number or a check or money order.

We accept:

All orders received by 2:00 p.m. Central Time will be shipped out that day.

Order Online

Order online 24 hours a day.

Our Place an Order page will direct you through the process of placing an order online. Simply select the desired course(s) and enter the appropriate information into the designated places. You can review items on your order form prior to submitting your order.

You can review detailed information about a particular course in the Course Offerings section prior to making a selection.

All of your personal information entered into this site is secure and cannot be obtained by anyone else.

Order by Telephone

You can order by telephone toll free at 800-627-7310. Orders can be placed Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Central Time.

Order by Fax

Order by fax 24 hours a day. Our fax number is 800-620-0134.

You can select your courses online in our Place an Order section. Then you can print out the order form and add your personal information. Then fax the order form to us.

Order by Mail

You can mail your order to us.

Our address is:
Accountants Education Group
8144 Walnut Hill Lane
Suite 780
Dallas, TX 75231-9879

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Is it safe to order online?

Your personal information is transmitted to a secure server. Your information is encrypted and cannot be retrieved by anyone other than Accountants Education Group.

Accountants Education Group will never sell, or give your personal information, including credit card information, name, address, or email address to anyone or any organization.

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What are Additional Exams Only?

Additional Exams Only can be purchased by persons who want to share the course materials with coworkers or friends. You must purchase, or already have, at least one copy of the course materials for an additional exam to have any value. This is a great way to save money for those CPAs who can share the course materials.

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How are the course materials shipped?

All orders are shipped by UPS. Therefore, we must have a physical address for shipping - we cannot ship to a P.O. Box.  Orders received by 2:00 p.m. Central Time are shipped that same day. Orders received after that time are shipped the next business day.

UPS ground transportation is used unless you specify otherwise. You can have your order shipped next-day or second-day air for an additional fee. Typical UPS ground delivery to the Central U.S. will take 1 to 4 business days. Typical UPS ground delivery to the Eastern U.S. or the Western U.S. will take 3 to 5 business days. Orders shipped to Hawaii or Alaska must be via UPS air.

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Can I check on the status of my order?

Our Customer Service page can be used to check on the status of your order. Enter your Customer Number and Last Name in the appropriate boxes and your account information will be displayed.

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How long do I have to complete the course?

Courses must be completed for CPE credit within one year of the date of purchase. Our courses are updated at least annually, and sometimes more often. Therefore, courses submitted for credit after one year from the purchase date will be outdated and no longer valid.

If you have a course that is older than one year from the date of purchase, you should call us at 800-627-7310. If the course is outdated, you can pay a restocking fee of $30.00 to obtain the current version of the course.

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How does grading work?

To verify that you have spent the appropriate amount of time, and learned an appropriate amount of knowledge, for a self-study course, you are required to complete an exam for that course. You must receive a passing grade of at least 70% on most courses before CPE credit and a Certificate of Completion will be awarded. Each of our courses contains an open-book multiple choice exam for this purpose.

After you have completed studying the course materials, you should complete the exam. There is also a course evaluation form that must be completed.

Return the exam answer sheet and evaluation form to us at:

Accountants Education Group
Grading Department
8144 Walnut Hill Lane
Suite 780
Dallas, TX 75231-9879

You may also fax your exam results to us at 800-620-0134.

The grading process typically takes two business days from the day that we receive your exam. We offer a Personal Express Service if you need an exam graded faster. Once an exam has been graded and the participant has obtained the required passing grade, a Certificate of Completion will be mailed to the CPA.

The date of completion that is awarded on a Certificate of Completion is the date that you complete the course as indicated by you on your answer sheet. However, we must receive your answer sheet within a reasonable time period (two weeks) after you complete the course. If we do not receive your answer sheet within a reasonable time from the indicated date of completion, we will award a Certificate of Completion with the date that we received the exam results.

If you do not satisfactorily pass an exam, you may retake it free of charge. We will provide to you a new answer sheet so that you can retake the exam. Once the exam has been satisfactorily completed, the date of completion reported on the Certificate of Completion will be the date of completion indicated on the original answer sheet.

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What is Personal Express Service?

We provide a Personal Express Service for CPAs that need to obtain their exam results quickly. We can grade your exam the same day we receive it. Call us at 800-627-7310 to arrange for this service.

Fax your exam results to the attention of the Personal Express Service Department at 800-620-0134 before 12:00 p.m. Central Time. Your exam will be promptly graded and you will receive a pass/fail status phone call that same day. The fee for this service is $25 per exam.

You will also receive a copy of the Certificate of Completion faxed to you the same day.

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Is there a return policy?

We strive to provide up-to-date, quality CPE course materials. However, if for any reason you are not completely satisfied with a course, you may return it within 30 days from the date of purchase for a full refund of the purchase price, excluding shipping charges.

Return the course with a copy of the invoice to our Return Department at:

Accountants Education Group
Return Department
8144 Walnut Hill Lane
Suite 780
Dallas, TX 75231-9879

If you want to return a course after 30 days from the date of purchase, you may exchange the course for any other course of equal value. Return the course to our Return Department with a note indicating which course you would like in exchange for the returned course.

After one year from the date of purchase, a course will not be acceptable for CPE credit. If you have a course that is more than one year old from the date of purchase, call us at 800-627-7310.  You may receive a current version of the course for a $30 restocking fee (plus shipping charges).

For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints and refunds, please contact our office at 800-627-7310.

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