Becker CPE
Pro
Con
Verdict
Becker CPE offers a strong course catalog and a large number of webinars, along with micro-certifications and a compliance monitor for all users. They also have one of the best mobile platforms we’ve seen. Downsides are that the packages are rather pricey if you want an annual subscription, though if you’re willing to commit to 3 years you can get a pretty good deal. While they offer micro-certifications, they cost separately (prices range from $279 to $689). There are no course reviews and no way to communicate with instructors if you have questions, though they do offer instructor bios and free course demos.
Intro
Becker CPE offers a variety of on-demand courses, live webinars, and micro-certifications for a reasonable (if a little high) annual fee.
Courses/CPE – Solid
The platform currently has more than 550 on-demand courses available, including more than 50 ethics courses (some of which do meet state-specific requirements). Courses seem to be only available in one format, which looks to be repurposed webinars. You can download the slide decks, though that won’t provide you with all information. The review is part of the course, so there’s no skipping ahead to the final exam. Quizzes are graded immediately, so you get access to your certificates right away after completing a course. Webinars are offered one to two times a week with a good variety. They offer CPE for CPA, CMA, USMLE, NCLEX, and EA certifications.
Platform/Features – Good
Becker CPE has a decent course platform. Not the prettiest, but it’s easy to use. The courses are consistent if a little stagnant, but the mobile platform for taking courses is one of the best we’ve seen. Taking courses from your mobile device is a breeze. There appear to be no ratings and reviews, so you can’t see what others have thought about a course before you decide to take it. We also couldn’t find any firm/corporate user reviews on vetted 3rd party platforms like Capterra. They also offer a free compliance tracker for all users, making it easy to track the CPE you’ve earned with them as well as other platforms. They do offer a handful of micro-certifications on topics like Microsoft Excel and AICPA certificates.
UX - Superior
Becker CPE’s user experience is basic but effective. Finding courses is easy with multiple sorting options, including topic, length, and instructor (though, oddly enough, not by price). It’s easy to find the courses you are enrolled in, as well as to pull your certificates and track your CPE for the year. The website and course platform are very mobile-friendly, a useful thing for CPAs on the go. The user dashboard is also easy to use, though we might like to see a bit more information on the home page. Also, the language used on the site is a bit confusing with Becker CPE choosing to call certificates “Accomplishments”.
Cost - Middle of the road
Like most platforms, individual courses are available a la carte. Courses run from ~$29-$350, depending on the number of credits each course offers. There are 7 different packages available, but all packages do include the CPE Compliance Tracker. If you’re only interested in on-demand courses, you can buy an annual subscription for $299, a two-year subscription for $559, and a three-year subscription for $799. These appear to include all on-demand courses, including ethics courses (but no micro-certifications). If you’re only interested in webinars, you can buy an annual subscription for $299 and get access to all Becker-branded webcasts both live and rebroadcasts. If you’d like both on-demand courses and webinars, you can get an annual subscription for $399, a two-year subscription for $759, and a three-year subscription for $989. These appear to include all on-demand courses, including ethics courses (but no micro-certifications) and all Becker-branded webcasts both live and rebroadcasts.
Team/Firm Capability – Unclear
The platform seems to offer partner options to firms, government entities, and educational institutions, but it’s difficult to find out what they actually offer. They appear to offer discounts and firm tracking options, but we were not able to confirm. It’s also unclear if they offer additional features like custom company courses, custom user groups, LMS integration, SSO (single sign-on), or creation and calendaring of internal CPE.
Summary
Becker CPE is a solid choice for individuals looking for CPE on the go, as their mobile platform is so effective. A well-known name to those who have taken the CPA exam, Becker offers more than 550 on-demand courses, including more than 50 ethics options. It’s no surprise that while they offer a solid variety, they seem to focus on accounting and auditing courses. The price for this platform is reasonable, especially if you’re willing to commit for three years, especially since everyone gets access to the CPE Compliance Tracker. However, the lack of course ratings and reviews and no contact with instructors is disappointing.
