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California tax preparer education

Complete Your 20-Hour CTEC Continuing Education Online

Choose qualifying online courses from the available catalog to satisfy the annual 20-hour CTEC requirement, including federal tax law, federal tax update, ethics, and California tax law. The $49.95 All-Access Pass lets you select the CTEC and IRS-approved courses that fit your needs.

View the $49.95 Pass View CTEC Courses

Annual renewal education

What are the CTEC continuing education requirements?

CTEC-registered tax preparers must complete 20 hours of continuing education each year. The education is divided among four required subject areas.

10 hours of federal tax law
3 hours of federal tax law updates
2 hours of ethics
5 hours of California tax law

CTEC registrations are renewed annually by October 31. Review the official CTEC registration requirements for complete registration, bond, and PTIN details.

Approved online education

Choose your 2026 CTEC courses

Open a course to review its details, credit hours, current approval information, and individual price.

2 hours required

Ethics

Complete the professional ethics portion of your annual CTEC continuing education.

3 hours required

Federal Tax Law Updates

Review current federal tax law changes that apply to the annual update requirement.

5 hours required

California Tax Law

Meet the California-specific tax law portion of your CTEC renewal education.

10 hours required

Federal Tax Law

Complete the federal tax law education required for annual CTEC renewal.

Simple and self-paced

How online CTEC courses work

1

Choose your courses

Purchase courses individually or choose the All-Access Pass, then select qualifying courses from the available catalog.

2

Study and take the exam

Review the course material, use the practice questions, and complete the final exam online.

3

Receive your certificate

After passing, access your completion certificate through your Tax Courses Online account.

4

Credits are reported

Completed course credits are reported electronically to CTEC on our reporting schedule. Reporting is not instantaneous.

Helpful answers

Common CTEC course questions

Can I complete all 20 hours online?

Yes. The courses on this page cover the four subject areas that make up the annual 20-hour CTEC continuing education requirement.

Can I retake a final exam?

Yes. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you may retake the exam until you earn a passing score of 70% or higher.

When are completed credits reported?

Reporting is handled electronically on our regular reporting schedule rather than immediately when an exam is completed.

Who created Tax Courses Online?

Tax preparers created the site specifically to make continuing education easier for other tax professionals. Learn more about us.

Complete your 2026 CTEC education online

Choose the qualifying courses you need with a $49.95 All-Access Pass.

View the Pass