When I searched CPANet for the words 'free cpe' most everything i got was Bisk.  When i did an advanced search looking for 'free cpe' without the word 'Bisk' I got very little.  Doesn't seem good to me.  Seems like this forum is plugging one sponser and it's NOT a good reference to use when shopping for products.  Seems like it's misleading.

Correct me if i'm wrong.

[edit to retitle this thead which started out being about cpe]

I would just like to say that http://www.cpanet.com/cpa_forum/ has been invaluable to my research. I was so angered by the crass nature and presumptions of this user skate1968. However...a quick search of "skate1968" on yahoo....finds he/she is a member of a multitude of forums. Correct me if I am wrong.. but is he/she not the type... that needs to read more, presume less and get out once in a while. 

dill43 wrote: I would just like to say that http://www.cpanet.com/cpa_forum/ has been invaluable to my research.

Dill43,

I'm glad you found this site useful.  You should tell us specifically what was helpful so that others might also benefit.  What exactly are you reasearching?  Are you a student or are you working?  Do you do Public or Private?  Any experince with government or not-for-profit?

dill43 wrote:   I was so angered by the crass nature and presumptions of this user skate1968.

I've reread my post and i don't find myself being espeically crass.  What exactly am i presuming? 

dill43 wrote:   However...a quick search of "skate1968" on yahoo....finds he/she is a member of a multitude of forums.

Yes that is true.

dill43 wrote:   ....but is he/she not the type... that needs to read more, presume less and get out once in a while.

Hmmmm.

I'm not sure what 'type' you're referring to. 

Like most accountants I'm constantly reading up on new things and reviewing old stuff which i don't see often.  But why are you telling me that i need to read more?  Is there a specific area that i need to brush up on?

And yes absolutely i'd like to get out more often!  I wish someone would come here and finish up these extension returns for me!  I'd love to be out right now!

But anyway, enough about me.

EDIT for spelling

I took a few freebie self-study courses from WiseGuides.  And I thought they were pretty extensive and thurough.  Good for the areas that I deal with routinely.  The self study really does force you to learn the topic & reinforce your skills.  I received the CPE certificates in the mail quickly.

The disadvantage is that these don't count for 'live, group based' CPE which my state requires.  And of course they require a lot more effort than seminar courses.  I really would not want to go to the trouble of completing a self study course in some obscure subject area that i'll never use.   (After researching all the actual issues a client may have I'm not always anxious to look at hypothetical ones.)

I've found DBriefs form Deloitte to be a good way of earing live group based CPE for free.  They only offer small one and two hour classes.  But they don't require you to drive to a seminar and you can complete them right from your desk.  Just write the date and times on your calender and tune in.  With a little bit of planning you can earn CPE and save money. 

http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/section_node/0,1042,sid%253D5456 ,00.html

It's certainly cheaper than some of these seminars which can run up to 900 dollars each.

Don't procrastinate on CPE.  If you let it go you might end up paying a lot of money for CPE  in subjects which you're not likely to use.

Good luck to you.

Also, after shopping around a bit I decided to join a state society.  After I paid for the membership the discounted CPE actual seminars and web seminars turned out to be a good deal overall.

State societies often give free membership to first year CPAs -- that's an even better deal if you're eligeable.