Frequently Asked Questions: General

How do I use the Search function to find specific courses on CPEasy.com?
The left-hand panel of the CPEasy.com website contains an advanced product search function to make finding specific courses easier than ever. You can simply type in a keyword or product code, select the appropriate check box and then click the blue “Search” button.

For more targeted results, you can search by “Subject Area,” “Format,” “Credit Hours” or “Module Types” using the four dropdown boxes under “Advanced Search.” The results of your search will appear in the center of your screen. You can click individual course titles for specific details about that course.

How else can I find specific courses on CPEasy.com?
The CPEasy.com website was designed to make finding courses simple. In addition to our powerful search function, you can select a subject area (i.e., Taxation, Accounting & Auditing, Ethics, etc.) by clicking on the corresponding blue topic button near the top of the screen. Or, roll your mouse over one of the topic buttons for a breakdown of additional subtopics to choose from.

How do I log in?
At the top of the left-hand panel of CPEasy.com, you'll find “Username” and “Password” fields. Input your information and click on the orange “Sign In” button. If you've never registered, select the “Register New Account” button and you will be guided through the registration process.

Help! I forgot my username or password.
No problem. If you've previously registered, but have forgotten your information, simply click the “Forgot Username/Password?” link (below the username and password fields), then enter your email address in the pop-up window. You will be sent an email with your user name and/or password.

Navigation Within a CPEasy Course

I'm a CPEasy OnDemand subscriber. How do I add courses to my account?
As a CPEasy OnDemand subscriber, you have unlimited access to our entire library of online CPE courses. As you find courses you'd like to review, simply select the blue “Add to My Account” button (located next to the “Online” format field). These courses will then appear in the “Courses in Progress” section of your “My Account” page for easy access.

Once I've purchased a course, how do I start it?
Any courses you've purchased will appear under “Courses in Progress” on your "My Account" page. Clicking on the title of the course will launch you directly into the learning environment, where you can begin reviewing the material.

Okay, I'm in the course. Now what?
When you first enter a course, you will begin at the Course Overview. In the center section, you can access general course overview information via the “Introduction,” “Organization,” “Learning Objectives” and “Author Bios” tabs. To learn how to navigate through the chapters, refer to the explanation below.

How do I navigate through the chapters?
You have several options. To jump to a specific chapter, use the blue chapter dropdown menu that appears across the top, just under the course title bar. To advance through the course one page at a time, use the “Back” and “Next” buttons that appear to the right of the dropdown menu. To access a particular chapter, subchapter or microtopic, use the menu-tree navigation on the left side of the course page.

How do I use the search function within the course?
On the left-hand side under the chapter menu tree, you will find a search button. When clicked, the search button expands to reveal a keyword search tool. In addition, you can select radio buttons to target your search by “Current Page,” “Current Chapter,” “Entire Course” or “Specific Topic.” Simply enter your keyword, select a topic (if desired) and click “Search.” All results will be displayed in the center section, with clickable links to take you directly to that section of the course.

General Questions About CPEasy OnDemand™

What is CPEasy OnDemand?
CPEasy OnDemand is an amazing online learning library that offers individuals and firms UNLIMITED access to ALL of our individual online courses — including full-size (8–24 credit hour) courses and bite-size (1–6 credit hour) courses — for one LOW price. You'll get powerful research tools that allow you to find any topic, subtopic or microtopic within the library, and print out any page or quizzer for convenient offline reference.

CPEasy OnDemand comes in three “flavors”:

CPEasy OnDemand Silver is the base offering, giving you all the benefits described above.

CPEasy OnDemand Gold provides the additional benefit of unlimited access to your choice of Bisk's Monthly News Reports, our popular 60-minute audio programs that give you up-to-the-minute coverage and expert analysis of the latest news and developments in the accounting industry.

CPEasy OnDemand Platinum gives you all the benefits of CPEasy Gold, plus complimentary admission to our A&A, Tax and Financial Planning Quarterly Live Webcasts. These webcasts are a great way to earn live CPE credit and stay current on the latest topics of interest from the industry's top experts. Each webcast is live, so you can interact with the presenters and join in on the discussion.

General Questions About CPE Courses

Can I take a course multiple times?
Yes. You may access a course as often as needed until your subscription and/or course expires. You can also take the final exam as many times as necessary until you achieve a passing score. However, once you have passed the exam, you are unable to take it again. Once a course is completed (i.e., you've passed the final exam), the course will appear under the “Completed Courses” tab in your “My Account” section along with the order information, the number of CPE credits awarded and your certificate of completion.

Can I download a course for use offline?
All online courses must be taken online. However, you are able to print any page or quizzer from the courses you're enrolled in for use offline. If you prefer to work offline, Bisk Education also offers other learning formats, such as CD-ROM software, DVD, audio CD and textbooks. No matter which format you prefer, Bisk Education has your CPE solution.

How long do I have to finish taking a course?
NASBA guidelines dictate that our customers have one year from the date they access any individual course to complete that course. Therefore, an expiration date for all courses will be displayed in the “Courses in Progress” area of your “My Account” page. Once the course expires, subscribers will still have access to the content — but NOT the associated quizzer.

What if I don't have speakers on my PC?
If your computer has a built-in speaker, you should be able to hear the audio. Some computers provide headphone jacks as well, which would allow you to listen through a set of earbuds or headphones. Otherwise, you will need to obtain external speakers in order to listen to any associated streamed audio.

What software or plug-ins do I need for CPEasy courses?
You will need the Adobe Flash plug-in to see animation and certain types of interactive files. Windows Media Player is required to view or listen to streamed video or audio files. If you are running either Netscape or Microsoft Explorer version 4.0 or later, these are most likely built in to your browser. You will also need Adobe Reader for printing and viewing certain documents. For a free download of Adobe Reader, go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html . If you experience any technical difficulty, please visit the “Contact Us” page of CPEasy.com for links to contact our Technical Support staff.

Tracking CPE and CPE Certificates

How can I see a record of the credits I've earned?
After you've logged in, simply click on the “My Account” link. You'll see a Course & Credit Summary with information about your CPEasy online credits, as well as credits you've input from other formats or sources. This enables you to keep track of all your CPE in one convenient location. For more detail, you can select the “Courses in Progress,” “Completed Courses” or “External Course Journal” tabs for specific information.

If I fail a CPEasy final exam, can I take it again and still get CPE credit?
Yes. Simply click on the "Final Quizzer" button on the left navigation menu to take the exam again. Generally speaking, after you receive a score of 70% or better, you have successfully completed the course. One exception may be some Ethics courses, which may require a higher passing grade.

Do the section review questions within a CPEasy course count toward my final quizzer grade?
No. These questions are designed to help you retain the content, and are not part of the final quizzer.

Can I print more than one certificate for a course?
Yes, you can print any certificate as many times as you want. Simply go to your account, click on the Certificate icon (found under the “Completed Courses” tab) and use the "Print Certificate" button located in the pop-up window.

How do my CPE credits get reported to the state board?
It is your responsibility to report your CPE credit to your State Board. If your State Board requires documentation of your completed CPE, you can print a copy of your certificate (available in the “My Account” section under “Completed Courses”) and furnish it to your State Board of Accountancy.