FAQs

How will I know when you’re having a seminar or there’s news?
Aside from periodically visiting our website or Facebook, join our mailing list to be in the know.

How much is membership?
The current membership is just $90 and it’s a 1 year term from June 1st through May 31st.

How much are your seminars?
Non-Members and Members are welcome to attend our seminars. Effective 10/1/2022, members can attend at a discounted rate of $85 per seminar whereas non-members can attend at a rate of $150 per seminar. This is why membership is so important because just 2 seminars creates a savings to cover the cost of membership.

I forgot to renew my membership but I want to attend an upcoming seminar. Can I still attend at a member rate?
Sure! Just bring your membership renewal form and payment to the seminar; we will honor the member rate.

I just joined mid-year. Will you prorate my membership?
The RIAPA is a non-profit organization and your membership covers a variety of costs such as administrative, operating, utilities and venue costs. Therefore, regretfully we can not prorate a membership.

I signed in for the seminar but had to leave before the seminar was over. Will you send me my CPE certificate of completion? Will I get full or partial credit for the seminar?
Unfortunately, IRS CE Provider and State Board of Accountancy, & Ethics committees only permits the RIAPA to issue certificates of completion & CPE credits for the entire duration of the seminar. CPE credits are on a 1:1 ratio meaning, 1 hour is equivalent to 1 CPE credit.

Whether you attend in person or virtually, your attendance for the entire seminar is necessary for full credit. The RIAPA is aware that we do not live in a perfect world and emergencies do happen. If an emergency arises, please see an associate at check-in or email the event coordinator as soon as possible, and the RIAPA will do our best to assist with your conflict. The RIAPA may be able to issue partial CPE credits for the time you were in attendance (contingent of IRS CE Provider regulations & approval).

I registered for a seminar but something has come up and I won’t be able to attend or I will only be able to attend for part of it. Can I get a refund?
The RIAPA is aware that we do not live in a perfect world and emergencies do happen. If an emergency arises, please see an associate at check-in or email the event coordinator as soon as possible, and the RIAPA will do our best to assist with your conflict. The RIAPA may be able to issue partial CPE credits for the time you were in attendance (contingent of IRS CE Provider regulations & approval).  However, no refund or attendance changes/modifications will be allowed after the registration deadline (listed on the registration form) or the day-of the event  – See Policies & Regulations for additional information.

I registered and paid for a seminar, but I did not attend. When will I get my CPE certificate of completion? Can I get a refund?
In order to receive a CPE certificate of completion you would have to had completed the seminar. CPE credits are on a 1:1 ratio meaning, 1 hour is equivalent to 1 CPE credit. The RIAPA, with strict guidelines from the IRS CE Provider and State Board of Accountancy, & Ethics committees, cannot issue CPE certificates of completion or CPE credits to anyone who is NOT in attendance.

If you can no longer attend, please contact the event coordinator as soon as possible. No refund or attendance changes/modifications will be allowed after the registration deadline (listed on the registration form) or the day-of the event. The RIAPA will do our best to assist with your conflict.

The RIAPA is offering a seminar with the option of in-person or virtual attendance. I’ve registered and need to change the way I attend (change in person to virtual, or vice versus). Can you help me with this?
If you can no longer attend, please see an associate at check-in or email the event coordinator as soon as possible. No refund or attendance changes/modifications will be allowed after the registration deadline (listed on the registration form) or the day-of the event. The RIAPA will do our best to assist with your conflict.

What’s a CPE and why should I be interested in this?
CPE stands for Continuing Professional Education and are required for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to maintain their professional competence and provide quality professional services. CPAs are responsible for complying with all applicable CPE requirements, rules and regulations of state boards of accountancy, as well as those of membership associations and other professional organizations. RI CPAs must obtain 120 hours every 3 years, six of which must be on ethics, and limited to 60 hours of self-studies.

I’m an enrolled agent. How many CPEs do I need? How many of those need to be Ethics?
Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing education every three years. A minimum of 16 hours must be earned per year, two of which must be on ethics. Enrolled agents must use an IRS approved CE provider, such as the RIAPA. Unlike CPAs who report there CPEs to the state board of accountancy, EAs report their CPEs to the IRS.

When is your next seminar?
Visit our Seminars page

What other seminars have you had or plan on having?
Visit our Past Seminars page to see some of the other seminars we’ve sponsored in the past. We try to cover interesting and relevant topics so we’re constantly looking for new speakers to present. If there is a topic that you’re passionate about and feel that the organization could benefit from, contact the Executive Board to discuss it further.