Monthly CPE Recap Free Continuing Professional Education for Audit & Accounting Professionals March 2026 Edition
- Mar 3
- 3 min read
Each month, EC Barrett curates the best free CPE opportunities for internal auditors, external auditors, and compliance professionals. All events listed below are NASBA-registered, cost nothing to attend, and cover topics that matter to your practice.
This month features 6.7 free CPE credits across PCAOB oversight, IIA Standards, SOX compliance, and AI governance—from EY, PwC, KPMG, and the IIA.
At a Glance
March 2026 Free CPE Events
Topic | Event | Date | Host | CPE |
PCAOB | Mar 12 or 24 | EY | 1.2 | |
PCAOB | Mar 11, 19, or 25 | PwC | 1.5 | |
IIA / IA | Mar 4 | IIA | 1.0 | |
IIA / IA | Mar 12 | IIA | 1.0 | |
SOX / AI | Mar 17–18 | KPMG | 1.0 | |
SOX / AI | Mar 3 | KPMG | 1.0 |
PCAOB & External Audit
Financial Reporting & Audit Oversight Updates
What You Need to Know for Q1 2026 Financial Reporting
EY Mar 12 or Mar 24, 2026 • 1:00–2:00 PM ET 1.2 CPE (Accounting)
EY’s flagship quarterly webcast covers SEC and PCAOB regulatory developments, including QC 1000 implementation progress, PCAOB inspection priorities under the new board, audit quality trends, and standard-setting activities. No prerequisites or advance preparation required. Two identical offerings available.
Q1 2026 Quarterly Accounting Webcast
PwC Mar 11, 19, or 25, 2026 • 90 minutes 1.5 CPE (Accounting)
Presented by Heather Horn and the PwC National Office, this quarterly webcast covers key accounting and financial reporting matters including SEC comment letter trends, PCAOB inspection findings, and QC 1000 readiness. Must attend one full session and answer 6 of 7 polling questions to earn credit.
IIA Standards & Internal Audit
AI, Fraud Detection & Data-Driven Audit Quality
Internal Audit and AI-Enabled Fraud
IIA / AuditBoard Mar 4, 2026 1.0 CPE (NASBA & IIA)
Joint research from the Internal Audit Foundation and AuditBoard reveals that while IA leaders widely recognize AI-enabled fraud as a rising risk, only 40% believe their functions are prepared. This webinar covers detection strategies and how to build AI fraud response capabilities aligned with the 2024 Global Standards.
Transforming Audit Quality with Data Analytics
IIA Mar 12, 2026 1.0 CPE (NASBA & IIA)
Explores how data analytics tools empower internal audit functions to make informed decisions, monitor performance, and respond to change in real time. Showcases practical use cases from leading global audit organizations, supporting QAIP requirements under the 2024 Global Standards.
SOX, ICFR & AI Controls
Risk, Regulation & AI in Financial Reporting
March 2026 Quarterly Outlook: AI, Economy & Financial Reporting
KPMG Mar 17 (11:30 AM ET) or Mar 18 (2:30 PM ET) 1.0 CPE (Accounting)
KPMG professionals discuss AI developments reshaping financial reporting processes, technology risk considerations for preparers and auditors, and critical signals to monitor heading into Q2 2026. Relevant for professionals evaluating AI-enabled controls and technology risk in ICFR.
Navigating Risk & Regulatory Challenges in 2026
KPMG Risk Services Mar 3, 2026 • 1:00–2:00 PM ET 1.0 CPE
Part of KPMG’s “Risk Factors” series, this session covers the 2026 risk and regulatory outlook including compliance mandates in a shifting landscape, technology and cyber risk management, and AI governance challenges. Directly relevant to SOX compliance, ITGCs, and AI control frameworks.
Resources
Find More Free CPE Year-Round
Bookmark these aggregator sites to stay on top of free CPE as new events are posted each month:
→ FreeLiveCPE.com — Aggregates free CPE from all Big 4 firms and major providers
→ CPE Planner — Clean calendar view of upcoming free CPE
→ Deloitte Dbriefs — All Dbriefs webcasts are free and open to anyone
→ IIA Webinars — Free monthly webinars for IIA members
→ ISACA Webinars — Free for ISACA members, multiple per month
EY, PwC, KPMG, and Deloitte webcasts require no membership—simply register and attend. IIA webinars require IIA membership (~$175–295/yr). ISACA webinars require ISACA membership.
The EC Barrett team compiles this CPE recap monthly so you can stay current without the cost. If you find an event we should feature or have questions about how these topics affect your audit program, don’t hesitate to reach out.
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This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, accounting, or professional advice.