CPE guide

How Long Should You Keep CPE Certificates?

Keep CPE certificates long enough to satisfy your licensing board's record retention and audit rules. When in doubt, keep them longer than the minimum.

What To Save

At minimum, save the certificate of completion, course title, provider, completion date, credit amount, delivery method, and subject category. For conferences or unusual activities, also keep agendas, session descriptions, or proof of attendance.

Use A Simple Folder Structure

Create folders by reporting period or renewal year. Use filenames that include the date, provider, course name, and credit amount. A clear filename is faster to search than a folder full of generic downloads.

Example: 2026-05-14-provider-ethics-update-2-cpe.pdf

Back Up Your Records

Store a copy somewhere reliable. If certificates live only in email or only in a provider portal, they can be hard to find later. A local folder plus a secure backup is usually easier to manage.