SWOT Analysis of Major CPE Providers

This SWOT analysis breaks down the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of the top CPE providers in the market. It’s designed to help tax professionals compare platforms based on course quality, pricing, content delivery, and long-term viability - especially for those choosing between live webinars, on-demand libraries, or full subscriptions.

Basics & Beyond

Strengths:

• 30+ years focused on tax CPE
• High instructor quality
• NASBA-certified, trusted for ethics credits
• Competitive pricing for live webinars

Weaknesses:

• Narrow course selection (mostly tax law, tax updates & ethics)
• No subscription model or on-demand library
• Smaller digital platform than larger competitors

Opportunities:

• Expand into on-demand or hybrid models
• Add industry-specific tax or niche seminars

Threats:

• Larger firms offering bundled subscriptions
• Less brand visibility compared to major players

Surgent CPE

Strengths:

• Wide range of topics (tax, audit, ethics, business)
• Affordable subscription options
• High-quality instructors, CPA-focused

Weaknesses:

• May lack deep specialization in complex tax areas
• Some content can feel repetitive or entry-level
• Variable quality between course types

Opportunities:

• Partner with CPA review programs
• Stronger mobile platform experience

Threats:

• Market saturation with similar content from rivals
• Retention issues without course refreshment cycles

CCH (Wolters Kluwer)

Strengths:

• Massive course library (tax, audit, accounting)
• Trusted global brand with corporate integrations
• Cutting-edge regulatory coverage

Weaknesses:

• Higher pricing for individuals
• May feel too broad or impersonal for niche needs
• Subscription plans can be expensive for smaller firms

Opportunities:

• Expand personalized learning paths
• Partnerships with universities or CPA societies

Threats:

• Price-sensitive users may move to low-cost providers
• Competition from agile online-only platforms

Becker

Strengths:

• Renowned for CPA prep and exam materials
• Clean user interface, mobile-friendly
• Brand trust with young professionals

Weaknesses:

• Stronger in CPA review than CPE breadth
• Smaller catalog than competitors for CPE
• High pricing relative to content depth

Opportunities:

• Expand mid-career CPE content
• Target CFOs and controllers with executive tracks

Threats:

• May lose ground to Surgent or CCH in ongoing education
• Subscription fatigue among users juggling platforms

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint

Strengths:

• Elite-level expertise in tax, law, and accounting
• Robust research tools integrated with learning
• Strong corporate and law firm user base

Weaknesses:

• Premium pricing structure
• Not always beginner-friendly
• User interface can feel dated

Opportunities:

• Integration with firm-wide compliance tools
• AI-driven CPE customization

Threats:

• Overwhelming for smaller practices or sole CPAs
• Less attractive to price-conscious professionals

TaxSpeaker

Strengths:

• Expert-led federal tax seminars
• Strong following among small firms and EAs
• Clear, practical instruction

Weaknesses:

• Limited breadth outside tax & ethics
• Fewer on-demand or customizable options
• Smaller course catalog compared to competitors

Opportunities:

• Expand recorded webinars and mini-modules
• Develop more specialty tax topics

Threats:

• Larger firms copying their accessible format
• Could lose relevance if not tech-adaptive

More Resources

Note: Paid attendees can request a replay link for any previously recorded webinar by asking JoJo or emailing [email protected].