Pilot testing for self-study CPE credit (Method 1)
Self-study CPE credit comes from one of two methods (Standard 7.02): the word-count formula, or a pilot test that measures how long the course actually takes. This is how Method 1 works — the sample rules, the timing rules, and when you have to run it again.
What Method 1 measures (Standards 7.02, 7.02.2)
Method 1 sets recommended credit equal to the sample's representative completion time. That time includes time spent on the qualified assessment but excludes the course evaluation and any pre-program assessment — pre-program assessments stay out of the credit math entirely.
Who can be a pilot tester (Standard 7.02.1)
Testers must mirror the intended audience, work through the materials under conditions like the real delivery, and be independent of the group that developed the course. Credential rules follow the audience:
- Courses aimed at CPAs require testers holding an active U.S. CPA license (or equivalent) with appropriate prior knowledge.
- Courses for non-CPAs under other regulatory regimes don't need CPA testers.
- Mixed-audience courses need a representative mix of both.
Minimum sample size (Standard 7.02.1)
| Program type | Minimum qualified testers |
|---|---|
| Traditional on-demand self-study | 3 |
| Adaptive self-study | 7 |
The timing rules (Standard 7.02.2)
- Statistical validity isn't required — but inconsistent results force either a bigger sample or removal of outliers.
- Testers must never be told the expected duration in advance.
- Substantive later changes to the materials, whenever made, trigger fresh pilot testing to confirm or revise the time.
When you have to re-pilot (Standard 7.02.3)
If actual participant completion times after release suggest the credit amount is wrong, the sponsor must re-pilot before changing the credit, and the change applies prospectively.
Purchased courses (Standard 7.02.4)
For a course bought from a vendor that comes with pilot-test results, the sponsor must review those results for appropriateness. If no pilot test was done or provided, the sponsor must either run its own pilot or apply the Method 2 word-count formula.
Adaptive programs that track real time (Standard 7.02.9)
If an adaptive platform can track an individual's actual completion time, credit may be awarded as that actual time — provided the resulting time squares with the program's objectives and design. If the platform can't detect when a participant strays from the expected path, or logs an unreasonable time, the measured individual time can't serve as the credit basis.
Method 1 or Method 2?
Pilot testing shines when a course is interactive, media-heavy, or hard to reduce to a clean word count; the word-count formula is faster when the course is mostly required reading. Many sponsors reach for Method 2 first because it's computable in seconds — see the word-count formula guide for how it works, and the overview of how CPE credit is calculated for where both methods fit.
Common questions
How many pilot testers does a self-study CPE course need?
At least 3 qualified testers for a traditional on-demand self-study program and 7 for an adaptive program, per Standard 7.02.1 of the NASBA/AICPA Statement on Standards for CPE Programs.
Do CPE pilot testers have to be CPAs?
Only when the course is aimed at CPAs — then testers must hold an active U.S. CPA license or equivalent (Standard 7.02.1). Courses for non-CPA audiences don't require CPA testers; mixed-audience courses need a representative mix.
What does the pilot-tested completion time include?
The representative completion time includes time on the qualified assessment but excludes the course evaluation and any pre-program assessment, per Standard 7.02.2.
When does a sponsor have to re-pilot a course?
When post-release completion times suggest the credit is wrong, the sponsor must re-pilot before changing the credit (Standard 7.02.3), and after any substantive change to the materials (Standard 7.02.2). Credit changes apply prospectively.
This guide reflects the August 2026 edition of the NASBA/AICPA Statement on Standards for CPE Programs. The edition applies on a staged schedule: 2026-08-01 for applications for a new or added delivery method, 2027-03-01 for programs still in development or making first publication, and 2028-11-01 for programs existing as of 2026-07-31 — state licensing bodies may set different dates. Locators cite the Statement on Standards for CPE Programs; ProveStead publishes its own paraphrases only — never the standard's text.