International tax CPE courses for tax preparers

For a tax preparer focused on international tax, I’d prioritize CPE (Continuing Professional Education) courses that go beyond general individual tax preparation and cover foreign income reporting, international information returns, foreign tax credits, U.S. taxpayers living abroad, and cross-border tax planning.

The best course depends on whether you primarily serve U.S. citizens and residents with foreign income, expatriates, foreign nationals, or businesses with international operations. I’d look for a combination of practical return-preparation training and advanced technical courses.

My top CPE recommendations

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1. Surgent CPE

(Best overall starting point)

Best for a tax preparer who wants flexible, practical tax education alongside required CE credits. Surgent offers live webinars, on-demand courses, and self-study, with tax topics including international tax.www.surgentcpe.com+1

Look for: foreign tax credit, expatriate taxation, international individual returns, and foreign information reporting.

Browse Surgent tax CPE courses

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2. IRS international tax training

(Best free resource)

Use the IRS's free webinars and international taxpayer guidance to build a strong foundation in filing requirements, foreign income, and reporting obligations. Some webinars qualify for CE credit, depending on the program.www.irs.gov+1

Look for: U.S. taxpayers abroad, FBAR, FATCA, foreign tax credits, and foreign information returns.

IRS continuing education resources

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3. National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP)

Worth investigating for tax-preparer-oriented education, practical return-preparation guidance, and professional development. Check its current course catalog for international individual tax and foreign reporting topics.

Best for: preparers who want training that connects technical rules to everyday client work.

NATP website

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4. Thomson Reuters Checkpoint

Best for deeper technical research and complex international tax matters. Its research resources cover federal, state, and international tax implications, making it useful when a client situation goes beyond routine return preparation.tax.thomsonreuters.com+1

Best for: advanced practitioners handling complex cross-border transactions and business tax issues.

Explore Checkpoint tax research

Which course subjects should you take first?

I would prioritize these topics in roughly this order. These are recommended subject areas to search for in the providers' catalogs, not claims that every provider currently offers a course under that exact title.

Important: Forms 5471, 3520, and 8621 can involve substantial penalties and technical complexity. Take advanced training before accepting these returns independently.

A practical learning plan for the next 90 days

Month 1 — Core international individual tax

Take courses on Form 1116, Form 2555, foreign-source income, and U.S. filing obligations for citizens living abroad.

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Month 2 — Foreign asset reporting

Study FBAR, Form 8938, foreign gifts, foreign trusts, and PFIC reporting. Use IRS materials alongside a structured CPE course.

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Month 3 — Advanced specialization

Add tax treaties, residency issues, and Form 5471 if your intended client base includes owners of foreign corporations.

Before purchasing, verify that the specific course qualifies for your credential: IRS continuing education credit and NASBA CPE credit are not interchangeable in every situation. The IRS maintains its official provider and credit guidance here: Continuing education for tax professionals.www.irs.gov+1

Let me narrow this down to the best courses for you

1. What type of international clients do you primarily serve?

U.S. citizens and residents living abroad

Foreign nationals living or earning income in the U.S.

U.S. taxpayers with foreign accounts, investments, or businesses

A mix of all three

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2. What is your current experience level?

Beginner — new to international tax

Intermediate — already prepare some international returns

Advanced — seeking complex technical and planning courses

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3. Which credential do you need credits for?

PTIN / Annual Filing Season Program

Enrolled Agent (EA)

CPA / NASBA CPE

Other or not sure

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4. What is your budget for courses?

Free resources only

Up to $250

$250–$500

$500+ for advanced specialization

[Find my best-fit courses]

For a tax preparer, the best international tax CPE (continuing professional education) depends on whether you want to handle individual expat returns, foreign investments and reporting, or complex international business taxation.

I'd prioritize providers that offer IRS-approved continuing education, practical return-preparation training, and specialized coverage of international forms such as Forms 1040, 1116, 2555, 5471, 8865, 8938, and FBAR (FinCEN Form 114).

Here are the options worth comparing, with an emphasis on course quality, professional relevance, and usefulness in a tax-preparation practice.

Top international tax CPE options

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1. AICPA U.S. International Tax Certificate

(Best comprehensive program)

51.5 CPE credits · Online self-study · Intermediate

Published price: $679–$1,019, depending on membership and pricing.

A structured, three-part program covering foundational and advanced international tax concepts, with updated guidance on regulations and OECD initiatives. Best if you're building a serious international tax practice rather than just collecting a few credits.www.aicpa.com

View the certificate

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2. Checkpoint Learning – International Taxation

(Best à la carte technical training)

2–5 credits per course · Online

Published prices: $49 for Overview of International Taxation; $89 for International Taxation – Foreign Tax Credit.

A practical choice if you want targeted learning on sourcing and residency, inbound and outbound taxation, foreign tax credits, transfer pricing, and BEAT. The foreign tax credit course is intermediate-level and offers five credits.checkpointlearning.com+1

International tax overview Foreign tax credit course

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3. Surgent CPE

(Best flexible course catalog)

Live webinars · On-demand webcasts · Self-study

A strong option if international tax is one part of your annual CPE plan. Surgent offers tax training across individual, business, estate, multistate, and international subjects, with NASBA-approved courses and many courses eligible for IRS continuing education. Verify approval for the specific course.www.surgentcpe.com

Browse Surgent tax CPE

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4. IRS Nationwide Tax Forum Online

(Best government-sourced training)

Recorded seminars · CE available for a fee

The IRS's online seminar library is a useful supplement for learning from IRS speakers about federal tax law, compliance, and practitioner issues. Videos can be audited for free, while CE credit costs extra. Look for international-taxpayer and nonresident-withholding sessions in the available catalog.www.irs.gov+1

Browse IRS online seminars

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5. CPE Today

Live events · Replay · Online tax courses

Worth checking for individual tax and compliance courses that complement a specialist international-tax program. Its catalog lists verified attendee ratings for individual courses, but I couldn't verify a current international-tax-specific top-rated course from the available results.www.aicpa.com+1

Browse tax courses

Which should you choose?

What to look for in an international tax curriculum

For a return-preparation practice, I'd prioritize courses in this order:

1. U.S. citizens and residents living abroad: Form 2555, Form 1116, foreign housing, tax-home rules, and foreign tax credit limitations.
2. Foreign financial assets and accounts: Form 8938, FBAR, and foreign pension reporting.
3. Foreign-owned and foreign-controlled entities: Forms 5471, 8865, and 8858, including ownership and filing requirements.
4. Nonresident aliens and inbound taxation: Forms 1040-NR, 8843, withholding, and treaty provisions.
5. Advanced international business tax: GILTI, Subpart F, transfer pricing, and other cross-border corporate tax rules.

One important accreditation check

Before purchasing, confirm that the specific course qualifies for your credential. IRS continuing education approval for enrolled agents and eligible PTIN holders is not automatically equivalent to NASBA CPE acceptance for CPAs. The IRS maintains its continuing education guidance and provider resources.www.irs.gov+1

One question to narrow this down: What type of international tax returns do you primarily prepare?

1. Your main area of interest

U.S. expats and foreign-earned income

Foreign bank accounts, investments and reporting forms

International business, foreign corporations and partnerships

Nonresident aliens and inbound U.S. taxation

A broad international tax curriculum

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2. Your credential

Enrolled Agent (EA)

CPA

PTIN holder / non-credentialed preparer

Other tax professional

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3. Budget for specialized training

Under $200

$200–$700

Flexible, if the course is excellent

[Find my best-fit courses]