Section 280-5-8 - CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (CPE)A. Except as set forth in the next paragraph, all licensees shall obtain 40 hours of CPE annually, due at time of renewal. The annual accumulation period for CPE is the twelve month licensure period prior to the renewal date. A person who obtains a license for the first time shall complete at least forty (40) credits of acceptable CPE during the first full annual period following the year in which the original license was obtained. If a licensee obtains more than 40 hours of CPE in any licensure period, no more than 20 hours of such excess may be carried forward and utilized in the immediately succeeding licensure period. (For example, an individual who obtains 70 hours of CPE in one year and 30 hours in the succeeding year has 30 excess hours in the first year. The licensee may carry forward 20 hours from the first year to the second in order to make up a deficiency and satisfy the CPE requirement for the second year. However, the licensee may not carry any of the excess from the first year to satisfy the CPE requirement in any subsequent year.)B. All licensees shall obtain at least 4 hours of CPE in professional ethics every three years, beginning with the date of first renewal. Acceptable CPE in ethics may include a program of study of the accountancy laws and rules of the State of Maine, including the Rules of Professional Conduct set forth in Chapter 8 of the board's rules, or equivalent standards of the Securities Exchange Commission, the AICPA, or similar regulatory agency or professional organization.C. The Board may verify information submitted by an applicant by whatever means it deems appropriate.D. Notwithstanding Chapter 13, Section 4 of the rules of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, entitled "Uniform Rule for the Substantiation of Continuing Education Requirements," licensees shall retain documentation of compliance with the CPE requirement, including professional ethics, for the three annual licensure periods that immediately precede the current licensure period on a rolling basis.