Becker Professional Education
A US-based professional education provider best known for accounting and finance credential examination preparation.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Becker Professional Education is a professional education provider focused on accounting, finance, tax, and related credentialing examinations. The organization is best known for its preparation programs for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination, commonly called the CPA Exam. Its broader portfolio includes review courses for the Certified Management Accountant and Enrolled Agent examinations, a Certified Internal Auditor review offering, and continuing professional education for credentialed professionals. The business traces its origins to 1957, when Newton D. Becker, a certified public accountant and educator, developed an examination-preparation course while training colleagues at Price Waterhouse. Becker’s course was subsequently offered to a broader audience and became an early specialized CPA examination-review product. The company became independent in 1960 and expanded its classroom network over the following decades. By the 1980s, it reportedly offered in-person instruction in more than 90 cities, establishing a substantial presence in the US accounting education market. Becker’s traditional model combined instructor-led classes with structured study materials. Over time, the company shifted toward blended and digital learning, adding online lectures, electronic and printed textbooks, question banks, practice tests, simulated examinations, adaptive learning tools, and other technology-supported study resources. Its CPA program is designed around the accounting, auditing, taxation, financial reporting, and business concepts tested by the examination and is regularly revised to reflect changes in exam specifications and professional standards. The company has also introduced Newt, an artificial-intelligence study tool intended to provide personalized support during exam preparation. Becker expanded its services beyond CPA preparation as professional credentialing markets developed. Its CMA review program supports candidates pursuing the Certified Management Accountant designation and is aligned with the relevant examination framework. In 2024, Becker introduced an Enrolled Agent review program for tax professionals preparing for the Internal Revenue Service Special Enrollment Examination. In 2025, it added a Certified Internal Auditor review offering through a partnership with The Institute of Internal Auditors. Becker also provides continuing professional education for CPAs, CMAs, Enrolled Agents, and other accounting and finance professionals, including courses recognized through applicable professional and regulatory sponsorship arrangements. The company serves learners directly and reaches international audiences through institutional, chapter, and distribution relationships. Identified partners have included Morgan International, Bikai Corporate Management Consulting, Global International Management, Nova Global Education, and TAC, as well as international chapters associated with The Institute of Internal Auditors. In 2025, Becker entered a relationship with Simandhar Education under which Simandhar received exclusive distribution rights in India for Becker’s CPA and CMA review programs. In 1996, Becker was acquired by DeVry Inc., which later became associated with the Adtalem Global Education group. In 2022, Becker was acquired by Colibri Group, a professional education company with activities spanning areas such as real estate, healthcare, teaching, valuation and property services, financial services, and governance, risk, and compliance. The Colibri transaction placed Becker within a broader professional-learning portfolio while retaining its specialist position in accounting and finance education. Becker’s market reputation is tied to its long operating history, exam-focused curriculum, extensive practice materials, and relationships with accounting employers and professional bodies. Public descriptions of its influence have stated that a large share of US CPAs used Becker materials during their preparation, although the precise proportion and current scale of its alumni base are not independently established here. Becker is registered as a continuing professional education sponsor with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and with the Internal Revenue Service for Enrolled Agent continuing education.
History
Becker Professional Education began in 1957 when Newton D. Becker, a CPA and educator, created a course to prepare colleagues at Price Waterhouse for the CPA examination. The course represented an early attempt to provide systematic examination preparation to accounting professionals rather than relying solely on independent study or employer-based instruction. Becker subsequently made the program available to a wider audience, establishing the foundation of a dedicated CPA review business. The company became independent in 1960 and expanded its classroom operations during the next several decades. Its growth reflected the increasing importance of professional licensing and the need for candidates to master a large body of accounting, auditing, taxation, finance, and business material. By the 1980s, Becker offered in-person courses in more than 90 cities. The classroom model emphasized scheduled instruction, printed study materials, and repeated practice, and helped the company build recognition among accounting students, early-career professionals, and employees of major accounting firms. Becker later developed a more extensive self-study and technology-supported offering. Its review packages came to include digital and physical textbooks, recorded lectures, question banks, practice examinations, simulated exams, and adaptive learning capabilities. This transition allowed Becker to serve students outside its classroom network and to support candidates with different schedules and study patterns. The CPA program has remained its central offering, with content revised as examination structures, professional standards, and regulatory requirements change. The company has also added AI-supported study assistance through a tool called Newt. In 1996, DeVry Inc. acquired Becker. DeVry later became part of the corporate history associated with Adtalem Global Education. Under successive ownership arrangements, Becker continued operating as a specialist professional education business while developing offerings beyond the CPA Exam. These included preparation for the Certified Management Accountant examination and continuing professional education for accounting and finance professionals. The company’s later expansion focused on adjacent credentials and international distribution. In 2024, Becker added an Enrolled Agent review program addressing the IRS Special Enrollment Examination. It also partnered with the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business to create Becker Academy, a set of courses intended to strengthen foundational knowledge before CPA study. In 2025, Becker introduced a Certified Internal Auditor review product in partnership with The Institute of Internal Auditors. Internationally, the company has worked with education providers, corporate training organizations, and professional-institute networks to distribute its CPA and CMA programs. Its 2025 arrangement with Simandhar Education provided exclusive distribution rights in India for those courses. In 2022, Colibri Group acquired Becker. Colibri’s portfolio includes professional education in several regulated and career-oriented fields, including real estate, healthcare, teaching, valuation and property services, financial services, and governance, risk, and compliance. The acquisition broadened the group’s accounting and professional-credentialing capabilities while giving Becker access to a wider education platform and international reach. Becker’s continuing role is centered on examination preparation and professional development. It serves candidates preparing for accounting, tax, and internal-audit credentials, as well as already-qualified professionals who need continuing education. The organization is registered with NASBA as a sponsor of continuing professional education for CPAs and with the IRS for Enrolled Agent continuing education. Its historical influence is frequently described in terms of the number of US accounting professionals who have used its materials, though exact current usage figures are not established in the available source material.
- 2025
Expansion into CIA preparation
[1]Becker introduces a Certified Internal Auditor review program in partnership with The Institute of Internal Auditors.
- 2024
Expansion into Enrolled Agent preparation
[1]Becker introduces review courses for the IRS Special Enrollment Examination.
- 2022
Acquisition by Colibri Group
[1]Colibri Group acquires Becker and adds its accounting and finance education capabilities to a wider professional education portfolio.
- 1996
Acquisition by DeVry
[1]DeVry Inc. acquires Becker Professional Education.
- 1980
Classroom network expands nationally
[1]By the 1980s, Becker offers in-person instruction in more than 90 cities.
- 1960
The company becomes independent
[1]Becker separates from its original employer-linked setting and operates as an independent education provider.
- 1957
Becker is founded
[1]Newton D. Becker establishes the business after developing a CPA examination-preparation course for colleagues at Price Waterhouse.
Products and positioning
A specialist, exam-focused professional education provider serving accounting, finance, tax, and audit candidates through structured review programs, digital learning technology, practice examinations, and continuing education.
Professional examination preparation · 1957
CPA Exam Review
Becker’s core offering prepares candidates for the Uniform CPA Examination. The program covers major accounting and business examination domains through updated lectures, digital and printed textbooks, practice questions, simulated examinations, and adaptive study functions. It is designed for candidates working toward US CPA licensure and is revised as examination content and professional requirements evolve.
Professional examination preparation
CMA Exam Review
The CMA review program supports candidates pursuing the Certified Management Accountant credential. It focuses on the financial reporting, planning, analysis, control, and decision-support knowledge tested in the CMA examination and is developed in alignment with the relevant professional examination framework.
Tax examination preparation · 2024
EA Exam Review
Introduced in 2024, Becker’s Enrolled Agent review program prepares tax professionals for the IRS Special Enrollment Examination. The offering extends Becker’s examination-focused model into federal tax credentialing and supports candidates seeking the Enrolled Agent designation.
Internal-audit examination preparation · 2025
CIA Exam Review
Introduced in 2025 through a partnership with The Institute of Internal Auditors, the CIA review program supports internal-audit professionals preparing for the Certified Internal Auditor credential.
Continuing education
Continuing Professional Education
Becker provides continuing education for CPAs, CMAs, Enrolled Agents, and other accounting and finance professionals. Its courses help credentialed practitioners maintain knowledge and satisfy applicable continuing-education obligations, including IRS-approved Enrolled Agent education and NASBA-sponsored CPA education.
Foundational accounting education · 2024
Becker Academy
Becker Academy was developed with the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. The courses are intended to address knowledge gaps and build foundational information for learners preparing to undertake CPA examination study.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Becker Academy
United States
Becker partnered with the University of Missouri to create foundational courses for prospective CPA candidates who need to strengthen their accounting knowledge before beginning formal examination preparation.
Outcome. The partnership expanded Becker’s role from examination review into preparatory academic support; no independent performance outcome is specified in the available source material.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch of Certified Internal Auditor reviewProduct launchBackground
Becker extended its examination-preparation offering into internal auditing.
Action taken
The company launched CIA review content in partnership with The Institute of Internal Auditors.
Aftermath
The offering added internal-audit credential preparation to Becker’s accounting, finance, and tax portfolio.
2024
Launch of Enrolled Agent reviewProduct launchBackground
Becker identified demand among tax professionals seeking the Enrolled Agent designation.
Action taken
The company launched review content for the IRS Special Enrollment Examination.
Aftermath
The launch broadened Becker’s credentialing portfolio beyond accounting examinations into tax-professional preparation.
2022
Colibri Group acquisitionM&ABackground
Colibri Group sought to expand its professional education portfolio across regulated and career-oriented fields.
Action taken
Colibri Group acquired Becker Professional Education.
Aftermath
Becker became part of Colibri’s broader professional education portfolio, supporting expansion in accounting, finance, and related credentialing education.
1996
DeVry acquisitionM&ABackground
Becker had developed a recognized position in CPA examination preparation and classroom professional education.
Action taken
DeVry Inc. acquired Becker Professional Education.
Aftermath
Becker continued as a specialist professional education operation and later became associated with the Adtalem corporate group.
Sources1 sources
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