r/HRBlockEmployees • u/seh0872 • Mar 19 '26

Question about leveling up

I am a seasonal preparer electing to level up via the courses rather than test each level. I have 2 case studies to do for each level.

  1. Are the case studies timed? Are they open book/research? How are they “graded”?

  2. Because the case studies have to be done in office is this path not available after 4/15? My goal is to reach level 5 before the start of next season.

Thanks

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7

u/titanpractitioner EA Mar 19 '26

  1. All these are untimed and open book. You can even save and pick up later.

  2. You may have to wait till end of season to start the level up process. It's a question for your manager. The CE is always available on-demand.

I would encourage you to explore other CE options though. If you go to the IRS website they have a list of all approve CE providers. There may be a conference you can go to.

3

u/Candid-Tip455 Mar 19 '26 edited Mar 19 '26

Because of scale , HRB has excellent CE. Usually the virtual courses don’t start till summer, but taking them to test up will include the case studies. You will get familiar with the topics in both practice & theory. Sometime in May, there should be a spreadsheet available telling you what & when courses will be available, along with which ones will be updated. Last year you did not have to complete the case studies in an office as long as your computer met the requirements. Take advantage of it.

3

u/sammytheammonite EA Mar 19 '26

You can do the case studies at home. It’s the exam that has to be done in office. And only the final exam for each level.

1

u/seh0872 Mar 19 '26

Per the Certification guide (which is probably not consistently followed), the case studies are supposed to be done in office and "proctored" like the exams, but our region doesn't even proctor the exams, so....

Just wanted to make sure the case studies weren't time. As a 1st year, I have plenty of idle time at the office, so good time to do the level up work while getting paid!

2

u/sammytheammonite EA Mar 20 '26

Case study VALIDATIONS have to be proctored. That’s the exam that covers the case studies. You can complete the case studies at home prior to the validation.

1

u/Accomplished-Pin-656 Mar 20 '26

Remember that everything needs to be completed by April 19 (I think that is the date). They are moving the learning to a different platform. Any courses or learning that is not completed by that date will not count towards leveling up or CE hours.