Who Can Apply?

Application and Assessment Form

Post-secondary Students
International Students
Former CGA Students
ACCAs
CPA Australia Members
Foreign-Trained Accountants
Mature Students
High School Graduates

Everyone entering the CGA program brings different academic credentials. That’s why your path through the CGA program will differ from another student. Every student’s academic credentials are evaluated individually in the application and assessment process. This process determines your starting point in the CGA program and determines your transfer credits.

Post-secondary Students

Business Degree
If you already have, or are planning to earn, an accounting or business-related degree from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution, you will most likely begin the CGA program at an advanced level, as several transfer credits may be granted. If your degree is in accounting, it may be possible to receive the maximum number of transfer credits available towards the CGA program.

Business Diploma
If you have already obtained, or are planning to obtain, an accounting or business-related diploma from one of Canada’s recognized post-secondary institutions, you will most likely begin the CGA program at an advanced level, as several transfer credits may be granted. If your diploma is in accounting, it may be possible to receive a significant number of the transfer credits available towards the CGA program. You will be required to meet CGA’s degree requirement prior to receiving your CGA designation.

This path can enable you to complete the remaining CGA course requirements, plus obtain a bachelor’s degree through part-time studies, while working full-time in a financial management related field.

International Students

If you have education, including business or accounting credits, from other countries, CGA will assess your courses to determine your transfer credits towards the CGA program. This education may be in the form of certificates, diplomas, or degrees from foreign institutions.

In some cases, the Association may require that students have their degrees assessed by an outside agency to determine equivalency to Canadian degrees. If the student’s foreign education does not meet the CGA degree requirement, the student will be required to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

International students living in B.C. or the Yukon on a student visa are eligible to enrol in the CGA program. Papers from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada confirming visa status must be included with your other application information.

Keep in mind that although student on visas can begin the CGA program, all CGA students must be qualified to work in Canada in order to meet the program’s practical experience requirement. To earn certification as a CGA in Canada, members must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants.

International students on the CGA program may be able to return to their home countries to complete the certification requirements. See the list of international offices  to find out where the CGA program is offered.

See International Candidates for more about the opportunities available to CGAs in BC, support that CGA students receive from CGA-BC, and resources for newcomers to the province.

Former CGA Students

If you are a former CGA student requesting readmission to the program, you must first submit the Application and Assessment Form. Re-admitted students must take the CGA program of studies applicable at the time of re-admission, which may differ from the program they left.

ACCAs

On December 18, 2006, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and CGA-Canada announced a Mutual Recognition Agreement. The agreement provides a mechanism for members to become designated by the other association.

Central to the agreement is the requirement that, in order to gain membership of each body, members of both bodies must successfully complete an overview course in Canadian/UK tax and law, approved by both ACCA and CGA-Canada. The CGA-Canada course is now available online, thereby allowing ACCA members to commence the application process to become members of CGA-Canada.
Please note that:

• members of both bodies who apply under the terms of this agreement will be required to maintain membership of their original desigation
• the MRA does not convey practice rights; members of both bodies wishing to obtain a practising certificate for general public practice or audit work from either ACCA or CGA-Canada will have to meet the additional requirements specified by each body.

To find out more, ACCA members should log in to myACCA. Login to myACCA to access CGA-Canada CPD resources.

See the Initial Application Process as well as the Initial Application Form and a FAQ for ACCAs intersted in becoming CGAs on the CGA-Canada Website.

CPA Australia Members
CGA-Canada and CPA Australia signed a mutual recognition agreement in April 2008 that allows members of each body to earn their designation in the other organization. For information on how to become a CGA, including access to the application form and an FAQ about CGA, see Related Information on CGA-Canada's Website.

Foreign-Trained Accountants

If you are a foreign-trained accountant and hold a foreign accountancy designation, you may be eligible to enter the program with an advanced standing. Foreign-designated accountants are asked to submit a letter of good standing from their Association along with a current resumé to assist in the assessment of their application.

See International Candidates for more about admission and enrolment, program requirements, costs and time involved, opportunities for CGAs, and resources for new immigrants and new workers in BC.

For further information, contact our [enrolment#cga-bc,org]Student Services division.

Mature Students

The Association recommends that mature students be at least 21 years of age and have two years’ work experience to enter the program.

Each applicant to the CGA Program of Professional Studies is assessed during the application process to determine their entry point into the program. If you are assessed to start the CGA program at Level One, typical for applicants with no post-secondary education, you must have a good understanding of the essential elements of business arithmetic and basic algebra including: arithmetic operations, algebraic concepts, simple and compound interest, annuities and statistics. In addition, you are expected to have at least Grade 12 written and spoken English skills.

High School Graduates

Typically, applicants with no post-secondary education must begin the program at Level 1. In this case you must have a good understanding of the essential elements of business arithmetic and basic algebra including: arithmetic operations, algebraic concepts, simple and compound interest, annuities and statistics. In addition, you are expected to have at least Grade 12 written and verbal English skills.

For details about CGA-BC’s entrance and exit requirements, contact our Student Services [enrolment#cga-bc,org]Admissions staff.

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