CPA Canada 2024: Overview, Salary, Eligibility, Job Prospects
Talk to Expert
The full form of CPA Canada is Chartered Professional Accountants. It is an educational program that offers the unification of CIGA, CMA and CGA. According to experts, CPA candidates with knowledge in accounting and tech skills are irreplaceable in future.
CPA Canada or Chartered Professional Accountant in Canada is a popular qualification that allows a candidate to work as an accountant across Canada. The demand for people who are knowledgeable in accounting, auditing and taxation-related topics is evergreen. After completing the Chartered Professional Accountant course, candidates can expect the average salary of CPA in Canada between CAD 70,000 and CAD 80,000 annually.
Canada is considered a second home for Indians. Every year a large number of Indian students apply to study in Canada or job opportunities. Indian students who are planning to pursue the CPA Professional Education Program in Canada, need to have a UG degree in Accounting subject from a valid university. CPAs deal with income tax handling, auditing, accounting, and more. In this blog, you will get insightful information about CPA Canada including the course details, salary, colleges, fees and more.
What is CPA Canada?
The CPA full form in Canada is Chartered Professional Accountants. It is an educational program that offers the unification of CIGA, CMA and CGA. Canada is one of the most developed nations in the world. It is famous for offering a decent salary for various job opportunities including the professional chartered accountant. Graduate students of accounting from across the world apply for admission to CPA colleges in Canada.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Chartered Professional Accountants is the national organization that represents the unification of CIGA (Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants), CMA Canada (Society of the Management Accountants of Canada) and CGA-Canada (Certified General Accountants of Canada). These popular bodies in Canada merged in the year 2014. Several popular institutions offer the CPA Canada course to international students.
Popular Terms Related to CPA in Canada
- CPA- Chartered Professional Accountant
- CPA PEP- Chartered Professional Accountant Professional Education Program
- CPA PREP- Chartered Professional Accountant Preparatory Courses
- CPA CFE- Chartered Professional Accountant Common Final Examination
How to Become a CPA in Canada?
To be a Chartered Professional Accountant or CA in Abroad, students need to follow a fixed path. As an international student, you need to start from scratch to be a CPA in Canada. Eligible students need to enrol in the CPA Prep course first. This course is a 14-module program that will improve the required skills and knowledge in the finance domain.
After that, you can get admission to CPA PEP and the common final examination is the last step. Candidates can get admission to CPA PEP, if they hold a graduation degree offered by a Canadian university. For students who completed their UG from Canadian universities, can directly enroll in the Professional Education Program.
It is advisable to the CPA Canada candidates that they must know about the latest technology to handle situations in their industry. According to Karim Lakhani (a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School), “AI is not going to replace humans, but humans with AI are going to replace humans without AI”.
CPA Colleges in Canada
Check out the list of top CPA colleges in Canada for offering admission to international students including Indians.
- University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia
- University of Waterloo
- University of Calgary
- York University
CPA Canada Eligibility
To get enrolled in the course for becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant in Canada, you need to fulfil certain eligibility decided by the authority. We have mentioned point-wise CPA Canada eligibility below which will be helpful for you ahead.
- Must have a valid UG Degree- Candidates who are applying for a CPA professional education program, must have a valid UG degree in the accounting subject. Else, a UG degree in a relevant subject from a Canadian university. If you are not from an accounts background or an International student, you can join CPA preparatory courses first. Keep in mind, that 16 years of education (10+2+4) is mandatory eligibility for this.
- CPA PEP- Candidates must have done the CPA Canada Professional Education Program (PEP) from CPA accredited institute.
- Work Experience- A minimum of 30 months of work experience is mandatory to be eligible for CPA. The accounting body will do a background check of your work experience.
- Credit Required- It is important that candidates have either done a 4-year UG course or have 120 credits.
- Language Proficiency- Candidates must have proficiency in the English language (Level 8 in the Canadian Benchmark is recommended).
CPA Canada Course
The duration of the CPA Canada course is 2 to 3 years. Apart from Canadian colleges, some online platforms offer CPA Canada courses. Candidates who are not from an accounting background need to pursue a CPA PREP course first. After that, they can pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant Professional Education Program (CPA PEP). It is known as the CPA Canada course also.
After completing the course, candidates need to appear in the 3-day Common Final Exam conducted by the authority. This test will assess the candidate’s writing ability and proficiency in the English language. This exam is divided into four different modules. The score range of every module is 0 to 99 and getting 75 is mandatory to pass the exam. Four modules of the Common Final Exam are mentioned below
- Auditing and Attestation
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Regulation
- Business Environment and Concepts
Related Articles
- UG & PG Diploma Courses in Accounting in Canada
- Diploma in Finance in Canada - Requirements, Fees, Colleges
- Diploma in Business Management in Canada: Courses, Top Universities, Fees & Requirements
Fees for CPA Canada
Candidates who have already done CA or other related courses need to pay less than the new candidates in this domain. The CPA Canada fee is nearly 7 to 8 lakhs Indian rupees, including the PEP and the preparatory courses. This amount includes the fee of workshops, exams and other necessary expenses for this course. This fee does not include the registration fee for the Common Final Exam, which is USD 1700 (INR 1.41 Lakhs).
Chartered Accountant Canada Salary
The job role of a chartered accountant is one of the lucrative paying jobs in the world. After getting the designation candidates can expect a salary of CPA in Canada between CAD 78,000 to CAD 1,37,000 annually (INR 48 to 80 Lakhs) annually. According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a chartered accountant in Canada is CAD 97,000 (INR 59.79 Lakhs) annually.
Job Opportunity as CPA Canada
The major aim of every candidate pursuing CPA Canada is to get job opportunities here. Depending on their expertise, candidates can work in government organizations, or private firms or start their own venture.
CPA Canada vs CPA USA
The USA and Canada is two nations well known for great working opportunities. When it comes to comparing CPA Canada vs CPA USA then eligibility, salary, expenses and exam time are the key factors. Below, we have given you a quick overview of the differences between these two countries.
| CPA Canada | CPA USA | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Pass the CFA exam and 30 Months of relevant practical experience | Graduation + 1 year of PG (120 credits), and at least 2 years of work experience |
| Duration | 2 to 3 Years | 1 to 1.5 years |
| Exam Fees | Depends on the type of module you choose | USD 3150 |
| Salary | USD 81,453/Year (INR 67.74 Lakhs) | USD 96,664/Year (INR 80,39 Lakhs) |
CPA Canada FAQs
Q. What is the exam frequency of CPA Canada?
A. The exam conducting body conducts the CPA Canada exam twice a year.
Q. What is the CPA Canada Syllabus?
A. According to the syllabus of Chartered Professional Accountants in Canada, these are the top courses.
- Advanced Financial Reporting
- Corporate Finance
- Audit and Assurance
- Taxation
- Economics
Apart from these, there are some other topics which access the knowledge of candidates.
Q. What is CPA course fee in Canada for International Students?
A. The fee for CPA in Canada depends on the choice of educational institution you choose. However, the starting range for international students is CAD 12,000.
Q: Is Cambrian College in Canada a good option for international students?
Cambrian College in Canada is largely recognised as a prestigious institution, making it an attractive option for overseas students. The college provides a wide choice of programmes, and its accreditation guarantees respect to academic standards. Prospective students should carefully assess Cambrian College's suitability in terms of individual programme offers, campus facilities, location, and foreign student support services. The total cost of education, including tuition and living expenses, should also be considered, as well as any available financial help or scholarships. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, check Cambrian College's official website, contact international student services, and speak with current or former international students for firsthand experiences.
Q: What is the University of Canada West acceptance rate?
As per some unofficial sources, the University of West Canada acceptance rate is 80%, which means out of every 100 applications, around 80 are selected, which makes it fairly easy to get selected into the university.
The university gives preference to students having higher grades or have exceptional academic or research experience. Hence, having higher grades increases your chance of getting selected at University of West Canada.
Here is the list of eligibility requirements to get into Canadian Universities.
Q: What is the CGPA requirement for Prince Edward Island?
International students must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements to study at Prince Edward Island. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 1.7 in the major subject requirements for Prince Edward Island University admission.
Read about the Canada Grading System
Q: What IELTS score is required at Prince Edward Island University?
International students must meet the Prince Edward Island University IELTS requirements to get admission to UG and PG programs. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit the IELTS score to meet the English language requirements. Mentioned below are the minimum IELTS score required for undergraduate and graduate admissions:
English Language Exam | Arts, Science, Business, Engineering and Bachelor of Education | Nursing, Radiography, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine & Education |
|---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | Overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6 | Overall score of 7 with 7 in writing and speaking; 6.5 in reading and listening |
English Language Exam | Regular Offer (All Programs Except Those Noted In Next Column) | Regular Offer (Nursing, Education, Doctor Of Philosophy, Doctor Of Applied Health) |
|---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 7 in writing and no band lower than 6.5 | 7 in writing and speaking; 6.5 in reading and listening |
Q: What are the job opportunities after doing BBA from Acsenda School of Management, Canada?
BBA graduates from Acsenda School of Management, Canada typically finds jobs in sectors including international trades, licensing or financial agreements, multinational enterprises, banks and other international financial institutions among others.
Q: How to apply in Royal Roads University Canada?
International students can apply for Royal Roads University admissions by following the below steps:
Step 1: Find your programme from Royal Roads University courses
Step 2: Check programme specific deadline and admission requirements
Step 3: Now, fill your Royal Roads University admission application online as early as possible
Step 4: Pay non-refundable Royal Roads University application fee
Step 5: Submit all your supporting documents
Step 6: Once submitted, check the status of your application online to see how it's progressing
Q: How to apply to Centennial College Canada?
The applicants can fill out the application form online only by accessing the link given on the official website of Centennial College. In order to take admission to Centennial College Canada, the applicants are required to follow the application process given as follows:
Step 1: First of all, choose the programme in which admission has to be taken
Step 2: Then, complete Centennial College online application
Step 3: Next, email all the required documents
Step 4: Then, check the application status. The applicants can contact their Regional Admissions Team Member to check the application status. Include the name or date of birth and date of birth in the mail
Step 5: Then, receive an acceptance package or deposit letter
Step 6: After following the above-mentioned step, apply for a study permit or visa
Step 7: Notify the admissions team in case the study permit application has been approved
Step 8: Log in to myCentennial to access headSTART. This is a pre-arrival programme designed to help new students prepare for the first week of classes.
Step 9: Lastly, complete the registration in person or online
Also Read: How to Apply for UG & PG Courses in Canada?
Q: Which is good for MS in CS in Canada: the University of Lethbridge or Memorial University of Newfoundland?
Both the University of Lethbridge and Memorial University of Newfoundland are among the top universities in Canada for international students. They offers the quality education at a low cost compared to other top MS in CS universities in the world. We have compared them in the table below in terms of tuition fee and ranking:
MS in CS Universities | Tuition Fees | US News World Ranking |
|---|---|---|
University of Lethbridge | INR 10 L | 1741 |
Memorial University of Newfoundland | INR 4.7 L | 698 |
Raj Vimal has experience of 7+ years in SEO Content Writing, which includes 5+ years in the Ed-Tech industry. He has written articles about studying abroad, especially in the USA, UK, and other English-speaking coun... Read Full Bio
- Universities in Canada174 Universities
- Universities in USA1036 Universities
- Universities in Australia122 Universities
- Universities in UK175 Universities
- Universities in Ireland32 Universities
- Universities in New Zealand70 Universities
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae