About CPABC

About Us

We are the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), the training, governing, and regulatory body for over 40,000 CPA members and 6,000 CPA candidates.

CPABC carries out its primary mission to protect the public by enforcing the highest professional and ethical standards and contributing to the advancement of public policy.

CPAs are on the front lines of business in BC, and they see firsthand the issues that are affecting investment and the economy. Our members advise multinational corporations, small businesses, not-for-profits, government agencies, and countless individuals. They are highly regarded for their leadership in the field of public accounting, their strategic insight in the boardrooms of top corporations, and their guidance in government and public sector accounting.

We are a member organization of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada). There are more than 217,000   professional accountants across the country and around the world.

Our Purpose

CPABC protects the public interest by empowering CPAs and future CPAs to lead and support sustainable economies and communities.

Our Objectives

As described in the CPA Act are to:

  • Promote and maintain the knowledge, skill, and proficiency of members and students; 
  • Establish qualifications and requirements for admission and the continuation of membership, and for the enrolment and continuation of enrolment of students;
  • Regulate members and students; 
  • Establish and enforce professional standards; 
  • Subject to protect the public interest, to represent the interests of members and students; and
  • Protect the public interest.

Underlying all of the purposes spelled out by the Act is the protection of the public interest.

Our Strategic Pillars

We have always emphasized that Protection of the Public is our primary mandate. This is implicit in the mandate provided through the CPA Act. Under this overarching responsibility, there are five areas of focus:

Regulate: CPABC will regulate members and students to uphold professional standards.

Deliver: CPABC will deliver sufficient and appropriately skilled CPAs to meet market demand.

Support: CPABC will support the needs of its members and students.

Lead: CPABC will lead and will foster member leadership on matters related to business and accounting.

Account: CPABC will discharge its mandate in a responsible, transparent and proactive manner.

Our History

The accounting profession in British Columbia has over 130 years of history. We are proud to continue the legacy of the CA, CGA, and CMA accounting bodies in British Columbia. Learn about our history by visiting our history/legacy site.