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Become a CPA
About the Program
Experience
Prospective Students

Prospective & Preparatory Level Students

All students must complete the Practical Experience Requirements to qualify as a CPA.

The Practical Experience Requirements consist of:

A minimum of 30 months of paid, relevant and progressive work experience (or equivalent)
Demonstration of core, depth, and breadth technical competencies
Demonstration of enabling competencies
Ongoing mentorship

Pre-Approved Programs (PPR)

Gain relevant experience in training positions pre-approved by the profession.

Experience Verification (EVR)

Demonstrate relevant experience at an employer of choice.

Future CPAs can gain experience through either route, or a combination of both. The pre-approved program route (PPR) is not restricted to accounting firms and is available to employers, of any size, in any industry.

See a list of PPR offices. Pre-approved programs must be approved by CPABC in advance and are designed to provide candidates with all the required practical experience within 30 months.

CPA Practical Experience Routes

Watch an overview of the common requirements for the two CPA practical experience routes.

PER Self-Assessment

This tool is intended for individuals who have not yet had their experience assessed by a provincial/regional body but want to understand how their current or prospective position might align with the CPA technical competency requirements for purposes of the experience verification route.

Access the Self-Assessment Tool

Mentorship

Please see Mentees & Mentors for all mentorship related information.

Recruitment Framework

In collaboration with public practice firms and post-secondary institutions in BC, CPABC has developed a recruitment framework with guidelines for hiring candidates into Pre-approved Program Route (PPR) positions. See guidelines to Recruitment Framework on how students, employers, post-secondary institutions, and the BC accounting profession can effectively and productively engage in the post-secondary recruitment process.

PPR Office Listing

Recruitment Framework