Your Journey to Becoming a CPA

Interested in becoming a CPA? Below are the steps you can take to learn more about the program and get started on your journey.

Learn About the CPA Designation

• Attend information sessions and events to learn about the process and requirements for enrolling into the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP), as well as to network with CPAs and find career opportunities with employers. All are welcome to attend any of our events but here are some recommended sessions based on demographics:

Meet Post-Secondary Requirements for the CPA Program

To be admitted into CPA PEP you must satisfy the following requirements and follow the application steps:

• A university degree
  • A transcript assessment is required and submitted via My CPA profile. You will be notified once your transcript is assessed, and whether you are eligible to be admitted into the CPA PEP program, or if further education is required.
• 120-credit hours of post-secondary education
• Prerequisite education
  • You can complete the 14 prerequisite courses at any BC post-secondary institution or with the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB). If you take these courses with CPAWSB, you must first be admitted to the CPAWSB.
    • NOTE: There is a special grades policy for those who completed prerequisite courses during a COVID-19 affected semester (January 2020 – December 2021).
  • You can apply early to the CPA program as a conditional candidate before your transcript assessment is completed.
• Good character and reputation

For international students studying at a BC post-secondary institution, here are the requirements for admission:

• Study and work permits if you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• A Canadian third party degree assessment report for international degrees.

Review the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) Schedule to see when the first PEP module is running throughout the year, and when the registration period is. Registration periods are in advance of the start of each module.

Jumpstart on Gaining Relevant Experience for Your CPA 

There are many ways to build your CPA skills outside of the classroom while completing your post-secondary education:

• Become an active member of your college or university’s accounting or business club/association.
• Participate in two recruitment seasons when public practice firms in BC are hiring for co-op, summer internships, and full time jobs after graduation.
• Compete in our annual Business Case Competition to showcase your talent and business acumen. More details wll be shared in November on CPABC's Events page.
• Attend post-secondary and CPABC events to build employer connections and learn about upcoming opportunities, including CPABC's Career Week.
• View the CPABC Practical Experience Requirement (PER) recorded session and attend a live PER Q&A to learn how you can apply up to 12 months of prior, relevant accounting experience to your CPA PER experience as a PEP candidate.