Introducing the New CPA Professional Program - An Employers’ Overview

In 2027, the CPA profession in Canada will launch a new CPA Professional Program designed to prepare future CPAs for an increasingly complex and evolving business environment. Developed through extensive consultation with employers and key partners, the program aligns with CPA Competency Map 2.0 and places greater emphasis on leadership, technology, ethical decision-making, and practical workplace experience to help learners develop the competencies organizations need today and in the future.

While the learner pathway will evolve, the profession remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition for both learners and employers. For employers, the transition involves some changes to how CPA learners progress through their education and experience requirements, including new experience planning and mentorship expectations. By becoming familiar with these changes early, employers can continue to confidently attract, develop, and retain CPA talent while supporting learners throughout their certification journey.

CPA Certification Program Comparison

The new program streamlines the education pathway while maintaining the rigorous standards expected of the CPA designation.

	Current CPA Certification Program	New CPA Professional Program (Launching 2027)
Modules	Six: Core 1, Core 2, Elective 1, Elective 2, Capstone 1, Capstone 2.	Four: Foundational Development, CPA Core, CPA Leadership, and CPA Professional Readiness.
Certification Exam	Three-day Common Final Examination (CFE) completed at the end of the program.	3 CPA Professional Final Exams, available to write after CPA Core, CPA Leadership, and CPA Professional Readiness.
Experience	Minimum of 30 months of qualifying practical experience, inclusive of up to 5 months away from work, with demonstrated competency.	Minimum of 24 months of qualifying experience, excluding time away from work, with demonstrated competency. Experience must be met before eligibility into the CPA Professional Readiness module.
Experience Planning	Experience obtained through either a pre-approved program or experience verification route.	All learners complete an experience plan, submitted in advance, to outline how their experience will meet the requirements.
Mentorship	All candidates must be supported by a CPA mentor.	All learners must have a CPA mentor in a sufficiently senior role within their organization. BC Learners without access to a CPA mentor should contact practicalexperience@bccpa.ca.
Current State	Existing certification pathway remains available for current CPA PEP candidates until December 31, 2028, during the transition period.	New program takes effect in 2027 and is aligned with CPA Competency Map 2.0.
Employer Considerations	Support candidate learning, practical experience, and mentorship.	Support learner success where possible by providing opportunities for experience planning, mentorship, and progressive responsibility.

These changes are intended to better integrate learning, assessment, and practical experience throughout the learner journey.

Learn More: You can find comprehensive program details, transition guidance, and implementation timelines on the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) website.

What Employers Need to Know

Employers will continue to play an important role in developing future CPAs by providing workplace experience that enables learners to build and demonstrate professional competencies. Under the new program, employers should be aware that:

Learners must complete a minimum of 24 months of qualifying experience.
Learners are responsible for developing and following an approved experience plan.
Learners will require mentorship from a CPA in a sufficiently senior role within their organization. BCLearners without access to a CPA mentor should contact practicalexperience@bccpa.ca.
Learners will continue to develop technical accounting expertise while gaining stronger leadership, ethical decision-making, and technology-related competencies.

Organizations that support CPA learners will continue to strengthen their workforce with highly skilled, future-ready professionals.

How Employers Can Prepare

To support CPA talent development, employers may consider:

Reviewing existing CPA student support and mentorship programs,
Identifying CPA mentors who can support candidates under the new requirements,
Considering whether current roles provide opportunities for professional judgment and competency development,
Staying informed about transition policies that may affect current CPA candidates and future hires,
Discussing questions or concerns with CPABC's Employer Relations & Talent Development team.

Learn More and Stay Informed

Additional information about the CPA Professional Program, transition pathways for current CPA learners, and implementation timelines will become available as the 2027 launch approaches, and CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) will continue to provide guidance and timelines to support learners and employers throughout the transition period.

We encourage employers to visit the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) website for the latest updates and resources. If you have questions about how the changes may affect your organization, the CPABC Employer Relations & Talent Development team is here to help.