Designation use is a matter of public protection. If an individual uses an accounting designation in BC, the public expects them to be regulated in BC.
Members who became CPAs by passing the Common Final Exam or through a newly negotiated CPA membership agreement may use “CPA” only.
Members in BC who became CPAs through either a legacy certification program or legacy membership agreement may only use or display the CPA designation if it is followed by their applicable legacy designation (i.e. “CPA, CA”; “CPA, CGA”; or “CPA, CMA”). After June 24, 2025, all legacy CA, CGA, and CMA members may choose to use and display the CPA designation on its own or continue to use it with and followed by their legacy designation(s).
Non-members are not permitted to use any of these designations. CPAs who belong to another provincial body are not permitted to use the CPA designation in BC unless they are also members of CPABC. Similarly, individuals who hold foreign accounting designations are not permitted to display the foreign designations after their name in BC unless they are also members of CPABC and do so in accordance with section 45 of the Chartered Professional Accountants Act