r/Accounting•13 yr. ago

Do any Quebec/Canadian accountants know about the switch to CPA?

It's hard to find good information on the switch, it seems to be either glorified or demonized. I'm basically a first year accounting student and I'd like to know what I'm getting into. They have the same three (CA, CMA, CGA) denominations, but with CPA attached. Does that change the difficulty of achieving each to around even, or is everything the same as before? There is a ten year period before they remove the CA, CMA, CGA titles entirely, so does that mean it's more of a 'specialty'?

Posted Mar 4, 2013, 3:03 AM UTC

Sort by:

TryAnotherAvailabile•13 yr. ago

At least in Ontario, unless you're registered with the ICAO before Feb. 2015 (that is, you just start a CA job - co-op/fulltime/internship by Jan. 2015) you will be receiving a CPA only. In addition, to receive both the CA and CPA, you must complete all your requirements (hours, exams, etc) by 2020, or you will only get the CPA even if you're registered prior to Feb 2015.

Anyways, if you're first year right now, unless you're working at a CATO firm this summer, you will only be getting your CPA, so you dont really need to concern yourself about these things. Also, everything will be just consolidated into a single CPA designation in 2023.

DeadBacon•13 yr. ago

So if I start a co-op/fulltime/internship in Ontario with a firm before Feb. 2015 I will still go through the current CA process?

Fort_KickassStaff Accountant (Can)•13 yr. ago

As I understand if you aren't starting your program before they roll out the CPA, (this sept in BC), you will have CPA behind your name only.

CPAOne.com may be helpful. A lot of the bias and misinformation is coming from those with designations already. As a student it looks like you will become a CPA no matter what you do.

martinarcand1•13 yr. ago

Right now from what I heard they're trying to get the universities to accept the change in order for everyone to get the same education without fucking up those that already in a pre-merger program.

They're supposed to give you information on what courses you're missing and the equivalents in the new program ASAP (probably before the start of next semester) while trying to minimize impact on your studies.

Some things will change (I've heard there will be less finance, but more managerial accounting), but ultimately, you should be pretty well versed in all 3 programs.

I know my university has 1 course difference between CA and CGA, and from what I remember 3-4 between CA and CMA, so those '5' courses are probably going to be molded into each other or with other existing courses in order to get everything together.

Nideas•13 yr. ago

In Quebec, you won't have a choice. Unless you finish this semester, it is the last batch of students who will choose between CPA-CA, CPA-CGA or CPA-CMA.

The following students will be CPA and will have to choose 2 electives (tax, auditing, performance analysis, IT, etc...). If you want to audit public companies, you will have to choose auditing and tax to get your auditing licence.

The CPA du Québec made a presentation at UQAM last semester... the same one they gave at CÉGEPs and High school. All in all they said they whould have more information in march.