Admissions
To be eligible for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP), all applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:
Admission Requirements
Degree
Three or four-year undergraduate or master’s degree
- In any area of study
- Canadian or internationally-recognized degrees accepted
Prerequisite Courses
14 prerequisite courses completed either as:
- Part of a degree or diploma
- Additional prerequisite courses taken through either
- CPA preparatory courses offered by CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) or
- A recognized post-secondary institution
120-Credit Hours
120-credit hours of post-secondary education
- Can be fulfilled as part of a degree (four-year degree = 120-credit hours)
- Outstanding credit hours can be completed through
- CPA preparatory courses
- Additional post-secondary education
Good Character and Reputation
Provide satisfactory evidence of good character
- Refer to Good Character Requirement for more details
Please note: only Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or persons who are otherwise lawfully permitted to work and study in Canada may be enrolled in the CPA PEP program.
For more information, please refer to the International Students page.
Prerequisite Courses
Completion of the prerequisite courses can be completed as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree through a post-secondary institution; or through the CPA Preparatory Courses offered by the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB). Students should note the different grade and time requirements of the prerequisite courses.
Prerequisite Courses (Core)
Must be completed within the past 10 years
60% minimum grade per course
65% overall grade average required
Intermediate Financial Reporting I
Intermediate Financial Reporting II
Advanced Financial Reporting
Corporate Finance
Audit and Assurance
Taxation
Intermediate Management Accounting
Performance Management
Information Technology*
Prerequisite Courses (Non-core)
No time limit
50% minimum grade per course
Introductory Financial Accounting
Introductory Management Accounting
Economics
Statistics
Business Law
*Information Technology is a core prerequisite requirement for admission to CPA PEP, effective May 1, 2022. For more information on this change, visit this page.
Post Secondary Course Equivalents
Course exemptions may be granted if you have completed course equivalents through a post-secondary institution:
- As part of an undergraduate degree or diploma
- As part of a post-undergraduate degree or diploma
- As individual continued education courses
If you have completed some or all of your prerequisite course equivalents at one or more major post-secondary institutions within British Columbia or the Yukon, please see our Academic Prerequisites to see how your course equivalents count towards meeting the program admission requirements.
Alternatively, students who lack some or all of the prerequisite knowledge required for admission to the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) may choose to complete the CPA Preparatory Courses offered by the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB).
Good Character Requirement
CPABC’s regulatory mandate is to protect the public. In addition to the above prerequisite requirements, as of August 2019, applicants may only be enrolled as students if the applicant has provided satisfactory evidence that they are of good character. Please consult the Good Character Requirement section for more details.
Ready to Apply or Request a Transcript Assessment?
Visit our Application Steps page to learn more about the application process.
Information Sessions and Events
- Application Steps
- Good Character Requirement
- Academic Prerequisites Guides
- Financial Aid
- International Students
- Internationally Designated Accountants
- Mature Entrants
- FAQs
CPAWSB and AFOA Collaborate on Tailored CPA Certification Program Offerings.