CPA Atlantic School of Business (CPAASB) and CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) have established a transfer credit pathway that allows CPA preparatory students to continue their educational journey by completing the prerequisite knowledge required to enter the CPA Professional Program at Athabasca University.
This means eligible CPAASB preparatory courses can be recognized for credit towards credentials offered at Athabasca University, allowing you to continue your educational journey with flexibility and confidence.
When to Use This Transfer Credit Pathway
CPA preparatory students should refer to this webpage only for the following situations:
1. The CPA preparatory course you wanted to take is no longer offered after December 31, 2027
If the CPA preparatory course you intended to take is no longer offered, you can complete the equivalent post-secondary course at AU to meet the Knowledge Assessment exemption requirements.
Many senior-level courses at AU have prerequisites. The CPA Preparatory Courses and Transfer Credits to AU table below shows how previously completed CPA preparatory courses may transfer to AU to meet these prerequisites.
Example: Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR)
You would like to take ACCT 451 at AU to meet the AFR topic area requirement:
- ACCT 451 has the following prerequisites:
- ACCT 351 (required)
- ACCT 352 (recommended)
- Based on the transfer credit table, AU grants the following transfer credits:
- IF1 → ACCT 351
- IF2 → ACCT 352
- A student who completed IF1 and IF2 may therefore register for ACCT 451 at AU.
For guidance on selecting AU courses to meet CPAASB’s Knowledge Assessment exemption requirements, please reach out to CPAASB’s program transition team by emailing transition@cpaatlantic.ca.
2. You intend to complete an undergraduate degree at AU
If you intend to pursue an undergraduate degree at AU, your CPA preparatory courses may be recognized for degree credit. We highly recommend that you consult AU’s Program and Course Advising team to confirm how transfer credits apply to each program of study.
The CPA Preparatory Courses and Transfer Credits to AU table below shows:
- the AU course awarded for each CPA preparatory course that you’ve taken, and
- how many credits the awarded course contributes toward an AU degree.
Example: Taxation
If you successfully completed the CPA preparatory taxation course, then you have satisfied CPAWSB’s Tax topic area requirement for exemption to the Knowledge Assessment. Therefore, you do not need to take any tax courses at AU.
If you would like to complete a degree with AU, AU would accept the CPA preparatory taxation course and grant transfer credit for TAXX 301, worth three credits toward an AU degree program.
For guidance on transfer credit and selecting the right AU degree program for your needs, please refer to the information below and reach out to AU’s Faculty of Business Program and Course Advising.
CPA Preparatory Courses and Transfer Credits to Athabasca University
The following is a list of the 14 CPA preparatory courses that are approved for transfer credit at Athabasca University, based on the institution’s 2025 review.