Becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) begins with the 14 prerequisites that are required for entry to the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP). Prospective CPA Atlantic School students and candidates may complete prerequisites for the CPA PEP program through recognized institutions across Canada and abroad. Prerequisites can also be completed through CPA preparatory courses.
The transfer credit guides below outline the recognized prerequisite course equivalents offered by universities and colleges in Atlantic Canada and Bermuda.
Please note:
• Courses other than those listed here may qualify for an exemption. Please contact your regional CPA Student Recruitment Advisor if you believe this applies to you.
• Codes for equivalent university courses from prior years may vary from this list. Please contact your CPA Student Recruitment Advisor for more detail.
• If you lack some or all of these courses detailed here, they can be completed at one of the listed post-secondary institutions, or through CPA preparatory courses.
1 ITE changed from a non-core to a core prerequisite requirement for admission to the CPA PEP, effective May 1, 2022. If you still have questions, please contact your CPA student recruitment advisor to discuss further.
2 Data Analytics & Info Systems; The CPA profession added data analytics and information systems (DAIS) to the CPA Competency Map. It is a testable topic on the Common Final Examination (CFE). DAIS topics have been integrated throughout the six technical competencies and in the CPA Canada Preparatory Courses. Students are expected to have an introductory-level understanding of DAIS topics prior to entering the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). DAIS topics can be learned through completion of CPA preparatory courses and/or through successful completion of the above indicated course(s) at a post-secondary institution. Students registered in PEP will have the opportunity to refresh their understanding of DAIS topics in the Introduction to PEP module.
The above post-secondary transfer credit guides includes recognized courses from several universities and colleges in the Atlantic region and Bermuda. Courses taken at universities and colleges not listed here may still be assessed.
Improved access to preparatory courses for Francophone business graduates looking to enrol in the CPA PEP.
CPA Atlantic School is pleased to inform our francophone students of a new way to complete the pre-requisites for the CPA PEP. Offered entirely online and in French by TÉLUQ University, the CPA Pre-requisite Certificate is now available and provides increased access to pre-requisite courses to the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP).
Courses included in the certificate can be found in the above equivalency chart, for more information on the certificate contact renseignements@cpaatlantique.ca, or visit TÉLUQ online.
Post-secondary equivalencies for all other provinces
A list of recognized prerequisite courses offered at Canadian post-secondary institutions outside of Atlantic Canada can be found on the provincial CPA websites here: