Arriving was just the beginning.  Become an Alberta Chartered Accountant.

Much of this work made possible by a grant from the Government of Alberta's Foreign Qualifications Recognition Innovation Fund.

Welcome to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta's (ICAA) webpage dedicated to providing services to new, foreign-educated Canadians who do not currently hold a professional accounting designation, but who want to become Alberta Chartered Accountants (CAs).

On this webpage, you'll find direct access to a variety of services offered by the ICAA, and other programs designed to help new Canadians earn their CA designation in Alberta.

The services and programs on this webpage will help you:

• find employment at a CA Training Office;
• prepare for the Uniform Evaluation (UFE);
• expand your communication skills in Canadian business culture; and
• earn your Chartered Accountant (CA) designation.

How to become an Alberta Chartered Accountant

If you are an internationally educated professional and hold no professional accounting designation, the ICAA can help you gain the necessary requirements to obtain a CA designation.

All foreign education must be assessed by the International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS) to determine the Canadian education equivalency. Once you receive your assessment from IQAS, the CA School of Business (CASB) can help you determine what additional requirements you need to enter the CA education program.

If you hold the equivalent to a four-year (120 credit hour) Canadian bachelor’s degree as determined by IQAS, you will need to send your IQAS transcripts to CASB to review what business and accounting prerequisite courses you have already completed, as well as to determine any additional courses you may need. All required business and accounting courses can be completed through CA Bridging.

The typical route for qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in Canada requires individuals to have completed the following:

Education

• a four-year bachelor's degree with the required business and accounting courses; and 
• a professional education program - in Western Canada, students complete online modules through the CA School of Business (CASB).  

Experience

• CA students must gain approximately three years of work experience in a CA Training Office under the supervision of experienced CAs.

Evaluation and Assessment

• Throughout the professional education program, and during the practical work experience, students undergo assessments and evaluations.
• Every CA student must write the Uniform Evaluation (UFE) to qualify as a Chartered Accountant.  

Communication Skills for Canadian Business (Speaking)

A seminar series designed for CA students, other accounting students and accountants whose first language for business is not English. Participants will have many opportunities to practice spoken English in a supportive environment while learning the basics of Canadian business culture.

When: Tuesday evenings from 5:30pm – 8:30pm, for 8 weeks beginning May 7, 2013

Location: Calgary and Edmonton

Cost: $249+gst

A limited number of scholarships are available, register soon to qualify. Some restrictions apply.

For More Information: or to register contact Daniel Neville at (780) 409-2560 or 1-800-232-9406, or via email at d.neville@icaa.ab.ca.

ICAA Job Board

Hosted by the ICAA, the Employment Opportunities Job Board features Alberta job postings for CAs and CA students. This job board is designed to serve CAs and CA students from Alberta, and across Canada, as well as new and arriving Canadians.

Access the job board to see the employment opportunities currently available.

Uniform Evaluation (UFE) Lessons

The ICAA is offering an online course designed to assist foreign-educated/designated accounting professionals prepare for writing the Uniform Evaluation (UFE). The course, UFE Lessons, comprises of instruction on how foreign-educated and foreign-designated individuals can best acculturate themselves to the rigor and structure of the UFE.

The UFE is a three-day examination written by all CA students across Canada. To pass the UFE, writers must demonstrate not only technical knowledge, but also the ability to imbue their exam responses with their knowledge of business approaches, practices and culture.

The online UFE Lessons course will consist of four lessons that will help internationally educated candidates in areas such as:

• What to expect of the UFE itself
• What to expect when asked to write a case study
• How to read and interpret what is truly being asked in a particular UFE question
• How to incorporate larger themes, practices and traditions into exam answers

While each of these course components includes an aspect of language training, the major focus of the course is on teaching the cultural context and connections that can often determine success.

CA Bridging

Offered at the University of Lethbridge’s (U of L) Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge campuses, CA Bridging enables you to complete all the business and accounting courses needed for admission into the CA School of Business (CASB). 

CA Bridging is designed to enable the typical student to complete within 12-24 months, while continuing to work full-time. You can take only the courses you need – if you have previous accounting courses, you can complete it more quickly. Courses are offered on evenings and weekends in Calgary and Edmonton, and during the daytime in Lethbridge, and are taught by experienced accounting professionals.

If you have a non-business degree, CA Bridging enables you to obtain the necessary business and accounting prerequisite courses for admission to the CA School of Business.

If you currently have a business degree, you may need only a few courses to complete the CASB prerequisite courses.

Depending on the courses required, the student can begin CA Bridging in September, January, May or July.

Information for students at the U of L’s Edmonton campus.

Information for students at the U of L’s Calgary campus.

Information for students at the U of L's Lethbridge Campus.

Thanks to the generosity of two distinguished donors to the CA Education Foundation of Alberta (CAEF), financial assistance is available to eligible CA Bridging students.