Post Secondary Students and Degree Holders

Obtaining your CA designation is three steps away. If you are a student enrolled in a degree program, or if you currently hold a baccalaureate degree, the following steps outline the process of becoming a CA.

Step 1: Start with a degree

The first step to becoming a CA is completing a bachelor’s degree (4-year, 120 credit degree) in any discipline, along with 12 prerequisite business and accounting courses. Earning a Business, Management, or Commerce degree with an accounting major is the fastest route to becoming a CA, as it enables you to complete the degree requirements and prerequisite courses at the same time. Individuals who have completed a degree outside of accounting can complete the required prerequisite courses through the CA Bridging Program offered by the University of Lethbridge Edmonton and Calgary campuses. Students should start planning the prerequisite courses into their schedule in their second and third years to ensure course availability. For a list of prerequisite courses by post secondary institution, go to www.becomea.ca.

Step 2: Obtain Employment in a CA Training Office

All students must find employment within a CA Training Office (CATO) to complete the practical experience requirement to become a CA. These positions are commonly referred to as ‘CA articling positions’. Students typically go through recruitment for CA articling positions in the fall (September) of their last year of studies. All training positions, including co-op, summer and permanent are recruited for in September and October for positions commencing at various times throughout the next year. Generally, it takes three years of work experience to qualify for a CA designation. A list of CA Training Offices is available online at www.becomea.ca.

Important Recruitment Dates for 2011

During the fall recruitment, the CA Recruitment Calendar outlines specific dates to guide the recruitment process in Alberta. The calendar harmonizes the dates for recruitment of accounting students for all Alberta postsecondary institutions (along with the University of Saskatchewan).

The Meet the CA Training Office events are open to the public, and no registration is required. Details of the events will be posted closer to the event dates.

For more information on recruitment events, click here.

Step 3: Learn through CASB

Once you have graduated with a degree and the required prerequisite courses, you will complete a graduate-level learning program through the CA School of Business (CASB). The online modules are completed alongside practical experience. In order to be accepted into CASB, you must have an overall GPA of 2.5 on the required business and accounting prerequisite courses. For more information on CASB, click here.

Slideshow on becoming a CA

To start the presentation, click anywhere on the screen. The presentation has three sections--About the Profession, Become a CA, and CA School of Business. To view a section click on one of the boxes on the bottom of the screen. Use the green arrows to scroll through the presentation.