Specialty Designations

Chartered Accountants in Canada have access to six profession-endorsed specialist designations, some offered directly by the CICA, and others through organizations that have been accredited by the CICA. Currently, more that 1,000 of your colleagues have earned the advantage of a CA specialist designation.

Regardless of the route to the specialist designation, candidates for specialist certification need to demonstrate experience in the field, in addition to completing an evaluation process. As well, specialists must comply with continuing experience and professional development standards to maintain the designation.

Why Consider a Specialist Designation

A CA specialist designation involves a rigorous and objective designation process that attests to the individual's skills and experience, combining: the well-recognized and respected attributes of the CA, in particular integrity, understanding of business, and financial acumen; and an in-depth understanding and experience of a specific technical area assessed through a profession-endorsed certification process.

These attributes provide a competitive advantage by indentifying the designation holder as the individual with the knowledge that counts to resolve complex matters in the particular field.

Specialty Designations

Chartered Business Valuator (CA•CBV)
Business valuations are needed in many circumstances, including acquisitions, adding partners, creating stock options, and estate planning. The route to specializing in business valuation is through qualifying as a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), offered by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (CICBV).

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CA•CISA)
This specialization is available through the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) designation from the internationally recognized Information Systems Audit and Control Association. The CISA designation, held by 30,000 members worldwide, recognizes educational achievement in five domains of IS audit competence, including standards and practices; organization and management; processes; integrity, confidentiality and availability; and software development, acquisition and maintenance.

Information Technology (CA•IT)
CA•ITs apply business acumen, strategic insight, and understanding of IT to help organizations succeed. Offered through the CA profession's Alliance for Excellence in Information Technology (IT Alliance), this new CA-only program is aimed at those CAs who provide the critical link between technology and management. Existing experienced specialists can apply under a grandparenting provision available until December 31, 2005. The regular program requires candidates to demonstrate experience in the field and complete an education program that covers all the IT Alliance's competencies.

Certified Internal Auditor (CA•CIA)
This specialist designation is available through the internationally recognized Institute of Internal Auditors' (IIA) Certified Internal Auditor designation (CIA), held by nearly 40,000 individuals worldwide. For almost three decades, the CIA, the IIA's premier designation, has reflected competence in the principles and practices of internal auditing.

Chartered Insolvency Restructuring Professional (CA•CIRP)
The insolvency and restructuring specialization is available through the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CAIRP) that licenses members as Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CIRP). Most Canadian insolvency professionals acting as trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, and agents or consultants in insolvency matters are CIRPs.

Investigative and Forensic Accounting (CA•IFA)
CA•IFAs work in financial investigations, and loss quantifications. Assignments can be directed to dispute resolution, such as a fraud investigation, or they may be consulting assignments, such as developing policies to prevent fraud. The CA•IFA designation is offered through the CA profession's Alliance for Excellence in Investigative and Forensic Accounting (IFA Alliance). It is another CA-only designation for those who have met the IFA Alliance's experience requirements and who have completed the Diploma in Investigative and Forensic Accounting, offered by the Rotman School of Management and HEC Montreal.

Specialty Designation Resources

CA - Designated Specialists