Temporary Program Leave

CPA PEP

Starting April 1, 2022, CPAWSB will offer Temporary Program Leave (temporary withdrawals) to CPA PEP candidates with documented special circumstances. This leave can be taken for any duration between six and 24-months, for a maximum of 24 months.  

Special circumstances include but are not limited to: maternity or paternity leave, compassionate care leave, and long-term illness or injury. Work commitments such as high volumes of work requiring a break from study, or a period of unemployment are not considered special circumstances for Temporary Program Leave. 

Time spent on Temporary Program Leave does not count toward the completion deadlines for the education and experience. This means the leave is excluded when calculating the six years available to complete education and seven years to complete experience. 

Note: While the deadline to complete experience will be extended by the Temporary Program Leave, only experience accrued within the last rolling seven years, regardless of any periods of leave, will be considered when applying for membership. For international designates with previously recognized international experience, expiry dates are not extended by Temporary Program Leave.

If you are unsure whether you will qualify for Temporary Program Leave, please reach out to [email protected] to discuss your situation. 

If you have an identified duration of your special circumstance leave, such as maternity or paternity leave, you should apply for a Temporary Program Leave prior to the intended start date.  If the amount of time is unknown, candidates can wait and apply for the leave immediately after the leave is completed, or the maximum 24 months is reached. 

Candidates who are unsure about the appropriate start and end dates for a proposed program leave and how these dates align with the Program’s module offering/sessions, should initially consult with the Admission Services team at [email protected].

Temporary Program Leave can start on any day and must be at least six months long and taken after that in one-month increments. For example, if you are planning to take a year of parental leave, you can request 12 months of Temporary Program Leave. If you have not already taken Temporary Program Leave or a non-active year, you will have 12 months of Temporary Program Leave remaining should you need them. If you have completed one non-active year, you will not have any Temporary Program Leave remaining. 

Candidates will need to complete the Temporary Program Leave Application Form and submit to [email protected] for review with your supporting documentation.  

Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing of your Temporary Program Leave application.

Note: Candidates with active study permit should contact IRCC to ensure the Temporary Program Leave will not affect your current study permit.

Leave Supporting Documentation

All Temporary Program Leave Applications must be accompanied by supporting documentation based on your individual circumstances. Below are some acceptable documents based on special circumstances

Medical grounds:

To be acceptable, documentation submitted to support an application for a program leave on medical grounds must contain, at a minimum:

• The candidate’s name, as well as complete contact information for the physician or nurse practitioner.
• A clear statement by the physician or nurse practitioner confirming the candidate's inability to perform their academic duties, with start and end dates.

Compassionate grounds:

• Documentation confirming your role as caregiver, i.e. Medical professional identifying you are primary caregiver.

Parental Leave:

• A maternity and/or parental leave must be supported by proof of pregnancy, birth certificate, adoption record, physician's report or letter from employer outlining leave from work.

Approval

If your application for Temporary Program Leave is approved, you will receive:

1. A signed copy of the application form
2. Your updated completion deadlines for the CPA PEP program

Dues

If your temporary program leave is approved, your candidate dues may be reduced by up to 50% for the approved academic year(s).

• For leaves of 18 months or less, reduction or refund equivalent to 50% of one academic year will be granted.
• For leaves 19 months and over, reduction or refund equivalent to 50% of two academic years will be granted.

Please note, the maximum reduction you will receive for the entire duration of the program is 50% on two academic years and at minimum you will be required to pay 50% for any time period in which you have taken leave.

In special circumstances, students taking CPA preparatory courses can temporarily withdraw from taking additional courses for a maximum two years in total. Documentation is required.

Special circumstances include: maternity or paternity leave, compassionate care leave, and long-term illness or injury.