Post-Designation Public Accounting
Protecting the public and provincial accounting regulations mandate that all CPAs with the right to provide public accounting services meet the CPA profession’s public accounting registration standards. There are two ways to meet these standards:
- At the point of CPA certification by successfully completing the assurance pathway in education, examination, and practical experience.
- After CPA certification by meeting additional education, examination, and experience requirements. British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba offer tiered licensing pathways for PDPA registration.
Members who did not complete the assurance pathway at certification and want to start practicing in assurance services are required to complete the nationally developed Post-Designation Public Accounting (PDPA) program, which includes the PDPA module and the PDPA examination.
Members looking to start practicing in compilation services (only available in provinces with tiered licensing pathways for post-designation public accounting registration) are required to complete the CPA PEP Taxation module and examination.
PDPA Program
The PDPA program offers members who are qualified without public accounting practice rights to an efficient education and examination option. It comprises a mandatory education module and examination in assurance, taxation, financial accounting, finance, and strategy and governance.
PDPA Taxation Module
Members seeking registration for compilation in jurisdictions offering tiered registration are required to complete the taxation elective of the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP), and meet their jurisdiction’s practical experience requirements for compilation.
