Last updated: July 5, 2021 | Last reviewed: August 9, 2024

Introduction

Your privacy is important to the CPA Western School of Business (“CPAWSB” or the “School”). This Privacy Statement explains how CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information, including information collected through our website, our online portal known as “My CPA portal” and correspondence with you, and when providing services.

CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses and retains personal information in two circumstances:

CPAWSB is retained by CPA British Columbia, CPA Alberta, CPA Saskatchewan, and CPA Manitoba (collectively the “Provincial CPA Bodies”) to provide CPA education services on behalf of the Provincial CPA Bodies. This means that, in most cases, when CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information it does so in its capacity as a service provider to the Provincial CPA Bodies and in accordance with the applicable Provincial CPA Body’s privacy policy (not this Privacy Statement). How CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information in its capacity as a service provider to a Provincial CPA Body is described in the applicable Provincial CPA Body’s privacy policy. For more information (including where you can find each Provincial CPA Body’s privacy policy), please see Part 1 of this Privacy Statement.

In some circumstances, CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information for its own purposes (including to manage the relationships with its employees and to comply with its legal obligations). For more information, please see Part 2 of this Privacy Statement.

Part 1: CPAWSB’s Privacy Statement for the Collection, Use, Disclosure, and Retention of Personal Information as a Service Provider

This Part 1 explains how CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information in its capacity as a service provider to the Provincial CPA Bodies and in accordance with the Provincial CPA Bodies’ privacy policies. How CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information in its capacity as a service provider to a Provincial CPA Body is described in the applicable Provincial CPA Body’s privacy policy.

CPAWSB is engaged as the contractor for education delivery on behalf of the Provincial CPA Bodies: CPA British Columbia, CPA Alberta, CPA Saskatchewan, and CPA Manitoba. CPA learners enrolled at CPAWSB (each a “learner”) include students enrolled in CPA preparatory courses, candidates enrolled in the CPA Professional Education Program, members enrolled in Post-Designation Public Accounting, and internationally-trained accountants registered in the CPA Reciprocity Exam in Western Canada.

When handling learner personal information as a contractor to a Provincial CPA Body, CPAWSB’s management and protection of personal information is in accordance with, and described in, the privacy policy of that Provincial CPA Body. For example, if you are a learner located in British Columbia, CPAWSB’s collection, use, disclosure, and retention of your personal information in its capacity as a service provider to CPA British Columbia is in accordance with CPA British Columbia’s privacy policy and you should review that privacy policy. Privacy officer contact information and links to each organization’s privacy policy appear in the table below. 

Provincial CPA Body Privacy Statement	Privacy Officer Email	Privacy Officer Mailing Address
CPA British Columbia* or CPA Yukon	[email protected]	Privacy Officer, Suite 800, 555 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6
CPA Alberta or CPA NWT/Nunavut	[email protected]	Privacy Officer, 1900-10088 102 Ave Edmonton, AB, T5J 2Z1
CPA Saskatchewan	[email protected]	Privacy Officer, #101 – 4581 Parliament Avenue Regina, SK, S4W 0G3
CPA Manitoba	[email protected]	Privacy Officer, 1675 – One Lombard Place Winnipeg, MB, R3B 0X3

^{* For individuals whose personal information is collected by CPAWSB on behalf of CPA British Columbia, collecting this personal information is authorized under section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Send questions regarding the collection of this information to CPA British Columbia’s Privacy Officer at [email protected] or 1-800-663-2677 or by mail at 800-555 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 4N6.}

When handling personal information for its own purposes, including employee and contractor personal information, CPAWSB’s management and protection of personal information is governed by the information in Part 2 of this privacy statement .

CPAWSB collects personal information on behalf of each Provincial CPA Body. An individual’s personal information stored in My CPA Portal, including the information provided for transcript assessments; in admission applications and annual re-enrollment; in module, course, or exam registration; and CPA education results is collected by CPAWSB on behalf of the Provincial CPA Body listed on an individual’s CPA profile. If an individual is ultimately successful in completing CPA education, the personal information they provide is collected and used by the Provincial CPA Body to grant CPA certification.

CPAWSB may also collect personal information on behalf of the relevant Provincial CPA Body in accordance with specific consents you may provide.

For more information on how CPAWSB collects personal information on behalf of a Provincial CPA Body, please review the privacy policy for that Provincial CPA Body.

CPAWSB uses personal information on behalf of each Provincial CPA Body as instructed by that Provincial CPA Body and to perform its duties and functions to deliver CPA education on behalf of the Provincial CPA Bodies, including:

Assessing transcripts, admission applications, and annual re-enrollment;
Administering CPA education programs and exams;
Corresponding with prospective and current learners;
Medical accommodation and re-mark requests; 
Fulfilling requests from learners, such as issuing transcripts or status letters; and

Investigating plagiarism and other forms of misconduct.

For more information on how CPAWSB uses personal information on behalf of a Provincial CPA Body, please review the privacy policy for that Provincial CPA Body.

CPAWSB discloses personal information on behalf of each Provincial CPA Body as instructed by that Provincial CPA Body, to its suppliers and service providers, and in accordance with specific consents you may provide. For example:

To CPA Canada: CPAWSB, on behalf of the Provincial CPA Bodies, discloses learner personal information to CPA Canada to facilitate delivery of CPA education and exams and to provide support, administer medical accommodation and re-mark requests. Consent for CPAWSB to disclose personal information to CPA Canada on behalf of Provincial CPA Bodies can be withdrawn by contacting the appropriate Provincial CPA Body privacy officer. Learners who choose to withdraw this consent may be unable to continue pursuing CPA studies.
To Employers: Learners have the option to provide consent for CPAWSB, on behalf of their Provincial CPA Bodies, to disclose their academic status and CPA education progress to their employers. Learners can withdraw their consent and update employment information at any time via My CPA portal.
To Suppliers and Service Providers: CPAWSB may use its own suppliers and service providers in the course of providing services to the Provincial CPA Bodies. Trusted third parties who assist CPAWSB in delivering CPA education on behalf of the Provincial CPA Bodies may have access to personal information to assist CPAWSB with delivering CPA education. CPAWSB requires its suppliers and service providers to agree to use personal information only for the purposes for which it is provided to them, and to protect the privacy of personal information in a manner that is consistent with this privacy statement.
To Others: CPAWSB may disclose personal information on behalf of a Provincial CPA Body in accordance with specific consents you may provide. For example, learners may request that CPAWSB, on behalf of their Provincial CPA Bodies, disclose specific information such as their CPA status and/or CPA education history to the people or organizations specified in the request.

Law Enforcement/Legal Disclosures: In limited circumstances, CPAWSB, on behalf of the Provincial CPA Bodies, may disclose personal information without consent as permitted by law, including complying with a subpoena, warrant or court or arbitral order, or litigation disclosure obligations.

For more information on how CPAWSB discloses personal information on behalf of a Provincial CPA Body, please review the privacy policy for that Provincial CPA Body.

Part 2: CPAWSB’s Privacy Statement for the Collection, Use, Disclosure and Retention of Personal Information for its Own Purposes

This Part 2 explains how CPAWSB collects, uses, discloses and retains personal information for its own purposes (including to manage the relationships with its employees and to comply with its legal obligations).

Applicable Privacy Legislation

When collecting, using, or disclosing personal information for its own purposes, including employee and contractor personal information to manage the employee relationship, CPAWSB’s management and protection of personal information is governed by the following privacy legislation (as applicable):

•   BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA BC)
•   Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA AB)
•   Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

When handling learner personal information as a service provider to the Provincial CPA Bodies, CPAWSB’s management and protection of personal information is governed by the privacy policies of the Provincial CPA Bodies as described Part 1 of this Privacy Statement.

All employees, service providers, contractors, and volunteers working on behalf of CPAWSB are responsible for ensuring compliance with CPAWSB’s legal obligations regarding privacy and personal information including securing and protecting personal information in control of the School.

Personal Information

Personal information is information about an identifiable individual and includes an individual's name, identification number(s), home address, birth date, email address, phone number, and banking information.

Protecting Personal Information

CPAWSB employs a number of safeguards—including administrative, technical, and physical measures—to protect personal information from unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, disposal, or similar risks.

Consent

By providing CPAWSB with your personal information, you consent to the collection, use, disclosure and retention of that information by CPAWSB in accordance with Part 2 of this Privacy Statement and as otherwise permitted by applicable law. You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and on reasonable notice to CPAWSB, but then you might not be able to proceed with your intended interactions or transactions with CPAWSB or otherwise receive the full benefit of CPAWSB’s products and services.

Collecting Personal Information

When CPAWSB collects personal information for its purposes, it will:

Limit the collection to the extent that is necessary for meeting the purposes for which the information is collected.
Be open and transparent about the information that is being collected and the purpose for the collection.
Collect, use, or disclose personal information with an individual’s knowledge or consent as permitted by law, or where the individual’s consent is implied.
Only request and collect personal information from third parties with the subject’s consent, except where CPAWSB is legally authorized or required by law to do so without consent.

CPAWSB generally collects personal information directly from you. CPAWSB may also collect personal information automatically or from publicly available sources.

For information about personal information collected in online meetings and webinars conducted by CPAWSB, please see the Technology Use section.

Using Personal Information

CPAWSB may use your personal information for purposes relating to or arising from your relationship and transactions with CPAWSB and as otherwise set out in this Privacy Statement or permitted by applicable law, including:

To administer your relationship with CPAWSB.
To maintain, protect and improve CPAWSB’s services and to develop new services.
To protect and enforce CPAWSB’s legal rights, interests and remedies and to protect the business, operations and customers of CPAWSB and other persons.

For information about personal information collected in online meetings and webinars conducted by CPAWSB, please see the Technology Use section.

Disclosing Personal Information

CPAWSB discloses your personal information for purposes relating to or arising from your relationship and transactions with CPAWSB and as otherwise set out in Part 2 of this Privacy Statement or permitted by applicable law, including:

Suppliers and Service Providers: CPAWSB requires its suppliers and service providers to agree to use personal information only for the purposes for which it is provided to them, and to protect the privacy of personal information in a manner that is consistent with this privacy statement.
Specific Consents: CPAWSB may disclose your personal information in accordance with express or implied consents that you give to CPAWSB.
Law Enforcement/Legal Disclosures: In limited circumstances, CPAWSB may disclose personal information without consent as permitted by law, including complying with a subpoena, warrant or court or arbitral order, or litigation disclosure obligations.

Retaining Personal Information

CPAWSB retains personal information as permitted by law, and as may be required to properly deliver CPA education services.

Accuracy and Access to Personal Information

Individuals have the right to request access to their personal information in CPAWSB’s custody and control and the right to seek correction if that personal information is incorrect. Submit requests in writing to the CPAWSB privacy officer by email: [email protected] or by mail: CPAWSB – Privacy Officer, 201, 1074 - 103A Street SW, Edmonton, AB T6W 2P6.

Non-Personal Information

CPAWSB collects information that is not personal information (non-personal information) for analysis and research. Non-personal information is not about identifiable individuals and/or includes information that has been aggregated and/or anonymized in such a way that it is no longer attributable to specific individuals.

If non-personal information is combined with personal information such that the information can be attributable to an individual, then that information will be considered personal information.

CPAWSB’s website, online services, and some email messages use “cookies” and other similar technologies, such as web beacons, pixel or gif tags, and action tags. Those technologies collect information that assists CPAWSB to improve communications and user experience, provide general statistics regarding use of CPAWSB websites, and confirm that email messages have been delivered and opened.

Location of Personal Information

Personal information collected by CPAWSB for its own purposes is stored and accessed in Canada.

Other Websites, Businesses and Social Media

CPAWSB may provide links to other websites, businesses, and social media platforms. CPAWSB has no responsibility or liability for, or control over, those other websites, businesses and social media platforms. This Privacy Statement does not apply to the collection, use, disclosure and retention of your personal information by those websites, business and social media platforms. If you have questions about how those websites, businesses and social media platforms collect, use, disclose or retain personal information, please contact the owner or operator of the website, business or platform.

Notices to You

You consent to CPAWSB sending you emails (to the email addresses you provide to CPAWSB) regarding this Privacy Statement and related matters.

Questions or Comments

Send comments or questions about Part 2 of this Privacy Statement or personal information in CPAWSB’s custody and control to CPAWSB’s Privacy Officer by mail at CPAWSB – Privacy Officer by email at [email protected]; phone at 1-866-420-2350; or by mail at 201, 1074 - 103A Street SW, Edmonton, AB T6W 2P6.