You have no post-secondary education, but you are at least 21 years old, and you have two years of business work experience.

 

These are the steps you need to take to become a CGA:

• Enrol as a student in the CGA professional program
• Submit documentation of your previous work experience to CGA
• Meet the practical work experience requirement
• Meet the degree requirement
• Apply for membership with CGA

Step 1) Enrol in the CGA program of professional studies

Visit the CGA website and download an application for enrolment. Note that to qualify as a CGA, you must complete a recognized university degree. However, this is an exit requirement, rather than an entrance requirement. You can begin the CGA program of professional studies before you complete your degree. Also, CGA Ontario recommends that you already be working in Ontario in an accounting role when you start taking courses in the program of professional studies.

Step 2) Submit documentation of your previous work experience to CGA

Before you come to Ontario, you should gather documentation about your work experience from your employers. Keep this documentation until you have completed all but five of the courses in the CGA professional program, when you will submit a Practical Experience Assessment Questionnaire (PEAQ). This is an online form. It must be verified by your current employer, who must hold a recognized professional accounting designation (CGA, CA, or CMA). At that time, you will also submit confirmation of your non-Canadian work experience in the form of letters from your previous employers, written on company letterhead, confirming:

• Your experience, including your major responsibilities and accomplishments
• Your position title
• The start and end dates of your employment

If any of these documents are not in English or French, you also need to provide CGA Ontario with notarized translations. To find a certified translator in Ontario, contact the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO). Alternatively, you can use a certified translator in your country. CGA Ontario requires the original translations and proof of the translator's certification.

Learn more about the practical experience requirement by reading the Practical Experience section of this website and CGA's Frequently Asking Questions [PDF].

Step 3) Meet the practical experience requirement

To become a CGA, you must complete at least 36 months of full-time work experience in accounting and/or financial management. Twelve months of your work experience must be in Canada and must be at a senior level requiring a high degree of knowledge and responsibility. CGA Ontario will evaluate your work experience outside of Canada and will let you know how much of your previous work experience you can count towards the CGA practical experience requirement.

Step 4) Meet the degree requirement

To be accredited as a Certified General Accountant in Ontario, you must have a university degree from a recognized university. A recognized university is one that grants a degree that is considered by CGA Ontario to be equivalent to a degree granted by a Canadian university.

Study Options

CGA Ontario has a partnership with Laurentian University that allows you to work toward a bachelor’s degree at the same time as you are completing the CGA qualification process. These part-time study programs are delivered online and can be completed in two years.

Honours Bachelor of Commerce (H.B.Com.)

Laurentian University
This degree program provides you with management education and core business skills. You are eligible for admission if you are currently enrolled in the CGA program and have completed Levels 1 through 3 of the CGA program of professional studies (or their equivalent in transfer credits). Laurentian University will also accept transfer credits for Level 4 courses that have been granted by CGA Ontario.

Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Laurentian University
This degree program is for people who want to continue their studies once they have completed their Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. They must be in the advanced level of the CGA program of professional studies or have already earned the CGA designation.

Step 5) Apply for membership with CGA

You are eligible to apply for accreditation as a CGA and membership with CGA Ontario when you have:

• completed the CGA program of professional studies
• met the practical experience requirement
• met the degree requirement

CGA Ontario will present your name to the provincial board of governors at its next scheduled meeting. The formal "admission to membership" ceremony is held annually in the fall.

Once admitted to membership, you become a registered member of both CGA Canada and CGA Ontario. You can use your CGA designation in all provinces and territories in Canada and in some overseas locations.

Please note that you are not permitted to practice public accounting in Ontario until granted a special licence to do so by CGA Ontario or another Ontario accounting regulatory body.