Chartered accountancy is a dynamic profession. Its education requirements are geared to meet the increasing demand for the many services CAs provide -- as well as the ones they will provide in the future.

There are several possible entry routes to becoming a CA. The bachelor degree is the main one. Details on the several possible entry routes to CA qualification are provided in another section.

The core academic requirement for qualification consists of a 4-year bachelor degree comprising 120 academic credit hours; credits for internship, co-op term or similar experienced based credits do not count toward the 120-academic-credit-hour requirement; however,  the experience gained during these work related terms may qualify as prescribed practical experience. Contact the Institute for details on qualifying practical experience and read the Institute's Regulation 6-1 Student Registration.

Students are required to successfully complete Institute prescribed degree-credit courses that cover all the topics in The UFE Candidates' Competency Map (Competency Map) of the profession's Uniform Evaluation (UFE).  Institute accredited university programs and streams offer all of the Institute prescribed courses. Business degree programs at most Ontario degree-granting institutions offer all or most of the Institute prescribed courses.

Students are encouraged to fulfil the 51-credit-hour requirement as part of an integrated bachelor 4-year, 120-academic-credit-hour degree program. Given that Institute prescribed courses delivered by one degree-granting institution are not necessarily interchangeable with Institute prescribed courses delivered by another degree-granting institution, taking courses at different institutions creates the significant risk of duplication or omission of prescribed knowledge and skills. 

Most Ontario degree-granting institutions are allowing their students to enroll in courses at another degree-granting institution on letters of permission (LoP).  It is necessary that students validate any course mix with the Institute to ensure that courses completed on LoP, when they relate to Institute prescribed courses,  will be accepted for Institute credits. All out-of-province and international degree-granting institutions' courses are required to meet the content breadth and depth and the learning outcomes of equivalent Ontario degree-granting institutions' courses recognized for Institute credits.

The prescribed courses may be completed on a full-time or on a part time basis. For students not enrolled in a co-op/intership degree or professional school of accounting program, the courses may be completed on a part-time basis after registration with the Institute.

Some degree-credit courses delivered in non-business programs may also qualify for Institute credits. Students should contact the Institute before registering in any non-business degree-credit courses to find out whether the courses qualify for Institute credits.  

51 Credit-Hour Requirement

B - Courses/Program from Other Degree-Granting Institutions 

The specific areas of coverage are:

Regulation 6-1, Student Registration states in section 2.4 that "The Registrar shall register as a Student with the Institute anyone who [among other criteria...] has access to a computer that meets the minimum configuration requirements as set by the Institute from time to time, including Internet access and a valid email address, unless exempted from this requirement by the Registrar."

The current computer requirement is as follows:

• Access to a computer that is capable of running Folioviews 4.5 software to allow access to the CICA Handbook and other infobases;
• Access to the Internet;
• Acrobat Reader 4.0 (minimum); and
• A valid e-mail address.