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Academic Qualification Requirements
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 university degree is the main one.
The core academic requirement for qualification consists of a 4-year university 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, a regulation in respect of students.
Students are required to successfully complete Institute prescribed university 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 universities offer all or most of the Institute prescribed courses.
Students are encouraged to fulfil the 51-credit-hour requirement as part of an integrated university 4-year, 120-academic-credit-hour degree program. Given that Institute prescribed courses delivered by one university are not necessarily interchangeable with Institute prescribed courses at another university, taking courses at different universities creates the significant risk of duplication or omission of prescribed knowledge and skills.
Most Ontario universities are allowing their students to enroll in courses at another university on letters of permission (LoP). It is important that students validate any course mix with the Institute to ensure that courses on LoP, when related to Institute prescribed courses, will be accepted for Institute credits. All out-of-province and international university courses are required to meet the content breadth and depth and the learning outcomes of equivalent Ontario university 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 university 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 courses to find out whether the courses qualify for Institute credits.
51 Credit-Hour Requirement
The CA program is designed to provide CA students with a comprehensive coverage of the The UFE Candidates' Competency Map for entry to the Chartered Accountancy Profession through university courses. The 51 credit-hour requirement consists of a series of degree-credit courses approved by the Institute.
A -Accredited University Programs
B - Other University Courses/Program
The specific areas of coverage are:
| Subject area | Credit-hours required |
|---|---|
Financial accounting | 15 |
Cost and management accounting | 6 |
Advanced accounting elective | 3 |
Auditing | 9 |
Taxation | 6 |
Business information systems | 3 |
Finance/financial management | 3 |
Economics | 3 |
Law | 3 |
Total | 51 |