Becoming a CA

Deciding to become a Chartered Accountant (CA) means you have chosen the role of a trusted professional, known for technical excellence, integrity, objectivity and a commitment to the public interest.

Canadian trained accountants

  • How to become a CA:  As a Canadian university student, you will require a combination of education, experience, and evaluation - these three elements ensure that, when you earn your CA designation, you will have acquired all the competencies that the marketplace demands from a Chartered Accountant.
  • Registered CA students:  For CA students who are currently enrolled in a regional delivery program, the CA Training Office website has information on CA competencies and practical experience requirements.
  • The Uniform Evaluation (UFE):  All Canadian trained CAs must pass the profession's three-day Uniform Evaluation (UFE).

Internationally trained accountants

  • The pathways website has been designed for internationally trained accountants to help them determine what steps to follow to become a CA in Canada.
  • The CICA recognizes 14 international accounting bodies whose members are recommended for exemption from the Uniform Evaluation (UFE).  In addition reciprocal membership arrangements have been signed with two accounting bodies.
  • International Qualifications Appraisal Board (IQAB) assesses the admission standards of international accounting bodies and recommends to the provincial institutes of Chartered Accountants in Canada whether - and under what conditions – members of these bodies may become Canadian CAs based on their international qualifications.

Resources for employers and academics