CGA Ontario is the governing body of Ontario's Certified General Accountants and students in the CGA program. CGA Ontario protects the public interest by maintaining high standards of qualification and enforcing the CGA profession's rules of professional conduct. CGA Ontario works in partnership with the other provincial institutes of Certified General Accountants and with CGA Canada to maintain national standards and programs.

No, by law you don't have to be a CGA to work in an accounting position in Ontario. However, individual employers may require you to have the CGA designation or another accounting designation, particularly for mid- and senior-level positions. For some junior accounting jobs and for clerical accounting and bookkeeping jobs, you do not require an accounting designation.

As an alternative to qualifying as a CGA, you can qualify as a Chartered Accountant (CA) or a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Yes, you can work in the accounting field. However, you can't use an accounting designation such as CGA (Certified General Accountant), CA (Chartered Accountant), or CMA (Certified Management Accountant) unless you are an accredited member in good standing of the Ontario accounting body that awards the designation.

Also, you cannot perform public accounting work in Ontario unless you have a CGA, CMA, or CA designation and an Ontario licence to practice public accounting. Public accountants prepare financial statements for the use of third parties such as individuals, companies, and investors and give opinions on the reliability of these statements.

You cannot call yourself a Certified General Accountant or CGA in Ontario unless you are accredited as a CGA by Certified General Accountants of Ontario. However, you can work in the accounting field.

Yes, there are. You do not have to have an accounting designation to practise accounting other than public accounting (see earlier question). However, individual employers may require you to have the CGA designation or another recognized accounting designation, particularly for mid- and senior-level positions. 

CGA Ontario will evaluate your university transcripts to determine if you are eligible for any advanced standing in the program of professional studies. You may be granted transfer credits (recognition of your previous education) for up to 15 CGA courses.

CGA Ontario will evaluate your work experience in your home country. You may be allowed to count up to one year of your work experience at the intermediate or senior level outside Canada toward the CGA work experience requirement. You will still need to complete at least one year of practical work experience at the senior level in accounting or financial management in Canada.

If you are a member of an accounting body outside of Canada that is recognized by CGA Ontario, you may be required to obtainonly one year of Canadian experience to satisfy the practical work experience requirement. Review information about CGA Ontario’s mutual recognition and reciprocity agreements with international accounting bodies.

No, you can send your academic transcripts and accounting qualifications to CGA Ontario either before or after you become an Ontario resident.

Before you send your university transcripts to CGA Ontario, you should email CGA Ontario first to find out if your university is recognized by CGA Ontario. You can send your email to transfercredits@cga-ontario.org. In your email, provide the name of your university, the year you graduated, and the name of your degree program.

If your university is not recognized by CGA Ontario, you will first need to have your university transcripts evaluated by an international credential service, such as World Education Service (WES). If WES or another credential evaluation service determines that your university degree program is equal to a Canadian university degree program, then you can send their evaluation report together with your transcripts to CGA Ontario.

$300

You must request that your educational institution send an official sealed transcript of your grades directly to CGA Ontario. Alternatively, you can bring an official sealed transcript with you when you come to Ontario and mail it or drop it off at the CGA office. CGA Ontario will not accept photocopies of your transcript.

You will get a response from CGA Ontario within three to four weeks.

Generally, no; you must be a permanent resident in Ontario before you can enroll in any CGA Ontario courses.

However, CGA has partner offices in several countries. If you are resident in one of these countries, you can begin the qualification process to become a CGA before you come to Canada.

Review information about CGA’s international partner offices.

No, you don’t have to be employed in an accounting job in Ontario before you can enroll in a CGA course. However, CGA Ontario strongly recommends that when you begin the academic program you are already a full-time employee in a position that will allow you to progress towards acquiring sufficient experience in accounting and finance to meet the practical experience requirement. If you are not already employed in an accounting position when you enroll in a CGA course, you can use the CGA online employment referral service to help you find a job.

The cost to become a CGA depends on your educational and professional background. CGA will evaluate your university or college transcripts and your accounting qualifications to determine if you are eligible for any exemptions from required courses within the CGA qualification program.

Review information about fees.

Review information about your individual path to becoming a CGA.

No, you don't have to pass an English language test to become a CGA in Ontario. However, to work in a senior accounting position and to complete the CGA program of professional studies you will require excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

English upgrading classes are available through local school boards, community-based organizations, community colleges, and universities throughout Ontario. The Settlement.Org website for newcomers has information on language training and a database to help you find a school in your community. If your English skills are assessed as low to intermediate and you are a recent immigrant to Canada, you can take government-sponsored English classes through the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. In Ontario, you need to visit a YMCA Assessment Centre to have your language skills assessed and to register for classes. A list of these centres can be found on the Settlement.Org website.

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