CPA examinations are written in exam centres throughout Western Canada and marked by CPA Canada national markers. All CPA exams are written in Surpass (SecureClient), a lockdown exam writing software. CPA preparatory course results are typically released the third Monday after the exam.
Exam Schedule
Students can register for their exams by logging into My CPA Portal and clicking on the Exam Registration section. Please see our Schedule page for information on exam schedules.
Exam Locations
When registering for a CPA preparatory course, students select one of 29 exam locations within Western Canada to write the exam:
Primary exam locations (on-site IT support):
- BC: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria
- Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer
- Saskatchewan: Regina, Saskatoon
- Manitoba: Brandon, Winnipeg
Secondary examination locations (remote IT support):
- BC: Castlegar, Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Revelstoke
- Alberta: Fort McMurray, Lloydminster, Peace River
- Nunavut: Iqaluit
- Saskatchewan: Swift Current
- Yukon: Whitehorse
- Northwest Territories: Yellowknife
Anyone living over 150 km away from one of the exam locations listed above can submit an Alternate Exam Location request through My CPA Portal. Learn more about alternate exam locations in section 6.4.5 of the CPA Preparatory Courses Student Guide.
Requests to change exam locations must be made at least six weeks before the exam by emailing prepexams@cpawsb.ca. Changes are subject to availability.
Exam locations include convention centres, hotel conference centres, banquet halls, or post-secondary institutions. Specific details (address, start times, etc.) will be emailed to registered students approximately two weeks before the scheduled exam date. Exam locations and times may differ from day to day.
Exam Rules
CPA Canada has strict policies regarding acceptable items to bring into the exam centre. Students are responsible for reviewing the CPA Examination Regulations before every exam as it is updated regularly.
Students are required to bring their own Texas Instrument BA II Plus calculators to the exam and are encouraged to purchase one to use through the duration of the course to become familiar with the functions. CPAWSB does not provide calculators at the exam and no other models – including the Texas Instrument BA II Professional – are permitted. The Texas Instrument BA II Plus is available for purchase from online retailers and office supply stores.
Students with medical conditions who may need to bring in medical supplies/equipment can submit an exam accommodation request through My CPA Portal. Read more about exam accommodations here.
Exam Software
Learners will continue to use their laptops to complete coursework; however, learners will receive CPA issued laptops at the examination writing centre to write their exams. These laptops are preloaded with the lockdown software Surpass (SecureClient). For more information on Surpass (SecureClient), and to help familiarize you with the exam writing environment, please refer to the CPA Canada website.