There are fourteen CPA preparatory courses, split into six non-core and eight core courses.
Non-Core Courses
Non-core courses are self-study, using an e-textbook (except Information Technology) and practice problems; access to a facilitator is also provided. Courses are offered through open enrollment so students can register for a course at any time and receive access to materials within five business days. Each non-core course concludes with a final exam that must be written on a scheduled exam date within one year of the initial course registration at a CPAWSB exam centre. Students must achieve a grade of at least 50 percent to pass a non-core course.
Non-core courses:
- Introductory Financial Accounting (IFA)
- Introductory Management Accounting* (IMA)
- Economics (ECO)
- Statistics (STA)
- Business Law (BUL)
- Information Technology (ITE)
*Introductory Financial Accounting or an equivalent course at a post-secondary institution must be completed before or concurrently with Introductory Management Accounting.
Core Courses
Core courses are available via self-study using weekly notes, pre-recorded lectures, and practice problems. Each course is offered five times annually. Core courses include six instructional weeks during which time students complete quizzes and mandatory projects. All core courses conclude with a final exam that must be written on a scheduled exam date within one year of the course start at a CPAWSB exam centre. Students must achieve a grade of at least 60 percent to pass a core course. The grade is calculated based on assignments, quizzes, and the final exam.
Note: Students can choose to supplement their core course studies with live, twice weekly webinar sessions. The courses that offer supplemental webinar sessions alternate each semester.
Students must have completed or received transfer credit for Introductory Financial Accounting and Introductory Management Accounting before registering for a core course.
Core courses:
- Intermediate Financial Reporting 1 (IF1)
- Intermediate Financial Reporting 2 (IF2)
Prerequisites: Intermediate Financial Reporting 1 or an equivalent course at a post-secondary institution
- Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR)
Prerequisites: Intermediate Financial Reporting 1 and 2 or equivalent courses at a post-secondary institution
- Corporate Finance (COF)
- Audit and Assurance (AUA)
Prerequisites: Intermediate Financial Reporting 1 and 2 or equivalent courses at a post-secondary institution
- Taxation (TAX)
Prerequisites: Intermediate Financial Reporting 1 and 2 or equivalent courses at a post-secondary institution
- Intermediate Management Accounting (MAA)
Prerequisites: Corporate Finance or an equivalent course at a post-secondary institution
- Performance Management (PMA)
Prerequisites: Intermediate Management Accounting or an equivalent course at a post-secondary institution