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Common Final Examination (CFE)

The Common Final Examination (CFE) is a three-day examination in which CPA candidates demonstrate the depth and breadth of their competency development in accordance with the CPA Canada Competency Map .  

CFE Eligibility

To be eligible to attempt the CFE, candidates must complete Capstone 2, the CFE preparation module, and have either completed the Core, two elective, and Capstone 1 modules of CPA PEP or have completed an accredited program offered by a post-secondary institution.

CFE Days

Day 1 of the CFE is connected to the case covered in Capstone 1. Days 2 and 3 of the CFE test the depth and breadth of candidates’ competency development throughout CPA PEP. Candidates attempting the CFE for the first time must attempt all three days of the examination in the same offering. 

  Time Length
Day 1 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 4 Hours
Day 2 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 5 Hours
Day 3 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 4 Hours

CFE Locations 

The CFE is written in  CPA exam centres. Specific locations and details are emailed to the candidates two weeks before the exam. 

Exams venues frequently include convention centres, hotel conference centres, banquet halls, or post-secondary institutions. Candidates can request changes to exam locations (city) after registration by emailing cpamodule@cpawsb.ca at least three weeks before the exam. The change will be subject to availability. 

Candidates must comply with the examination writing rules Information about CPA exam centre rules is available here. 

Results are released nationally per the module schedule.

Candidates are allowed three attempts to pass all portions of the CFE.  

  • Candidates who are unsuccessful on all three days of the CFE must reattempt all three days in the same offering of the exam.  
  • Candidates who are unsuccessful on Day 1 of the CFE must choose one of the two most recent Capstone 1 cases for their next attempt. Each case is available for two CFE offerings (the CFE immediately following the Capstone 1 offering in which it is covered and the next CFE, though a new case is used in Capstone 1). Candidates who choose a case that was not covered in the Capstone 1 offering they completed are responsible for becoming familiar with the new case and will be provided with a copy if required. Candidates cannot repeat Capstone 1 after successfully completing the module.  
  • Candidates who are unsuccessful on Day 2 and/or Day 3 of the CFE must reattempt both days in the same offering of the exam. Capstone 2 materials may be available for purchase for candidates who have previously successfully completed the module. 

Candidates who are unsuccessful on the CFE can request a re-mark of their results on the sections on which they were unsuccessful for a fee, which will be refunded if the re-mark is successful. Candidates must request a re-mark through My CPA Portal before the deadline noted on the schedule. Additional details will be provided to unsuccessful candidates when results are released.

CPA Canada publishes an annual CFE report with commentary from the Board of Examiners on candidates’ overall national performance on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 of the CFE.

For a fee, candidates can request an individual performance analysis review (PAR), which provides commentary on the areas where their response failed to meet the minimum standard, and suggestions of how to improve performance. In addition, the review touches on areas where candidates performed well. 

Candidates must request a PAR through My CPA Portal before the appeals deadline noted on the schedule (the PAR request and appeal deadline are the same). Additional details will be provided to unsuccessful candidates when results are released.