CPA Preparatory Courses

Non-core courses are self-study, using an e-textbook and practice problems; access to a facilitator is also provided. Courses are offered through open enrollment so you 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. You must achieve a grade of at least 50 percent to pass a non-core course. The final grade is calculated based on the final exam. Non-core courses are: 

• Introductory Financial Accounting (IFA) 
• Introductory Management Accounting* (IMA)  
• Economics (ECO)  
• Statistics (STA)  
• Business Law (BUL)  

*Introductory Financial Accounting or an equivalent course at a post-secondary institution must be completed before or concurrently with Introductory Management Accounting. 

Core preparatory courses are available via self-study using a SmartBook. Courses are offered through open enrollment so you can register for a course at any time and receive access to materials within five business days. Core courses include six units during which time students complete course activities. 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 final grade is calculated based on the final exam.  

To be eligible to write the final exam, students must achieve a minimum course grade of 75 percent, on the following weekly unit activities:  

• Smartbook Adaptive Assignments  
• Practice Problems  
• Task-Based Simulations  
• Quizzes  

The weekly unit activity grades are comprised of a combination of reasonable attempt and performance. Failure to achieve the 75 percent course completion requirement will result in a course withdrawal and course attempt. Please refer to the Course Delivery FAQ for more information. 

Please review the course prerequisites in the infographic above before registering for a core course. Core preparatory courses are:  

• Intermediate Financial Reporting 1 (IF1)  
• Intermediate Financial Reporting 2 (IF2)  
• Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR)  
• Corporate Finance (COF)
• Audit & Assurance (AUA)  
• Taxation (TAX)
• Intermediate Management Accounting (MAA)  
• Performance Management (PMA)
• Information Technology (ITE)