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PDPA Taxation Module Overview

The PDPA Taxation module is designed to equip registrants with the competencies necessary to provide taxation services and guidance. The scope includes assisting individual and corporate entities to minimize taxes and meet their objectives while remaining in compliance with tax laws and regulations. The registrant learns to address compliance and tax-planning issues for both individuals and corporate entities, as well as, to a lesser extent, partnerships, and trusts.

Registrants also learn to go beyond presenting issues by considering the broader circumstances and risk tolerance of all stakeholders involved. In addition, registrants develop competence in the areas of tax governance, controls, and risk management, in recognizing the interrelationship between financial reporting decisions and taxation, and in recognizing the importance of considering taxes when making business and investment decisions.

Time Commitment

Suggested study time is 10-to-15 hours per week if completing all online assignments and doing any practice material available on the site.

Self-Study

The PDPA Taxation module is self-study and includes access to a facilitator to mark assignments and to answer questions. Registrants have the option of attending a two-day weekend workshop (with candidates enrolled in the CPA Professional Education Program) and submitting assignments for review by the facilitator.

Learning Materials

Below is a summary of the learning materials for the PDPA Taxation module:

Material Purpose
CPA Canada Learning Library (eBooks)

eBooks for technical studying that include written instruction, examples, e-lessons on key technical topics, summary problems, and practice multiple choice questions, as applicable.


The eBooks are accessible within the technical review. The technical reviews are an optional technical study resource that contains diagnostic assessments, a personalized syllabus, and adaptive reviews for your module.
Unit quizzes

A quiz consisting of MCQs that have been selected to test your understanding of technical topics. Automated feedback is provided.
Integrated problems

Integrated problems that provide you with an opportunity to practice applying technical knowledge in an integrated manner. 


Debrief materials, including complete PDF and Excel solutions (if applicable) and feedback guides to self-assess performance.
Practice cases

Practice cases to hone your case writing skills and apply technical knowledge in a time-constrained scenario.


Debrief materials, including complete PDF and Excel solutions (if applicable) and feedback guides to self-assess performance. Note that practice case feedback guides are provided in the core and elective modules to assist with debriefing. They are not intended to mimic the marking guides used by the CPA Canada Evaluations group.


Annotated practice cases that explain how to use and organize the facts in the case. Sample candidate responses, including a completed feedback guide


* Although these activities are optional, it is strongly recommended that registrants complete these activities to increase their chances of successfully passing the PDPA Taxation examination.

PDPA Taxation Examination

PDPA Taxation Examination

The examination for the PDPA Taxation module is four hours long and comprises two cases (150 minutes allotted for this section), and objective-style questions, such as multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations (90 minutes allotted for this section). See the Taxation Examination Blueprint for more information.