Post-Designation Public Accounting (PDPA)

Important: Provincial regulations and bylaws take precedence over CPA Canada's national guidelines and requirements. CPA members are subject to the regulations and bylaws of the provincial body with which they are registered.


To protect the public and meet provincial regulatory requirements, all CPAs seeking the right to provide public accounting services must satisfy the profession's public accounting registration standards. These standards can be met in one of two ways:

At the time of CPA certification by successfully completing the assurance pathway through education, examination, and practical experience requirements.

After CPA certification by completing additional education, examination, and experience requirements. British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba offer tiered licensing pathways for Post-Designation Public Accounting (PDPA) registration.

After CPA Certification

PDPA Module

For members who did not complete the assurance pathway during certification, the Post-Designation Public Accounting (PDPA) Program provides a pathway to obtain public accounting practice rights. The program consists of a mandatory education module and examination covering assurance, taxation, financial accounting, finance, and strategy and governance.

Members who wish to provide assurance services must successfully complete the PDPA Program and meet applicable practical experience requirements.

PDPA Module and Examination

PDPA Taxation Module

Members seeking registration to provide compilation services in jurisdictions offering tiered registration pathways must successfully complete the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) Taxation Module and Examination, and meet their jurisdiction's practical experience requirements for compilation services.

CPA PEP Taxation Module and Examination