Residency, Study Permits and Language Advisory

If you do not have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status, information on studying and working in Canada as an international student can be found on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. 

For more information or questions regarding: 

• Holding a study permit, which as a temporary resident, will be required for entry into CPA preparatory courses and the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP). In most cases, a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) will be required as part of your study permit application.
• Holding a work permit (Open Work Permit (for example PGWP, OWP) or Employer Specific Work Permit as per IRCC ) for the practical experience requirements of the CPA Certification Program.

Please contact one of the following: 

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  
  Answers to your questions may be found by utilizing the IRCC Help Centre tool or you can call the IRCC Client Support Centre or submit an IRCC web form if you have already submitted a permit application or have an existing IRCC profile. Learn more about the provincial attestation letter and territorial attestation letter .
• Your local embassy  
• A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) . You can perform an ‘Advanced RCIC Search’ to find registered professionals in your area [country, province/region, city]. 

New temporary IRCC work permit policy: Find out more about the New IRCC Policy which will allow some work permit holders to study without a study permit . After reviewing the information and eligibility requirements, if you are eligible, contact an admission advisor for more information on how to enroll with CPAWSB and the documents we will require for proof of eligibility under this temporary public policy.

Enrolling in CPA PEP 

Due to the restrictions on the availability of PALs, CPAWSB cannot guarantee that a PAL will be issued. Prior to requesting an “Appendix to the study permit” and PAL, please review the IRCC’s guidelines on those groups exempted from PAL requirements to ensure a PAL is required. 

Once your transcript assessment is complete, and if your completed assessment indicates that you are PEP Eligible, you may request the Appendix to the Study Permit and PAL, if required, by emailing [email protected].

The availability of PALs varies by province due to provincial allocations. PALs will only be issued (if available) to prospective learners who are PEP eligible, and who meet additional admission criteria for CPA PEP. If you have questions about whether or not PALs may be available for entry into CPA PEP based on your situation and province of residence, please contact [email protected] for more information. You may also refer to the PAL FAQ.

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) – Update as of April 1, 2025

Note: If you are a CPA PEP transfer in, accredited or International Designate MOU, please contact [email protected] for next steps.

Enrolling in CPA Preparatory Courses

Currently, CPAWSB cannot provide an “Appendix to the study permit” or PALs to new CPA preparatory course applicants, in support of your study permit application.

If you will be residing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba, you are advised to seek enrolment at a Post Secondary Institution, to complete your prerequisite courses for entry into CPA PEP. In the event that PALs become available for preparatory course prospective students, please contact [email protected] if you would like to have your name added to a contact list.

If you will be residing in British Columbia, you are advised to seek enrolment at a Post Secondary Institution to complete your prerequisite courses for entry into CPA PEP. CPAWSB will not be able to issue PALs to preparatory course prospective students residing in BC due to the online nature of the program. 

Note: For all CPA PEP and CPA preparatory course applicants, Admission Applications will not be approved without a valid study permit already on file. 

CPA education programs, including CPA PEP and CPA preparatory courses, require high English proficiency. A minimum of Grade 12 English or Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 8 or higher is suggested. Generally, anyone with CLB levels below 8 will need to spend additional time on their studies. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants with CLB levels 7 or below improve their language competence before applying and enrolling in CPA education programs. Language test equivalency charts can be found on the Government of Canada website .

>>English Language Support