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You’ve earned your CPA designation and you’ve decided to provide public accounting services. The Post-Designation Public Accounting (PDPA) program may be your next step. Whether you're pursuing registration for audit, review, or compilation engagements, the PDPA program can help you qualify to practice public accounting post certification.
CPAWSB offers two distinct PDPA pathways:
Designed for CPAs seeking registration for audit and review services or for those in provinces without tiered licensing. This program covers assurance, taxation, financial accounting, finance, and strategy and governance.
Intended for CPAs pursuing registration for compilation services in provinces with tiered licensing (e.g., British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba).
If you've recently completed the CPA PEP Taxation module, you may already meet the education requirement for compilation registration (experience requirements still apply).
Before gaining access to the module materials, you will have several learning resources and learner support services available:
You will gain access to self-study resources via D2L (Brightspace), including:
You will receive access to the PDPA and PDPA Taxation module at the module start date. Refer to the posted schedules for specific dates.
All PDPA candidates also have access to the following learner support services:
Visit the Post-Designation Education webpage to learn more about admission, registration deadlines, and available resources.
Reach out to us at [email protected]. For Practical experience related questions and any questions regarding licensing requirements, please reach out to your governing provincial CPA body.
Two Pathways to Public Accounting
CPAWSB offers two distinct PDPA pathways:
Designed for CPAs seeking registration for audit and review services or for those in provinces without tiered licensing. This program covers assurance, taxation, financial accounting, finance, and strategy and governance.
Intended for CPAs pursuing registration for compilation services in provinces with tiered licensing (e.g., British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba).If you've recently completed the CPA PEP Taxation module, you may already meet the education requirement for compilation registration (experience requirements still apply).
Resources for PDPA Candidates
Before gaining access to the module materials, you will have several learning resources and learner support services available:
Before You Enroll
- CPA Way Videos: Learn the structured approach to case analysis used in CPA exams.
- CPA Competency Map: Refer to Section 6 for knowledge expectations and proficiency levels for each technical competency that will be evaluated.
After You Enroll
You will gain access to self-study resources via D2L (Brightspace), including:
- Introduction to the PEP module: includes Getting started in PDPA and Getting started in Taxation technical review activities, as well as the CPA Canada Learning Library eBooks.
- CPA Canada Standards and Guidance Collection (exam reference)
- Federal Income Tax Collection (exam reference)
- Excise Tax Act (exam reference)
Once You Are Registered
You will receive access to the PDPA and PDPA Taxation module at the module start date. Refer to the posted schedules for specific dates.
Learner Support Services
All PDPA candidates also have access to the following learner support services:
- Coaching
- Peer Studying
- Tutoring
- Academic Advising - Questions about educational resources
- General Advising - Concerns about admission, module/exam registration, withdrawals, or deferrals
Ready to take the next step?
Visit the Post-Designation Education webpage to learn more about admission, registration deadlines, and available resources.
Questions?
Reach out to us at [email protected]. For Practical experience related questions and any questions regarding licensing requirements, please reach out to your governing provincial CPA body.
About the Author
Barbara Wong is the Operations Lead of Post-Designation Education at the CPA Western School of Business. She supports CPA members through their learner journey from prospect through to graduate. With a dual focus on operational excellence and learner support, Barbara works to streamline processes, remove barriers, and enhance systems that directly impact the learner experience.
