Residency, Study Permits and Language Advisory

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Residency Requirements
Temporary Residents (Study and Work Permits)
Enrolling in CPA PEP
Enrolling in CPA Preparatory Courses
English Language Advisory

Residency Requirements

CPA Canada requires learners to register in the province or region where they permanently live and work. To enroll with CPAWSB in either the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) or CPA Preparatory Courses, you must currently reside in, or plan to reside in, one of the following jurisdictions: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Temporary Residents (Study and Work Permits)

If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, information about studying and working in Canada can be found on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

You may require:

To maintain active learner status with CPAWSB, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid study permit while registered in CPA Preparatory Courses or CPA PEP.

If your study permit is approaching its expiry date, you must apply for a renewal and may be required to obtain an Appendix to the Study Permit. Before requesting an appendix, ensure that your name and contact information are up to date in the student portal.

For appendix requests:

If your residency status changes and you become a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, please submit supporting documentation to us so that your CPAWSB records can be updated.

Important: An in-progress permanent resident application or a work permit does not satisfy the study permit requirement for maintaining learner or candidate status.

International learners may find additional information in the CPABC Orientation Guide for International Learners.

For immigration advice or permit-related questions, contact:

Enrolling in CPA PEP

Due to provincial limits on PAL allocations, CPAWSB cannot guarantee the issuance of a Provincial Attestation Letter.

Before requesting a PAL, review the IRCC exemptions to confirm whether a PAL is required.

Once your transcript assessment is complete and you are determined to be PEP eligible, you may request an Appendix to the Study Permit and a PAL (if required) by emailing [email protected].

Please note:

  • PAL availability varies by province.
  • PALs are issued only to eligible applicants who meet CPA PEP admission requirements.
  • CPA PEP transfer applicants, accredited program graduates, and International Designate MOU applicants should contact [email protected] for next steps.

For additional information, refer to the PAL FAQ and PAL updates on the CPAWSB website.

Enrolling in CPA Preparatory Courses

CPAWSB is currently unable to provide an Appendix to the Study Permit or Provincial Attestation Letters to new CPA Preparatory Course applicants.

Applicants are encouraged to complete prerequisite courses through an approved post-secondary institution before applying to CPA PEP.

Additional considerations:

  • Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba residents: Consider completing prerequisite courses through a post-secondary institution.
  • British Columbia residents: CPAWSB cannot issue PALs for CPA Preparatory Course applicants because of the online delivery model.

If PALs become available in the future, prospective preparatory-course learners may contact [email protected] to be added to a notification list.

Note: CPA PEP and CPA Preparatory Course applications cannot be approved without a valid study permit on file, where a study permit is required.

English Language Advisory

CPA education programs require a high level of English proficiency. A minimum of Grade 12 English or Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 8 or higher is recommended.

Applicants with language proficiency below CLB 8 may require additional study time. Those with CLB 7 or below are encouraged to strengthen their English-language skills before enrolling.

Additional language support resources are available through CPAWSB's English Language Support resources.