CGA Alberta will evaluate transcripts within 4 weeks of receiving your official documents & payment. Once your evaluation has been completed you will be notified immediately by e-mail and a printed copy will follow in the mail.  As well, if you submitted International documents they will be returned to via courier with the evaluation results.   Back to Top

You are required to submit a transcript evaluation if you would like advanced standing in the program.  A transcript evaluation is not required if you would prefer to begin at Level 1, even if you have previous post-secondary education. Back to Top

You must have a transcript evaluation completed if you would like credit for the degree requirement, even if you are not requesting transfer credit for any courses. To read more about the degree requirement click here. Back to Top

This will depend on many variables - marks in required courses, length of time since courses were taken, work experience, etc. Please submit a resume in conjunction with transcripts for a complete evaluation.  You can forward your resume to the CGA office via fax at 403-299-1339 or by email to evaluations@cga-alberta.org.

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Q. I have many years of accounting and financial management experience. Can I be exempted from any courses?
CGA is not able to grant academic credit based solely on practical experience. Experience may be considered to support course work that is older than 10 years.Back to Top

Q. Do I need to be a university graduate to start the CGA program?
There is a degree requirement to earn the designation, however you do not need a university degree to enter the CGA program. The degree requirement is an exit requirement, not an entrance requirement.  CGA offers integrative degree opportunities for those students entering without a degree whereby you can earn a degree while working towards the designation. Click here for more information on the degree requirement and CGA degree partnerships.   Back to Top

Q. I have a 3-year bachelor degree, is this ok?
The minimum of a bachelor degree is required from an approved post-secondary institution to meet the CGA degree requirement. This degree could be a 3 or 4 year degree.Back to Top

Q. I have an applied bachelor degree, is this ok?
As long as the applied degree is from a recognized post-secondary institution it will meet the CGA degree requirement. Back to Top

Q. What type of bachelor degree will meet the degree requirement (i.e. does it have to be a business degree)?
As long as the degree is from a recognized post-secondary degree granting institution it will satisfy the degree requirement. It can be in any field of study.Back to Top

Generally, CGA requires three years of work experience, however on assessment two years may be deemed acceptable. Some of this experience must be at a senior level. For the experience to be considered acceptable, you are expected to be employed in a position that requires the application of knowledge, independent thinking, and the responsibility for the preparation and interpretation of financial information. While past experience is acceptable, the majority of the requirement must have occurred in the last 5 years prior to certification.Back to Top

As you progress through the program, you are expected to obtain practical experience that corresponds with your level of studies. A typical career path commences in an entry (basic) level position, progresses to the intermediate stage and advances to a senior position. Although students do not necessarily have to acquire experience in all activities, they are expected to obtain experience in more than one function as outlined below:

Basic accounting positions offer a breadth of experience in a variety of activities, thus leading to higher levels in the career path. For example, entry-level positions enable students to acquire basic skills in such areas/functions as: clerical work, bookkeeping, tax preparation, accounting maintenance, procedures implementation and computer tools/packages utilization.

The intermediate stage provides experience with more depth in fewer areas. Typical intermediate stage activities include financial statement interpretation, financial analyses, annual budgeting, investment management, procedural recommendations, small organization audits, and systems analysis.

The senior stage provides experience at the management, policy or long range planning levels, with greater responsibilities. Typical senior stage activities include complex financial analyses, senior management presentations, complex budgeting, long range financial planning, forecasts, complex consolidations, audit planning, strategic planning, policy recommendations, project team leadership, client relations/contacts, and corporate audits.

Suitable positions may be obtained in employment sectors such as industry, manufacturing, retail, banking, insurance, government, public practice, etc. Undoubtedly, the nature of the experience acquired by individual students will differ.Back to Top

In certain cases, the Association may recognize employment experience gained in a foreign country with appropriate third-party confirmation and position details. In such cases, however, a certification prerequisite is a minimum of one year’s current employment experience in Canada in an acceptable accounting, auditing, taxation, financial management or systems position.Back to Top

You can register as a CGA student prior to receiving your evaluation results but will not be able to register for courses.  This is enforced to prevent you from enrolling into courses for which you may receive transfer credit.  To register as a CGA student click here. Ensure you use your CGA id number and password to log on to the enrolment site. Back to Top

Your transcript evaluation is completed to determine if you will receive advanced standing in the program.  Once your evaluation has been completed you are still required to apply and register as a CGA student. Back to Top

1.  Log on to the CGA on-line enrolment website.

-          If you have requested a transcript evaluation use your CGA id number and password to login to the enrolment website.  

2.  Check your personal information. 

-          Once you have logged on to the enrolment website your personal profile will be shown on the screen.  Review this information to ensure it is correct and submit any necessary updates.    

3.  Enrol as a CGA student and register for courses.

-          Click the ‘Enrol’ heading to become a CGA student and register in courses.  If you have not yet completed the application for admission you will be prompted to do so before you select a course or pay your student tuition.

-          Select courses based on your transcript evaluation.  Only certain courses are offered each session.  If a course is not displayed it is not offered this session or you have not met the pre-requisite.

4.  Proceed to checkout to pay required fees.

-          Ensure that all the payment information is entered correctly and hit submit before logging off.  Print the enrolment confirmation to ensure your enrolment has been processed. Back to Top

All new students are required to pay the one-time general admission fee and annual student tuition.  Click here for a detailed list of fees.  Back to Top

The CGA program is extremely flexible as it allows you the opportunity to take courses on-line or in a classroom depending on your preferred learning style.  Click here for more information on the learning options available. Back to Top

You can register as a CGA student while concurrently taking courses at another post-secondary institution.  In order to register as a CGA student you are required to pay the general admission fee and annual student tuition. Back to Top

There are four sessions per year and as a new student you can enrol prior to any of the four session deadlines. Click here for the enrolment deadlines. Back to Top

Q. Can I take a course from a higher level before I complete all of the lower level courses? Example - Can I take a level 3 course before finishing all of the level 2 courses?
Yes, provided you have successfully completed all the necessary prerequisites for the course you wish to enrol in. Back to Top

Only certain courses are offered each session either by on-line learning or in a classroom through our partnership with NAIT and SAIT. 

On-line Course Schedule 2004/2005

Partner Course Classroom Schedule

* Course is not timed for writing the CGA National examination. Back to Top

The online courses have scheduled assignment and examination dates.  You must complete the assignments prior to the due date in order to evaluate your progress in the course and to qualify to write the national examination.  All CGA students across the country write the national examination for a course on a scheduled date.  Since the examinations are scheduled nationally you are not permitted to change the examination date.  Click here for the examination schedule. Back to Top

As a new CGA student you are permitted to only take one CGA course, if you do well in that course then you can request to do more than one course per session.  Back to Top