Membership Status
Your Membership Status with CGA Alberta has a significant impact on your responsibilities within the Association.
You may be eligible to apply for an Alternative Status with respect to registration and payment of member dues. Alternative status includes "Not Employed - Not Permanent" (includes Unemployed, Parental Leave, Short Term Medical, and Full-Time Education) and "Not Employed - Permanent" (includes Retired and Long Term Disability).
Applications for Alternative Status are accepted online and processed immediately when you submit the application. You may pay the revised amount, in any, online. Applications for Alternative Status can only be made online between May and June each year by logging into your CGA Profile and clicking on the "Pay Professional Membership Renewal" link. If you are making your application after the due date for our annual fees (June 30), then you will need to contact our Member Service team and also pay a late-fee.
Current dues amounts and official guidelines can be found in the Change of Status Administrative Guidelines [PDF] document.
For further information please contact MemberService@cga-alberta.org
Current Member
There are four membership statuses that a Current Member of CGA Alberta can have:
Full (default)
Members with "Full" status must:
- Comply with annual CPD requirements (may be eligible for CPD exemption); and
- Pay full professional membership renewal dues for the fiscal year.
This is the default membership status that most members hold.
If you are currently earning ANY employment income in ANY country, then this is your status even if your job is "non-CGA" employment, such as a mega-store greeter or pumping gas. (Please see special note below regarding "employment income".)
Not Employed - Not Permanent
Members with "Not Employed - Not Permanent" status must:
- Comply with annual CPD requirements (although you may be eligible for a CPD exemption);
- Pay reduced professional membership dues for the fiscal year; and,
- Notify CGA Alberta if circumstances change and this status is no longer appropriate.
This status may be granted to members who are currently NOT earning ANY income from employment, but who intend to return to the workforce. (Please see special note below regarding "employment income".)
Members must apply for this status annually during May and June when dues are payable. Before dues are posted on May 1, every "Not Employed - Not Permanent" member's status is automatically switched back to "Full". While there is no limit to the number of years a member can have this status, you must APPLY EVERY YEAR through the online system.
- Unemployed
- Parental Leave
- Short Term Medical
- Full-Time Education
Not Employed - Permanent
Members with "Not Employed - Permanent" status must:
- Notify CGA Alberta if circumstances change and this status is no longer appropriate.
They are exempt from CPD reporting and do not pay annual professional membership renewal dues.
This status may be granted to members who are currently NOT earning ANY income from employment AND do not intend to return to paid employment. (Please see special note below regarding "employment income".)
Members must apply for this status online in May or June, before June 30. Once granted, the status is AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED each year.
This status is appropriate for members who are fully Retired or on Long Term Disability. It is NOT appropriate for members who are on an extended leave of absence from employment. While situations can occur where a retired member needs to re-enter the workforce (this may be permitted, but the Association must be notified and an exemption requested), "intent" is the key element behind this status.
Associate
Associate membership status grants membership rights with CGA Alberta to a CGA who does not live/work in Alberta AND is a member of another CGA affiliate.
These members must:
- Remain a current member with their home CGA affiliate; and,
- Pay associate membership dues to CGA Alberta every fiscal year.
CPD is reported annually to the member's home CGA affiliate - they do not report to CGA Alberta. Likewise, regular membership dues are paid to your home CGA affiliate.
This status exists for CGA public accountants outside of Alberta to be registered for public accounting in Alberta. It also allows former CGA Alberta members to retain their CGA Alberta certificate if they transfer to another CGA affiliate.
Example: After becoming CGA members in Alberta, Mary and John moved out of Alberta. Mary moved to BC and decided she wanted to keep her CGA Alberta certificate and stay current with CGA Alberta news, so she became an Associate member. John moved to the USA, but he cannot become an Associate member because his home affiliate is still CGA Alberta, even though he works outside of Alberta.
Special Note Regarding "Employment Income"
"Employment income" can refer to any income that is reported on a T4 as well as self-employment income. However, dividends, pensions, director fees, shareholders loans, etc. are not considered "employment income". Investment income, insurance settlements, unemployment payments, and similar alternative forms of income are also permitted.
However, in some circumstances, if employment income is less than $12,000, an exemption may be granted - please email MemberService@cga-alberta.org with the details and your request for an exemption.
Non-Current Member
A Non-Current Member is someone who is no longer a member of CGA Alberta.
It is worth noting that membership does NOT expire. Becoming a CGA is a life-long commitment to a set of common values held by an extraordinary group of people around the world.
Transferred Out
Members who move out of Alberta to a region of the world where there is a CGA affiliate (CGA BC, CGA China, etc.) must transfer their CGA membership to that CGA affiliate. Members do not transfer out if they move to a region without a CGA affiliate, such as the United States or Europe.
Unless you decide to become an Associate member (see above), you will be required to return your CGA Alberta certificate when you transfer out. You will receive a new certificate from your new affiliate.
Former CGA Alberta members who move back to Alberta are transferred in and have their membership fully restored.
For more information about transferring your CGA membership, please visit:
Members > Maintaining Your Designation > Transferring Associations
Resigned
If you decide that you are no longer willing to maintain your membership with the Association, you can resign at any time.
Members who resign remain under the regulatory oversight of the Association for two years AFTER they resign AND for any complaints filed for activities that occurred while a member.
Resigned members may be eligible for reinstatement. Reinstatement requirements differ depending on the time elapsed and the reason for the resignation - they range from paying back-dues to re-enrolling in the CGA Program of Professional Studies. The Association has the right to deny an application for reinstatement.
Suspended
A Suspended member is in the non-compliance process. This is usually a temporary status where membership rights are revoked. There are two possible outcomes:
- Issues are resolved and the member returns to Current status; or,
- Membership is cancelled (see below).
Cancelled
Memberships can be cancelled for non-compliance with the Association's membership requirements or for unprofessional conduct. Cancellation of membership is a significant action and it is not done lightly. Nevertheless, it is done when necessary to maintain the public's trust in the CGA designation.
Cancelled members remain under the regulatory oversight of the Association for two years AFTER they were cancelled AND for any complaints filed for activities that occurred while a member.
Cancelled members may be eligible for reinstatement. Reinstatement requirements differ depending on the time elapsed and the reason for the cancellation. The Association has the right to deny an application for reinstatement.
If you have any further questions, please contact our Member Services team at MemberService@cga-alberta.org
