Summer 2027 Program Changes:
Q: I’ve heard about upcoming changes to CPA education in Canada. What’s going on?
A: CPA Quebec (alongside other CPA professional bodies across Canada) has designed a new Professional Education Program that will be launching in 2027. A summary of the changes can be found on CPA Quebec’s website.
Q: How do these changes affect McGill students?
A: Universities such as McGill who currently offer CPA Professional Education Programs will need to modify their existing programs to meet CPA Quebec’s new requirements. McGill is in the process of redesigning its existing program for launch in Summer 2027 with final approvals from McGill and CPA Quebec pending. Given tight approval timelines, we have not been able to share specifics until recently.
McGill’s GCPA Questions
Q: I am expecting to graduate in Fall 2026 or Winter 2027 and am interested in attending the McGill GCPA program. If accepted, which version of the program will I complete?
A: Students who begin the McGill GCPA program in summer 2027 will complete the new CPA Professional Education Program.
Q: How many months will it take me to complete McGill’s new CPA program?
A: The new McGill GCPA program is planned to take place over two successive summer semesters. Students beginning the program in Summer 2027 would complete the program in Summer 2028 with no classes scheduled for the Fall 2027 or Winter 2028 semesters.
Q: How many credits will McGill’s new program comprise?
A: The new McGill GCPA program is expected to comprise 24 credits.
Q: What are the entrance requirements for the McGill CPA program for students starting in Summer 2027?
A: To be eligible for entry into McGill’s GCPA program, a McGill’s B.Com student must:
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application;
- At the time of graduation:
- Complete the B.Com core;
- Complete a list of prerequisite courses, with a minimum grade of B- in each course
For programs operated by CPA Quebec or programs at any other universities, please contact them directly and refer to the following website. Students that meet the minimum entrance requirements may apply but acceptance is not guaranteed as the program has limited space.
Q: What is included in the list of prerequisite courses for McGill students?
A: In addition to the B.Com core, McGill students must take the following ten (10) courses and achieve a minimum grade of B- in each to be eligible to apply for McGill’s CPA program
- ACCT 351 Intermediate Financial Accounting 1 (3 credits)
- ACCT 352 Intermediate Financial Accounting 2 (3 credits)
- ACCT 361 Management Accounting (3 credits)
- ACCT 362 Cost Accounting (3 credits)
- ACCT 385 Principles of Taxation(3 credits)
- ACCT 453 Advanced Financial Accounting (3 credits)
- ACCT 463 Management Control (3 credits)
- ACCT 475 Principles of Auditing (3 credits)
- ACCT 486 Business Taxation 2 (3 credits)
- 3 credits from: Any ACCT 300/400 course OR Any FINE 300/400 course
Q: Do McGill students need to take BUSA 364 - Business Law to be accepted into McGill’s CPA program as of Summer 2027?
A: If you have taken ACCT 486 - Business Taxation 2 prior to Fall 2026, you need to take BUSA 364. If you are taking ACCT 486 – Business Taxation 2 in Fall 2026 or in the future, you don’t need to take BUSA 364 – Business Law.
Q: Do McGill students need to take FINE 342 - Corporate Finance to be accepted into McGill’s CPA program as of Summer 2027?
A: McGill students no longer need to take FINE 342 - Corporate Finance.
Q: I started at McGill before Fall 2024 and never took MGCR 233 – Data Programming for Business which was added to the B.Com core in 2024. How will that affect my application?
A: The McGill GCPA team does not expect that missing this course will adversely affect a student’s application profile at this time. The McGill GCPA team is in the process of communicating with CPA Quebec to ensure that missing this course will not affect entrance into any CPA program.
Q: What about applicants from other Canadian universities?
A: Applicants who possess a degree recognized by CPA Quebec as meeting the requirements for entry into a CPA Professional Education Program will be considered for admission. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale will be required to apply.
Q: What courses are required by other universities?
A: As we are all going through a transitional period, specifics may vary from school to school. It is best to ask them directly. You can find a list of prerequisites by university on the CPA Quebec website.
General:
What are the routes to obtaining a CPA designation?
To obtain a CPA designation a candidate must complete a Professional Education Program (PEP), successfully complete the Common Final Exam, and complete a recognized training period.
In Quebec candidates for the CPA can complete a PEP either through a recognized university graduate program, such as McGill’s Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA) or through the National on-line PEP.
McGill currently only offers the GCPA program as a full time program in the Desautels Faculty of Management.
The National PEP program may provide a more flexible pathway for candidates with non-Canadian undergraduate degrees or those whose undergraduate degree is not a Bachelor of Commerce Major Accounting.
Why should I choose the GCPA program at the Desautels Faculty of Management?
Combining McGill's international reputation, a history of an excellent pass record on the legacy CA exams, and top professors, the Desautels GCPA Program is an excellent choice for candidates wishing to obtain a CPA designation. Faculty members teaching in the program are professional active CPA's. Students benefit from academic counselling, tutoring and monitoring as they progress through the program and are exposed to the latest concepts and practice-related issues. The Desautels GCPA Program is a highly respected program, opening doors around the world.
Can I work full-time while completing the program?
Students can work full-time for a training office as per the CPA guidelines from September to May in the Desautels full–time program or throughout their studies in the part-time program at the School of Continuing Studies.
How long is the program?
The full time program at Desautels is 16 months in duration - May to August of the following year.
I have a Bachelor's degree, but it is not in Management. Can I still apply to the GCPA program?
Students who do not have a BCom in Accounting are required to complete a Diploma in Accounting through the School of Continuing Studies.
Students may also want to consider the National PEP (Professional Education Program) that offers students the flexibility to do the prerequisites on-line. More information about the National certification program can be found at https://cpaquebec.ca/fr/etudiants-et-futurs-cpa/. NOTE: the CPA PREP courses are not acceptable as prerequisites for admission to the McGill GCPA programs.
I have a foreign degree. Can I apply directly to the GCPA program?
Unfortunately, foreign degrees are not always recognized by the Order of Chartered Professional Accountants. Applicants must first make arrangements to have official transcripts from their foreign university sent to the Order of Chartered Accountants in order for the Order to assess their transcripts. In most cases, students are then required to complete the School of Continuing Studies Diploma in Accounting before they can apply to the GCPA program.
Students who have not completed a Canadian B Com degree with a major in accounting may want to consider the national PEP program route instead of the McGill GCPA. For the national PEP program students will be able to complete missing prerequisites through the CPA PREP (PreRequisite Education Program) program, a series of on-line modules that cover topics required to enter the National PEP program. More information can be obtained here.
NOTE: the CPA PREP courses are not acceptable as prerequisites for the McGill GCPA programs.
Is there a time limit to complete the GCPA program?
Yes, students in the Desautels full-time program must complete the program within three years.
