CGPA Canada (Chartered Global Practising Accountants of Canada) is a federally incorporated professional accountancy body that unites CTP and CPFA members. It regulates and supports accountants under globally accepted standards and authorizes members to perform audit, compilation, review, and tax services within the CGPA framework.

How does CGPA Canada differ from CPA Canada?

Unlike CPA Canada, which operates under provincial acts, CGPA Canada is a federally incorporated body aligned with international IFAC, IFRS, and IAASB standards. CGPA offers global recognition, flexible qualification routes, and equal professional authority for audit, taxation, and financial reporting under its own regulatory framework.

What are the main pathways to become a CGPA?

CGPA offers multiple routes: Graduate Entry, Fully Qualified Accountant Entry, and the Experience-Based Pathway (EBP) for professionals with five or more years of relevant experience. Each route includes competency-based assessment, modular learning, and a Strategic Final Examination.

What services can CGPA members perform?

CGPA members may perform audits, reviews, compilations, and taxation services, provide financial and management consulting, and act as independent public practitioners under CGPA Canada’s professional standards, which comply with international assurance and ethics frameworks.

Is CGPA recognized internationally?

Yes. CGPA Canada aligns with global standards of IFAC, IFRS, and IAASB, and its designations—CTP, CPFA, and CGPA—are recognized across partner institutions worldwide for professional mobility and compliance with international assurance and taxation benchmarks.

What are CGPA Canada’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements?

Members must complete 20 verifiable and 20 unverifiable hours annually, or 60 of each over three years, including ethics and public interest modules. Compliance is monitored through annual declarations and random audits consistent with IFAC IES 8.

CGPA Canada (Chartered Global Practising Accountants of Canada) is a federally incorporated, internationally aligned professional accountancy body. It certifies, regulates, and supports accountants, auditors, and tax practitioners across Canada and globally.

Who can join CGPA Canada?

Professionals with relevant education and experience in accounting, finance, taxation, or public practice can apply for CGPA membership. CGPA offers pathways for graduates, experienced professionals, and international accountants.

What services does CGPA Canada provide?

CGPA Canada provides professional certification, public practice licensing (audit, review, compilation), taxation services, continuing professional development (CPD), and regulatory guidance for its members.

How is CGPA Canada different from CPA Canada?

While CPA Canada is the traditional Canadian accounting body, CGPA Canada provides a global, experience-based alternative. CGPA emphasizes international standards, flexible pathways for experienced professionals, and full federal incorporation under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act.

Where is CGPA Canada located?

CGPA Canada is headquartered at Unit 208A - 1522 Finlay Street, White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, V4B 4L9.

How can I contact CGPA Canada?

You can contact CGPA Canada via email at info@cgpaglobal.ca or by phone at 236-591-6712. More information is available on their website: https://www.cgpaglobal.ca

Does CGPA Canada follow international accounting standards?

Yes. CGPA Canada aligns with IFRS, IAASB, and other globally recognized accounting, auditing, and professional regulatory standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

A National Facts about CGPA Canada

Explore key facts and legal clarifications about CGPA Canada, its authority, standards, and professional recognition across Canada.

Q: Tell me about CGPA Canada professional accounting body?

Chartered Global Practising Accountants of Canada (CGPA Canada) is the national professional body representing Chartered Global Practising Accountants (CGPAs) both within Canada and internationally. Established to meet the evolving demands of a globally connected profession, CGPA Canada serves professionals in accounting, public finance, taxation, and strategic financial leadership.

CGPA Canada unifies the two largest tax and public finance organizations in Canada. Founded in 2016 as Chartered Tax Practitioner and Certified Public Finance Accountants of Canada (CTP–CPFA Canada), the organization is responsible for setting and maintaining rigorous ethical, accounting, and auditing standards specifically for CGPA members and students – standards distinct from those of CPA Canada, which apply exclusively to CPAs. CGPA Canada also designs and administers the Professional Qualification Strategic Final Examination, a critical step in earning the CGPA designation.

As the training, regulatory, and governing authority for CGPAs, CGPA Canada ensures that all members and candidates comply with strict professional and ethical standards both in Canada and internationally.

Becoming a CGPA is more than a designation–it represents a commitment to excellence, professional mobility, and leadership in a rapidly changing global economy.

Join CGPA Canada today to accelerate your career and broaden your professional impact–locally and globally. For official confirmation, please visit the Government of Canada’s Certified Educational Institutions Registry here.

For more information, please refer to the FAQs below.

Q: Is the CPABC Public Notice a misrepresentation of CGPA Canada?

A: Yes. The CPABC Public Notice, along with similar statements from Saskatchewan and Yukon CPA bodies issued between February 24–26, 2025, contains false or misleading claims about CGPA Canada. These statements are marked by legal inaccuracies, rhetorical manipulation, and key omissions – all of which misrepresent CGPA Canada’s legitimacy as a federally incorporated, provincially approved, and internationally aligned professional accountancy body. Far from being neutral consumer advisories, these notices appear to be anti-competitive smears presented under the guise of public service.

Q: Does the CPABC Public Notice violate the rights of CGPA Canada members?

A: Yes. The CPABC Public Notice may violate the rights of CGPA Canada members by mischaracterizing the organization and its designations. Such misrepresentation can negatively impact the professional standing, employment opportunities, and reputational integrity of CGPA–designated individuals. If the statements are proven to be false or misleading, they could raise serious legal concerns related to defamation, restraint of trade, and violations of fair competition principles. CGPA Canada is assessing all legal options to defend the rights and interests of its members.

Q: In what way could the CPABC Public Notice affect the rights of CGPA Canada members?

A: The CPABC Public Notice, issued in February 2025, may affect the rights of CGPA Canada members by publicly misrepresenting the legitimacy of CGPA Canada and its professional designations. Such statements–if proven to be false or misleading–can harm members’ reputations, restrict professional opportunities, and create an anti-competitive environment. These actions could potentially infringe on members’ rights related to fair competition, professional recognition, and protection from reputational harm. CGPA Canada is reviewing all legal avenues to ensure its members' rights are protected.

Q: Does the CPABC Public Notice violate the rights of CGPA Canada members?

A: Yes. The CPABC Public Notice may infringe on the rights of CGPA Canada members if it is found to be false, misleading, or defamatory. Misrepresenting a federally incorporated and provincially recognized professional body can damage the reputation and career prospects of its members. CGPA Canada believes that such statements raise serious concerns regarding fairness, accuracy, and potential anti-competitive behavior. The organization is actively exploring appropriate legal responses to protect its members and their professional standing.

Q: Is CGPA Canada a recognized professional accounting body in British Columbia and across Canada?

A: Yes. CGPA Canada is a federally incorporated professional accounting body, aligned with international standards and frameworks. It operates nationwide and is open to members across all provinces and territories, including British Columbia. While provincial regulatory recognition varies, CGPA Canada is legally established and its members are entitled to use their chartered professional designation in accordance with applicable federal and provincial laws. CGPA Canada continues to advocate for fair representation and recognition of its members across Canada.

Q: Is CGPA Canada a professional regulatory body for its members and students in British Columbia and across Canada?

A: Yes. CGPA Canada operates as a federally recognized self-regulatory body for its members and students across Canada, including in British Columbia. As a professional organization incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, CGPA Canada independently sets and enforces:

Membership and admission standards
A professional code of ethics
Continuing education requirements
Disciplinary and regulatory procedures

These frameworks are built on internationally recognized standards, including those from IFAC, IAASB, and IES.

While CGPA Canada is not a statutory regulator under provincial law, like the CPA bodies established by provincial legislation, it lawfully governs its own members nationwide under federal authority.

Q: Is CPABC a professional regulatory body for non-CPAs in British Columbia and across Canada?

A: No. The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is a provincial statutory regulatory body established to govern individuals who are designated as Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) in British Columbia. Its authority is limited to CPAs and CPA firms registered under the Chartered Professional Accountants Act of British Columbia.

CPABC does not have legal authority to regulate or speak on behalf of non-CPAs, including members of other federally or internationally recognized professional accounting bodies such as CGPA Canada. Any statements or actions by CPABC that imply regulatory power over non-CPAs may raise concerns of jurisdictional overreach and misrepresentation.

Q: Does CPABC have regulatory authority over non-CPAs in British Columbia or elsewhere in Canada?

A: No. CPABC’s regulatory authority is limited to individuals and firms who are Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) registered in British Columbia. It is a provincial regulatory body established under the Chartered Professional Accountants Act of British Columbia and does not have legal jurisdiction over non-CPAs, including members of other professional accounting bodies such as CGPA Canada.

Outside British Columbia, CPABC has no regulatory authority whatsoever. Any suggestion that CPABC regulates or represents all professional accountants in B.C. or Canada – regardless of designation – is misleading and potentially outside its legal mandate.

Q: Can CPABC regulate or speak on behalf of non-CPAs, such as CGPA Canada members, in British Columbia or elsewhere in Canada?

A: No. Under the CPABC Act (Section 3) and its Bylaws (Sections 9–28), the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) has regulatory authority only over individuals and firms registered as CPAs in British Columbia. CPABC has no legal authority over non-CPAs, including members of CGPA Canada or other independent professional accounting bodies.

Any public statements by CPABC that suggest oversight or control over non-CPAs are beyond its jurisdiction—and may be considered misleading or anti-competitive if they imply authority that does not exist under law.

Q: Can CPABC regulate CGPA Canada members in British Columbia or elsewhere in Canada?

A: No. Under the CPABC Act (Section 3) and its Bylaws (Sections 9–28), the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is a provincial regulatory body whose authority is limited to individuals and firms registered as CPAs in British Columbia.

CPABC has no legal authority to regulate or oversee CGPA Canada members, whether they reside in British Columbia or any other province or territory in Canada.

Members of CGPA Canada are governed exclusively by CGPA Canada’s own standards, bylaws, and disciplinary procedures–established under federal law and aligned with international best practices.

Bottom line: CPABC regulates CPAs—not CGPAs.

Q: Are CGPA Canada members allowed to perform audit and accounting practice in British Columbia under Section 46 of the CPABC Act?

A: Yes. According to Section 46 of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia Act, the Act does not restrict the right of persons who are not CPABC members to practice as accountants or auditors in British Columbia, subject to certain conditions in Section 47.

This means CGPA Canada members, who are not CPAs registered with CPABC, are not prohibited by the CPABC Act from providing audit or accounting services in British Columbia. However, they must still comply with any other applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards.

Q: Are CGPA Canada members allowed to perform compilation, review, and audit engagements in British Columbia under Sections 46 and 47 of the CPABC Act?

A: Yes. Under Section 46 of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia Act, the Act does not restrict the right of persons who are not members of CPABC–such as CGPA Canada members–to practice as accountants or auditors in British Columbia, subject to the provisions of Section 47.

Section 47(1) allows non-CPABC members to perform accounting engagements, including compilation, review, and audit services, provided they do not use CPA Canada standards or other standards authorized under the Act.

Additionally, Section 47(3)(f) sets out conditions under which non-members may perform such engagements, ensuring they meet specific professional and ethical requirements, and disclose their status clearly.

Therefore, CGPA Canada members can perform compilation, review, and audit engagements in British Columbia, as long as they comply with the conditions specified in Section 47, including not using CPA Canada standards and following the necessary disclosure and professional requirements.

Q: Does CGPA Canada need authorization or endorsement from CPABC to practice in British Columbia or elsewhere in Canada?

A: No. CGPA Canada is a federally incorporated professional accounting organization and does not require authorization or endorsement from the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) to operate or for its members to practice accounting in British Columbia or other provinces.

While CPABC is the provincial regulatory body for Chartered Professional Accountants in BC, it regulates only its own members under provincial legislation. CGPA Canada and its members operate independently under federal incorporation and applicable laws, and do not need CPABC’s approval to provide accounting services across Canada.

Q: Is CGPA Canada equivalent to CPA Canada since both are incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act?

A: Yes, in terms of federal incorporation and constitutional authority, CGPA Canada and CPA Canada are both federally incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (S.C. 2009, c. 23), which provides them with constitutional protection as national professional accounting bodies.

CGPA Canada operates lawfully and transparently across all Canadian jurisdictions, including British Columbia, exercising its federally protected authority to:

Grant protected professional designations
License and regulate public accountants
Establish independent ethical, educational, and disciplinary frameworks aligned with international best practices

This authority is supported by the doctrine of federal paramountcy, as affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in Multiple Access Ltd. v. McCutcheon ([1982] 2 SCR 161), which establishes that federal law prevails over conflicting provincial legislation.

While CPA Canada’s provincial bodies are statutory regulators under provincial legislation, CGPA Canada’s authority derives from its federal incorporation, making it a constitutionally protected national institution. Both bodies coexist under Canadian law but operate under different legal frameworks.

CGPA Canada’s recognition by the Government of Canada as a Certified Educational Institution and its full compliance with international standards further confirm its legitimacy and equal federal standing alongside CPA Canada.

Q: Is CGPA Canada equivalent to CPA Canada since both are incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (S.C. 2009, c. 23), and CGPA Canada was formed through the unification of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Tax Practitioners (CTP-Canada) and the Certified Public Finance Accountants of Canada (CPFA-Canada)?

A: While both CGPA Canada and CPA Canada are federally incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (S.C. 2009, c. 23), they are distinct professional organizations with separate histories, memberships, and mandates.

CGPA Canada was formed through the unification of two nationally respected institutions–the Canadian Institute of Chartered Tax Practitioners (CTP-Canada) and the Certified Public Finance Accountants of Canada (CPFA-Canada)–and serves as a national professional body representing Chartered Practising Accountants with a focus on taxation, public finance, and related disciplines.

CPA Canada represents Chartered Professional Accountants and operates through provincial CPA bodies, which are statutory regulators under provincial legislation.

Both organizations hold federal incorporation status, but their professional scopes, regulatory frameworks, and memberships differ. CGPA Canada operates with constitutional authority under federal law, while CPA Canada’s provincial bodies have statutory regulatory authority in their respective provinces.

Q: Is CGPA Canada a legitimate professional accounting body even though it does not operate under provincial legislation like CPA Canada?

A: Absolutely. CGPA Canada is a legally incorporated, constitutionally protected national professional accounting body under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (S.C. 2009, c. 23). While it does not operate under provincial CPA legislation, CGPA Canada maintains full compliance with federal laws and international professional standards.

CGPA Canada was formed through the unification of respected accounting institutions and operates transparently across all Canadian jurisdictions. Its members are governed by CGPA Canada’s own ethical, educational, and disciplinary frameworks, ensuring professional integrity and public protection.

The legitimacy of a professional body is not solely determined by provincial legislative recognition but also by federal incorporation, adherence to professional standards, and commitment to ethical governance–all of which CGPA Canada exemplifies.

Just as GST is federally governed–not controlled by provincial governments – so too is CGPA Canada regulated under national law, not provincial CPA legislation.

Q: Under the CPABC Act, Bylaws, and Code of Professional Conduct, only CPABC members are recognized to practice as professional accountants in British Columbia. What does this mean for CGPA Canada members?

A: No. The claim that only CPABC members are recognized to practise as professional accountants in British Columbia is not supported by the CPABC Act or by Canadian law more broadly.

Under Section 46 of the CPABC Act, individuals who are not members of CPABC are not prohibited from practising as accountants or auditors in British Columbia. This section explicitly protects the right of other qualified professionals–including CGPA Canada members–to provide accounting and audit services, as long as they do not use restricted CPA titles or falsely claim CPA status.

Additionally, Section 47(3)(f) further clarifies that the Act does not apply to persons authorized to practise under other legislation. CGPA Canada is such a body: a federally incorporated professional organization under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, with its own standards for membership, education, ethics, and discipline–fully aligned with international frameworks such as IFAC, IAASB, and IES.

Importantly, the term “professional accountant” is not legally restricted in Canada and is used by various organizations, including CGPA Canada and the Society of Professional Accountants of Canada (Ontario).

Finally, Section 68 of the CPABC Act outlines offences related to misuse of CPA designations and unauthorized practice, but these provisions apply only to CPABC’s regulatory jurisdiction and do not restrict CGPA Canada members from practising lawfully within their own federal authority.

In summary, CGPA Canada members have the legal right to practise accounting and auditing in British Columbia and across Canada under their federal mandate, independently of CPABC membership or provincial regulation.

Q: Does CGPA Canada meet or exceed the education and experience requirements of CPA Canada and its provincial bodies?

A: Yes. CGPA Canada maintains rigorous education and experience standards for its members that meet or exceed those required by CPA Canada and its provincial bodies.

CGPA Canada’s programs are designed to align with leading international frameworks and standards, including those established by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and related standard-setting boards (IAASB, IFRS, IES 8).

Its accreditation by the Government of Canada as a Certified Educational Institution and compliance with consumer protection laws further attest to the high quality of its educational and professional development programs.

CGPA Canada continuously reviews and updates its requirements to ensure that its members are well-prepared to provide expert accounting, auditing, taxation, and public finance services at the highest professional level.

Q: If CGPA Canada meets or exceeds the education and experience requirements of CPA Canada and its provincial bodies, why did CPABC, CPAYT, and CPASK issue a false and misleading public statement in February 2025?

A: CGPA Canada has consistently maintained high standards of education, experience, and professional ethics that meet or exceed those of CPA Canada and its provincial bodies.

The public statements issued by CPABC, CPAYT, and CPASK in February 2025 contained numerous inaccuracies, legal misrepresentations, and omissions regarding CGPA Canada’s status and members. These statements have been widely regarded as misleading and potentially anti-competitive, rather than objective consumer warnings.

CGPA Canada is committed to transparency and professionalism and continues to engage constructively to clarify these misunderstandings and uphold the integrity of the accounting profession across Canada.

Q: Was the February 2025 Public Notice issued by CPABC, CPASK, and CPAYT the subject of a formal competition and fraud complaint by CGPA Canada?

A: Yes. Following the publication of the February 2025 Public Notice by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), CPA Saskatchewan (CPASK), and CPA Yukon (CPAYT), CGPA Canada filed a Formal Competition and Fraud Complaint with the relevant authorities.

The complaint alleged monopolistic collusion, deceptive conduct, and jurisdictional overreach by the three provincial CPA bodies, specifically targeting CGPA Canada and its members.

CGPA Canada's submission included comprehensive supporting documentation, including:

Detailed legal analyses
Evidence of coordinated conduct across jurisdictions
Correspondence records demonstrating intent and pattern
A breakdown of misleading and potentially defamatory statements

The purpose of the complaint is to safeguard fair competition, protect the rights and reputation of CGPA Canada members, and uphold the rule of law and constitutional balance between federal and provincial jurisdictions.

CGPA Canada continues to advocate for transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within Canada’s professional regulatory landscape.

Q: Is CPA Canada or CPABC reacting to the rise of CGPA Canada, given that CPABC, CPA Yukon, and CPA Saskatchewan issued a controversial public notice in February 2025–at a time when CPA Canada is facing internal challenges such as the departures of CPA Ontario and CPA Quebec?

A: The February 2025 public notice issued by CPABC, CPA Yukon (CPAYT), and CPA Saskatchewan (CPASK) specifically targeted CGPA Canada and has been the subject of formal complaints for containing false, misleading, and potentially anti-competitive statements.

This action occurred during a period of significant internal disruption within CPA Canada, including the high-profile withdrawals of CPA Ontario and CPA Quebec from the national framework, citing issues with governance, transparency, and national coordination.

While CGPA Canada cannot speculate on the motives of CPABC or CPA Canada, the timing and coordinated nature of these public statements raise serious concerns about jurisdictional overreach and the misuse of regulatory platforms to suppress legitimate competition.

CGPA Canada continues to operate lawfully across Canada as a federally incorporated, internationally aligned, and constitutionally protected professional accounting body–focused on integrity, inclusion, and the future of the profession.