A CGA program aimed at master’s degree holders
Increasingly popular with administrators and business leaders, the CGA program is open to holders of an MBA (under certain conditions) or a master’s in accounting, finance, taxation, administration or management and recognizes prior learning and skills
Six seminars are offered as part of the program and are followed by four professional examinations. Practical working experience lasting 24 months performed in the sector preferred by the candidate completes the requirements leading to the CGA professional designation.
Students enrolled in the CGA Program for Master’s Degree Holders are exempted from the Short Graduate Program in Professional Practice.
Seminars to take and associated examinations
| Pathway |
| Six seminars to take |
Professional exams to pass |
| Accounting (90 hrs) |
|
| Auditing (60 hrs) |
AU2 or MU1 |
| Finance (45 hrs) |
FN2 or TX21 |
| Taxation (60 hrs) |
|
| Professional practice (60 hrs) |
PA1 |
| Strategic financial management (60 hrs) |
PA2 |
1 Students who elect to take the TX2 exam are required to take a second 45-hour seminar to be eligible to take the exam.
Seminar descriptions
The content of each seminar is based on the national education program course notes and take into account the implementation of IFRS.
Intermediate accounting (90 hours)
This seminar is intended to familiarize students with fundamental financial accounting concepts and with the conceptual framework governing financial reporting in Canada. The seminar also focuses on fundamental concepts relating to main balance sheet items, income statements and other financial statements. In addition, students will gain an understanding of the principal Canadian accounting principles. This is the first seminar that students are required to enrol in.
Auditing (60 hours)
The goal of this seminar is to familiarize students with fundamental management auditing and external auditing concepts. Concepts, principles and techniques relating to business management auditing, including risk management, will be covered initially. Subsequent topics include fundamental external auditing concepts and processes. Professional, legal and ethical considerations relating to assurance engagements will also be addressed.
Finance (45 hours)
All topics in this seminar are approached from a corporate finance perspective. Topics include investment selection, approaches to risk, capital structures, business financial planning and special financial instruments (options/futures).
Taxation (60 hours)
This seminar is designed to familiarize students with the fundamental concepts and principles relating to Canada’s Income Tax Act. Topics covered include various types of income and taxability, capital gains and losses and calculations of taxable personal and business income. Business restructurings and tax planning will also be covered.
Candidates who elect to take the TX2 exam are required to take a second 45-hour seminar to be eligible to take the exam.
Issues in Professional Practice (60 hours)
This seminar applies the knowledge acquired in the CGA Program for Master’s Degree Holders in a concrete and practical way. It is also intended to develop students’ advisory and public accounting skills. It addresses the ethical aspects of public accounting, in addition to the concepts underlying audit risk/strategy assessment, financial reporting needs and new developments in GAAP and GAAS. The course essentially covers the competencies tested by the PA1 exam, focusing on general accounting, taxation, assurance and leadership. The perspective adopted is that of an external accountant providing auditing, tax and other business consulting services.
Strategic Financial Management (60 hours)
This seminar is to apply the knowledge acquired in the Master’s program in a concrete and practical way. It also addresses key aspects of financial accounting, management accounting and corporate finance from the perspective of strategic decision-making. The course essentially covers the competencies tested by the PA2 exam, focusing on the skills needed by financial managers working in an organizational context.
*Issues in Professional Practice and Strategic Financial Management must be the last seminars students enrol in.
Conduct of seminars
All seminars are given in Montreal in classes every two weeks on Saturdays or Sundays. The language of instruction is French but seminars may be conducted in English if there is sufficient student demand.
Seminars are subject to change without notice by the Ordre.