In this article, we will explore 10 of the top accounting certifications in Canada in the year 2022 coupled with descriptions and prerequisites for each certification.
If you want to go higher in your career, experience increased pay and mobility, then you have to get certified. As a professional in the accounting field, you will be denied certain jobs without certain certifications.
So, accounting certification is as important as keeping the job.
Top Accounting Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Top Accounting Certifications in Canada
For a career in accounting, this is one of the must-have certifications.
It is one of the most trusted certifications that can be taken anywhere in the world including Canada.
Tax accountants, and financial analysts and other aspects of accounting can benefit from the Certified Public Accountant certification.
Prerequisite includes:
The prerequisites for a CPA vary by state. In Canada, you must have an undergraduate degree in the subject area of accounting in a recognized university.
In addition, you must have an overall GPA of 65% in your core course before you will be granted admission into CPA
The CPA examination covers four four-hour sections which include:
- Financial accounting and reporting
- Auditing and attestation
- Regulation and business environment and concepts
- You must complete all four components within a 2-years period on a part time basis in education. This is done to maintain your CPA certification.
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Certified Management Accountant certification enables you as a professional to work with corporate bodies rather than private accounting.
You get awarded the certification from the Institute of Management Accountants when you demonstrate expertise in critical accounting and financial management.
Prerequisites include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Two years of work experience
- Professional accounting certification
- IMA membership
- Pass both parts of the CMA certification within three years of one another.
- The double-part exam covers 12 areas of competencies that include:
- Decision analysis
- Corporate finance
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Performance management
- Financial statement analysis and planning
- To maintain your certification with CMA, you must have 30 hours of CE credits yearly and also remain an active member in IMA.
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP) – Best Accounting Certifications In Canada
The Certified Financial Planner certification is for professional accountants who specialize in financial planning.
It demonstrates an individual’s value system like integrity, honesty, competence, and diligence.
Prerequisites include:
- 6,000 hours of professional experience
- 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- Pass the CFP exam.
- Pass a background check.
- The CFP exam is anchored by the CFP Board. The exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions that cover several topics like:
- General finance principles
- Tax planning
- Risk management
- Professional conduct
- Investment planning
- To maintain your CFP, you must:
- Adhere to the FP Canada Standards Council
- Complete 25 hours of Continuing Education (CE), including at least two credits in the Professional Responsibility category.
- Comply with the CFP Certification Policies.
- Complete and wait for the approval of your certification renewal and payment of your annual certification
- Certified Fund Specialist (CFS) – Top Accounting Certifications in Canada
Certified fund specialist is a branch of financial accountants that advise clients about investments and buy and sell funds for them.
This certification is designed for accountants, bankers, brokers, money managers, personal financial advisors and other professionals within the financial industry.
As an accountant, it gives you a hedge in the industry.
Prerequisites include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 2,000 hours of work experience in the financial services industry
- You must complete six modules in the IBF self-study program.
- You must have passed the CFS exam.
- This certification consists of three online exams and a case study. Content areas to be covered by this course are:
- Closed-end funds
- Mutual funds, ETF and REITs
- Asset allocation and portfolio construction
- Advanced fund analysis and selection
- For you to pass this certification, you must complete 30 CE hours every two years.
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
The Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) is a globally recognized accounting certification program that focuses on topics like:
- Financial management
- Reporting
- Taxation,
- Auditing
- Leadership and ethics.
- Unlike the CPA, ACCA is more internationally recognized.
The ACCA accounting consists of three modules which are broken down into three stages.
To graduate, you have to undergo 13 exams which are approximately £2,000 to attain and three years to complete.
Documents needed for Application:
- Proof of I.D.
- ACCA Letter of Good Standing (LGS) and Transcripts.
- Copy of Statement of Completion Certificate.
- LGS from all other accounting bodies (if applicable)
- Original WES ICAP Report.
- Well, detailed Chronological Resume.
- Two Referee Recommendation Forms.
- Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) certification is aimed at distinguishing accounting professionals who have advanced knowledge in finance, strategy, operations and management from those that don’t.
It is one of the most respected accounting certifications in the world.
It involves you undergoing extensive global research to keep to date on matters relating to finance, strategy and operations.
To undergo this course, you must be ready to commit to rigorous education, exam and experience requirements and also to the ethical conduct of the association.
Prerequisites include:
Evidence of your practical experience that explains your relevant work experience addressing at least four (4) areas of competencies. Your practical experience should be at a minimum of 36 months.
-Half of your practical experience requirement which is 18 months must show relevant work across the foundational, intermediate, advanced and expert levels.
-The remaining 18 months of the practical experience requirement must inform the board of your work experience at the intermediate, advanced and/or expert levels.
- Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA)
The Certified Investment Management Analyst certification is for professionals who specialize as financial analysts, financial accountants, and financial planners investment consultants and wealth management professionals.
Prerequisites include:
- At least three years of experience
- Complete CIMA education program.
- Hold CIMA certificate in business accounting or other relevant qualifications
- Pass a background check.
- It consists of a five-hour computer-based exam that covers:
- Ethics
- Asset allocation
- Risk measurement
- Performance measurement
- Investment policy
- Due diligence
- Once you have completed and passed your exam, you must sign an agreement affirming that you will adhere to the Code of Professional Responsibility set forth by the Investments & Wealth Institute.
To maintain your certification, you must complete at least 40 hours of CE credits every two years.
Equally, you must also complete the compliance requirement yearly, which involves disclosing any state or federal actions and indicating your affirmation to continuously adhere to the Code of Professional Responsibility and Rules and Guidelines for Use of the Marks.
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) – Best Accounting Certifications in Canada
The Chartered Financial Consultant designation is granted by the Canadian Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors as an upgrade to your profession.
The Chartered Financial Consultant certification broadens your knowledge in all areas of financial planning including investment tax, estate, and insurance planning.
Prerequisites include:
- At least three years of professional experience in the finance industry within the last five years
- Pass closed-book, proctored exams.
- Complete seven core courses and two electives.
- Exam topics to be covered are:
- Financial planning
- State planning
- Retirement planning
- Income taxation
- Insurance planning
- After you have completed the exam, you must agree to comply with the Canadian College Code of Ethics and Procedures.
To maintain and renew your certification, you must pay an annual fee, reconfirm your client-facing status, update your contact information and submit to the standard of ethics.
Equally, you must complete 30 hours of CE credits yearly.
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) – Top Accounting Certifications in Canada
Chartered financial analysts is a designation that works with investments rather than financial planning.
The CFA Program is a three-part exam that evaluates the fundamentals of investment tools, assets valuation, portfolio management, and wealth planning.
It is one of the important designations for professionals with an accounting background especially those who want to work in institutional money management and stock analysis.
Prerequisites include:
- Three years of professional experience
- Pass three-step exams
- The trio exam covers several subject areas, that is:
- Ethics
- Economics
- Derivatives
- Equity investments
- Fixed income types
- Corporate finance
- Financial reporting
- Quantitative methods
- The first exam consists of 240 multiple choice questions broken into two three-hour sessions.
The second exam consists of 21 item set questions 10 in the morning session and 11 in the afternoon.
The final exam consists of 8 to 12 essay questions in the morning session and lastly, 11 set item questions in the afternoon.
To obtain and maintain your charter, you must be a member of the CFA Institute.
- The Chartered Investment Counselor Certification
The Chartered Investment Counselor certification is issued by the Investment Adviser Association (IAA) to professionals who want to specialize in portfolio and mutual fund management.
Prerequisites include:
- Must be a registered investment adviser
- Hold CFA certification
- Provide character references
- Maintaining CIC certification requires adherence to IAA’s code of ethics.