How to Become a Chartered Professional Accountant in Ontario
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario to work as a chartered professional accountant in Ontario or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“In Ontario a public accounting licence is required for members who wish to practice public accounting once they are admitted – specifically, they want to be able to sign financial statements and perform other services for which a licence is required pursuant to the Public Accounting Act, 2004.”
From cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained outside Canada: 8 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 8 done
- 8 steps without a listed fee
-
Apply to World Education Services for a course-by-course ICAP evaluation and select CPA Ontario as the recipient.
Source
“Apply for a course-by-course ICAP evaluation with WES Canada by following the steps on their website. Make sure to select ‘Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario’ as the recipient when applying.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/student-registration/transcript-assessment -
Give WES all required documents and wait for the evaluation to be completed, after which CPA Ontario is notified.
Source
“Provide all required documents and information to WES and wait for your course-by-course ICAP evaluation to be completed. CPA Ontario will receive a notification from WES once your evaluation is ready.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/student-registration/transcript-assessment -
Submit a transcript assessment application through CPA Ontario's online portal.
Source
“Apply for a Transcript Assessment through our online portal. If you have already applied before completing your WES evaluation, that’s okay too.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/student-registration/transcript-assessment -
Once CPA Ontario has your WES evaluation, application and documents, assessors begin the transcript assessment.
Source
“Once CPA Ontario receives your course-by-course ICAP evaluation from WES, your submitted transcript assessment application, and any other requested documentation, our assessors will begin your transcript assessment.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/student-registration/transcript-assessment -
Complete the online application to become a CPA Ontario member.
Source
“To begin, complete the online application to become a CPA Ontario member.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... -
Have your accounting body send CPA Ontario a letter of good standing certifying your membership and completion of qualifying examinations.
Source
“Provide a letter of good standing (LGS) from ICAI on ICAI letterhead certifying your membership in good standing and that you completed the qualifying examinations. This documentation must be sent to CPA Ontario directly through or via email from the accounting body”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... -
Successfully complete the Common Final Examination and meet the experience requirement to become a member.
Source
“Students registered in this pathway are required to successfully complete the Common Final Examination (CFE) and meet the experience requirement to become members of CPA Ontario.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... -
The Registrar reviews the complete application to determine whether the experience exemption criteria in the MOU are met.
Source
“Candidates applying to register under the MOU category will have their complete application reviewed by the Registrar to determine if they meet the experience exemption criteria set out in the MOU.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
8 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Requirements
Education
Applicants with qualifications from outside Canada must have their international transcripts evaluated by WES through the ICAP course-by-course evaluation.
Source
“If you have a qualification from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada, you need to request an International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) Course-by-Course evaluation carried out by World Education Services (WES).”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-educated-professional/im...
Experience
Applicants may be exempt from the practical experience requirement at registration if they have more than two years of post-designation experience.
Source
“Students registered under this category are eligible for an exemption from the practical experience requirement at registration stage if they have more than 2 years of post-designation experience.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti...
Good character
Applicants must provide evidence of good character satisfactory to the Registrar by answering declarations in the online application.
Source
“provide evidence of good character satisfactory to the Registrar by answering declarations contained in the online application”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti...
Residency
Applicants should be residing in, moving to, or in the process of immigrating to Ontario.
Source
“Applicants to CPA Ontario should be either residing in, moving to or in the process of immigrating to Ontario.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti...
Other
Applicants must not be an undischarged bankrupt.
Source
“not be an undischarged bankrupt”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti...
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not describe how someone already licensed in another Canadian province or territory can register in Ontario. Source
“Please note: If you have previously registered with a provincial body/territory, or Bermuda (PTB), please contact our team to be provided with information on how to apply using your previous ID number.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Exams
-
Common Final Examination (CFE)
Source
“Students registered in this pathway are required to successfully complete the Common Final Examination (CFE) and meet the experience requirement to become members of CPA Ontario.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... -
Examen Uniforme de Certificación de la Contaduría Pública (EUC)
Source
“have passed the Examen Uniforme de Certificación de la Contaduría Pública (EUC)”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... -
CPA Reciprocity Examination
Source
“The Registrar may grant an exemption from this requirement only if the applicant has successfully completed the CPA Reciprocity Examination within two years of having obtained membership in CPA Ontario.”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... -
CPA Reciprocity Education and Examination (CPARE) Program
Source
“CPA Reciprocity Education and Examination (CPARE) Program”
cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/student-registration/transcript-assessment
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $24.73 | $40.87 | $72.12 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $25.00 | $40.36 | $71.43 | — |
Chartered professional accountants in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Licence required
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- Yukon Licence required
- Northwest Territories Licence required
- Nunavut Licence required
Compare chartered professional accountant licensing across Canada
Sources checked
- CPA Ontario | The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... · fetched October 10, 2026
- CPA Ontario | Transcript Assessment cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/student-registration/transcript-assessment · fetched October 10, 2026
- CPA Ontario | Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... · fetched October 10, 2026
- CPA Ontario | Immigrating to Canada | Become a CPA cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-educated-professional/im... · fetched October 10, 2026
- CPA Ontario | Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... · fetched October 10, 2026
- CPA Ontario | Instituto Mexicano de Contadores Públicos (IMCP) MRA cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/internationally-trained-accountant/insti... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a chartered professional accountant in Ontario?
Yes. Registration with Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario is required to practise in Ontario.
Which exams are required?
Common Final Examination (CFE), Examen Uniforme de Certificación de la Contaduría Pública (EUC), CPA Reciprocity Examination, CPA Reciprocity Education and Examination (CPARE) Program.
Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too
Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.
Schedule a CallFree consultation. No commitment.