Posted on by Comments Off on Members Approve the New CPA Canada Governance Model
I attended the special CPA Canada members meeting where members have voted for a new governance structure that will change how every CPA in Canada connects with the national body. The shift takes effect April 1, 2026, and it moves the profession from a provincially routed model to a more direct national relationship.
For CPA students, this means that you’re entering the profession at a time when its structure is changing. In this blog post, I’ll break down each part so you can plan ahead.
Members voted in favour of allowing all CPAs across the country to become direct members of CPA Canada. This marks a full transition toward a model where the national body has a direct relationship with individual CPAs, instead of relying on the provincial/territorial bodies as intermediaries.
The national CPA body wants a clearer connection with each CPA. Whether this improves things or not is something we’ll see over time but the structure is changing and you should understand the direction the profession is moving in.
Until March 31, 2026, nothing changes. CPAs remain part of CPA Canada through their provincial or territorial regulator.
After April 1, 2026, the connection to the national body continues but membership in CPA Canada becomes an individual choice. Instead of automatic membership through your province, you’ll be able to apply directly.
Students in Ontario and Quebec should note that existing CPA Canada subscribers will automatically become full members as of April 1, gaining voting rights and other benefits for the remainder of their subscription term.
Your exams, designation and mobility
Your CPA letters, your rights and your mobility across provinces stay the same. These governance updates don’t change recognition of the designation. National mobility remains a priority and CPA Canada says that it will continue coordinating with provinces to protect that.
There is no impact on the CPA exams. The exams are the same no matter what province you’re located.
How this may affect your fees
Fees will shift from being collected through provincial bodies to being collected directly by CPA Canada. The intention is to create more transparency about what you pay for and what you receive. Details on pricing haven’t been released yet.
Who qualifies to join CPA Canada under the new model
Starting April 1, 2026, any CPA in good standing will remain part of the national body and can apply to become a member of CPA Canada.
Good standing with your provincial body remains a requirement. The difference is that joining CPA Canada becomes optional and no longer automatic.
Once students become a CPA, membership with province is still mandatory but membership with CPA Canada becomes a personal decision. I recommend to get the membership with CPA Canada to gain access to the resources noted below.
How to join CPA Canada
In early 2026, CPA Canada will release the direct membership process. It’s expected to offer flexible options that reflect the varied needs of CPAs working in industry, firms or solo practice. More info to come in 2026.
What CPA Canada will offer
The new membership model focuses on delivering tools, guidance and resources that CPAs can use in their day-to-day work. It includes:
Custom approach with options based on your individual needs
National resources, firm tools, community platforms like Tax 360 and internationally aligned PD
A stronger individual voice through voting rights, audited financial statement access and board elections
This means the national body wants CPAs to choose their involvement. The offering will be customizable, and you will have more direct influence than before.
Why the changes are happening now
The Collaboration Accord between CPA Canada and the provincial bodies ends on April 1, 2026.CPA Canada is updating its governance documents consolidating to one class of members and shifting board election rights to individual CPAs.
This is being positioned as aligning governance with best practices. The changes were coordinated between CPA Canada and the remaining provincial and territorial bodies. Those bodies voted unanimously to support the governance amendments before the Nov. 21 member vote.
The model is meant to give CPA Canada a more defined role as serving members. Provincial bodies will continue regulating, licensing and enforcing standards.
Posted on by Comments Off on Steps to CPA Canada for ICAN Nigeria Members
CPA Canada recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with ICAN Nigeria. If you’re a qualified ICAN member, the path to becoming a Canadian CPA is now much more direct. Many ICAN members have been reaching out with questions, so I want to walk through how this new process works and what you should focus on.
New ICAN-CPA Canada MOU
Before this agreement, ICAN members had to complete the CPA Canada Professional Education Program (PEP) with six modules before writing the final CPA exam. That requirement is now removed. You can go straight to the Common Final Exam, known as the CFE. Once you pass CFE, you receive your Canadian CPA designation.
CPA Canada recommends taking Capstone 1 and Capstone 2, but I don’t recommend them. Capstone 1 focuses on teamwork and presentations, which don’t appear on the CFE. Capstone 2 gives past exams with some feedback, but the feedback is usually generic. Most students get better results by practicing past exam cases and using focused study strategies.
Steps to CPA Canada for ICAN
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility
You must be a fully qualifiedICAN member in good standing. You also need either:
Recognized university degree, or
At least 8 years of experience in any CPA competency area like Financial Reporting, Audit or Strategy.
You also must have obtained your ICAN designation while living outside Canada.
Step 2: Register for and pass the CFE
All ICAN members must pass the CFE. You get three attempts. If all three attempts are unsuccessful, your registration is cancelled and you would need to start over.
Most candidates study around 5–6 months. The CFE format is different from ICAN exams.
Day 1 tests strategic writing
Day 2 goes deep into your chosen role
Day 3 tests breadth across all technical areas
The exam is case-basedand very very time constrained. Cases are 4 to 5 hours long. You’ll write memos, analyze scenarios and explain your decisions. It’s less about calculations and more about judgment, time management and clear writing.
Key areas ICAN members need to study for CFE:
Formatting your case responses clearly and effiienctly
Canadian-specific standards like ASPEand Canadian tax
Step 3: Meet the practical experience requirements
If you already have more than 2 years of post-designation ICAN experience, it’s accepted automatically. If you have less than 2 years, you’ll submit a detailed report for review. Your experience must come from your time as an ICAN student or member.
Getting your CPA doesn’t give you audit signing rights automatically. For that, you need a public accounting licence. That requires showing depth in Financial Reporting and Assurance on the CFE and completing your province’s licensing steps.
When choosing your CFEDay 2 role, you have Assurance, Performance Management, Tax or Finance. If you’re not sure which role to choose, Assurance is a flexible choice because it keeps pathways open in public practice. PM is also a good choice for ICAN members. You can reach out to me if you’re not sure which role to choose.
Step 4: Get study resources
CPA Canada provides the Learning Ebook and the optional Capstone modules. Most candidates also use private resources to prepare for CFE. Students in public practice firms like KPMG, PWC and EY all get extra support. Many MOU students do the same, because their academic background is rusty.
Check outGevorg, CPA CFE exam coachingprograms and learn how to pass. Our comprehensive courses cover every stage of the CPA CFE process, ensuring you’re fully prepared. With a proven track record of helping over 4,500 students succeed, you can be next.
Posted on by Comments Off on The New CPA Collaboration Model from April 1, 2026
CPABC members recently received a notice about a new Collaboration Model. It’s an important update that ties directly to the broader shift I discussedearlier in my postabout the CPA Ontario and CPA Québec separation from CPA Canada. This latest announcement marks another milestone in how the Canadian CPA profession is being reshaped.
In short, the changes that happened to Ontario and Quebec in 2024 are now happening to CPABC.
What’s changing
CPABC, and potentially other provinces and territories, has agreed to move forward under a modernized collaborative model. This means:
CPABC will continue regulating the profession in BC, granting the CPA designation, setting rules, and protecting the public interest.
Funding will now flow differently. CPABC will no longer collect national dues on behalf of CPA Canada. Instead, standards and education will be funded through provincial fees.
CPA Canada will adopt a new governance model, giving every Canadian CPA the chance to join directly with the national body.
In short, the old “Collaboration Accord” between CPA Canada and provincial bodies is ending, and a new structure is taking its place.
There’ll be change in responsibilities:
Provincial bodies will focus on regulation, licensing, and member support.
CPA Canada will focus on national standards, education, and advocacy.
This change may sound administrative, but it can have broader impacts.
What this means for members
For now, CPAs in BC, and potentially other provinces/territories, remain members of CPA Canada until April 1, 2026. After that, each CPA will have the option to sign up directly with CPA Canada under the new model. This is similar to what happened with CPA Ontario & Quebec and CPA Canada at the end of 2024.
CPA Canada has published a detailed FAQ about the process which I recommend that you review.
If you don’t keep your membership with CPA Canada from April 2026 onwards, you’ll still be a CPA BC member. You’ll pay lower dues, but you won’t have access to broader resources.
On the other hand, if you do keep your membership with both CPA Canada and CPA BC, you’ll likely pay higher dues and access broader resources.
There is no impact on the CPA exams. The exams are the same no matter what province you’re located.
What to expect
In the coming months, CPA Canada will share how members can join directly. Until then, nothing changes operationally for CPAs in BC and other provinces/territories. You’ll still pay your provincial dues as usual and remain a member of CPA Canada through your province.
Posted on by Comments Off on Everything You Need to Know About 2027 CPA Professional Program
The new 2027 CPA Canada Professional Program (CPAPP) is the most significant change to the CPA education pathway in years. While the four requirements to become a CPA in Canada remain the same (Entry, Education, Examination, Experience), the structure, modules, exams, and competency map are reshaped.
This blog is a comprehensive breakdown of the 2027 CPAPP, including transition rules, new module structures, exam formats, and key deadlines.
Transition rules and key dates
The new CPAPP program is set to launch on January 2027. If you’re already in CPA Canada’s current PEP (Professional Education Program) – or you willbe accepted to PEP before Jan 2027 – you’ll have two options:
Finish your CPA in the current PEP (no transition required)
Voluntarily switch to CPAPP once it launches in Jan 2027
There’s a catch if you stay in PEP though. You’ll have until Dec. 2028 to complete all your exams, including CFE, or else you’ll be requiredto switch over to CPAPP.
Key dates are below:
Jan. 2027 – Official launch of CPAPP (you can voluntarily transition at this point)
Jan. 2027 – Final offering of Core 1
March 2027 – Pre-final Core 1 exam
June 2027 – Final Core 1 exam (note: you have 2 attempts at Core 1, not 3, if you start it in the Jan 2027 term)
May 2027 – First module offering under the new CPAPP
May 2028 – Capstone 1 final offering starts
July 2028 – Capstone 2 final offering starts
Dec. 2028 – End of current PEP (you must finish or transition at this point)
Jan. 2029 – Everyone is now in the new CPAPP
As of Fall 2025, we have 4 more CFEs remaining:
June 2026 CFE
Sep 2026 CFE
Sep 2027 CFE
Sep 2028 CFE
This diagram from CPAWSB provides a great overview of the key dates. The table here from CPAO provide a breakdown of where you will end up if you decide to transition.
Should you transition?
For most candidates, I recommend NOT to transition. Both CPA Ontario and CPA Western recommend finishing the current program instead of switching early. My reasoning is similar, CPAPP is a brand new education program, with no past exams or precedents. The competency framework is also more complex and open-ended, while the current CFE is more predictable and familiar. I recommend switching to the new CPAPP only if you’re on your last attempt of PEP or CFE, and the new CPAPP will “reset” your attempts, giving you extra tries. However, this is still be confirmed by the CPA bodies, it’s not certain that you’ll get more attempts in the new program.
What if you are behind on PER
If you’re behind on PER reporting and you don’t finish by the end of December 2028, then you’ll be transitioned to the new program and you’ll need to finish there. This is not optimal, it’ll add lots of delays and new workload for you. I recommend all students to get their PER done as soon as possible.
CPA PREP is no longer provided
Currently, university students without an accounting degree go through the PREP modules. That’s no longer the case after 2027. Students entering the new CPAPP will go through the following pathways:
If you have an accounting degree, you’ll start directly at Module 1 called Foundational Development.
If you don’t have an accounting degree, you’ll first write a Knowledge Assessment (KA), expected to be MCQ-based.
MOU international students transitioning
If you’re an MOU student, coming through agreements with other accounting bodies outside Canada, your transition depends on which parts of the CFE you’ve completed before 2027. If you’ve passed Day 1 only, you’ll receive partial exemptions but still need to complete most of the new exams. If you’ve passed Days 2 and 3, you’re in the best position, you’ll have only one module and one exam remaining under CPAPP.
Starting in 2027, CPA Canada will update MOU agreements, which may change exemption rules for future entrants. If you haven’t started the process before the transition, you’ll follow the new CPAPP structure, not the old PEP pathway.
I advise MOU students completing the CFE (especially Days 2 and 3) before Dec. 2028 as it will significantly reduce your workload.
New exams and formats
The current Core/Electives/Capstones structure will disappear. We’ll have four new modules in the 2027 CPA Professional Program:
Foundational Development (FD)
Core (CR) (Licensing or Non-licensing path)
Leadership (LD)
Professional Readiness (PR)
Each of the modules will have an exam:
Foundational Development Exam (FDE)
Professional Final Exam 1 (PFE1)
Professional Final Exam 2 (PFE2)
Professional Final Exam 3 (PFE3)
Each module has a separate exam, unlike CFE where we have exams back-to-back. The PFE1–3 (Professional Final Exams 1, 2, 3) sequence effectively replace the single CFE.
Module 1 – Foundational Development (FD)
The first module is called Foundational Development. What we know so far:
It covers Specific Competencies in areas like FR, Assurance & Trust, Analytics, Sustainability
Introduces Foundational Competencies like Economics
Tests on how you apply Decision Competencies, such as ethical mindset and professional skepticism
Module 2 – Core (Licensing vs. Non-Licensing)
The second module is Core. This is where you choose your path:
Licensing version – required for public practice
Non-licensing – general corporate route (note: I’m still waiting for confirmation on whether there’s a post-certification module you can take if you change your mind later on and decide to get licensed after getting CPA, such as the “PDPA” program we currently have)
This module tests more on Specific Competencies in such areas as financial reporting, assurance and trust, big data and analytics and taxation. For the licensing stream, there’s added depth in financial and non-financial reporting, assurance, taxation and data analytics to meet licensure requirements.
Module 3 – Leadership (LR)
The module teaches:
How to deepen your CPA Ethical Mindset and CPA Advanced Professional Competencies.
How to focus on decision-making, critical thinking, and integrated problem-solving.
Integration of all competencies across topics such as finance, assurance, management accounting, sustainability, and EDI through case-based learning.
Module 4 – Professional Readiness (PR)
This is the final step to prepare you for application to CPA membership through an intensive, five-day in-person education experience culminating in the PFE 3.
You’ll learn:
How to refine your CPA Ethical Mindset and mastery of CPA Advanced Professional Competencies.
How to apply the CPA Code of Professional Conduct in real-world scenarios.
Use case-based learning to navigate working as a team and navigating emerging global issues.
Work experience – The New PERT
The PER system is evolving into a three-step model with one bottleneck:
Step 1: Foundational Work Experience: Max 8 months transferable from prior jobs (was 12 months under PERT)
Step 2: Preparation of work plan: More information to be added in 2026.
Step 3: Professional Work Experience: 16 months required. (Vacation time doesn’t count toward the 16 months, unlike current PERT)
Total required is now 24 months minimum, but realistically closer to 30 months with study breaks and vacation time.
Most importantly, you must complete all your work experience before the final PFE3 exam. This will be a major bottleneck. You can no longer delay experience until after exams.
Conclusion
The 2027 CPA Canada Professional Program is shorter in modules but broader in competency expectations. It emphasizes principles, decision-making, and real-world judgment. My recommendation are clear:
Stay and finish in PEP if you can. The new exams will be more complex, with no prior exams to practice with.
Finish your PERT as soon as possible. If you don’t finish by end of 2028, you’ll be required to switch to the new program and finish there.
If starting fresh in 2027, get familiar early with CM 2.0.
Stay on track with work experience in the new program.
For detailed updates, keep an eye on CPA Ontario and CPA Western announcements and my blog. I’ll continue releasing videos and articles as new details emerge.
As you continue on your journey towards your CPA designation, please reach out to the Gevorg team for tutoring and support.
For the June 2026* CFE, the following Day 1 cases will be tested:
Karnat Bread Company Ltd. (KBC) v1
Viviana’s Trattoria Ltd. (VTL) v2
*(Note: Usually CFEs are in May and September. For 2026, the May 2026 CFE has been delayed to June [June 2 to June 4], so it’s referred to as June 2026 CFE in this post.)
For the September 2026 CFE, the following Day 1 cases will be tested:
Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) v1
Meadowlark Entertainment Inc. (MEI) v2
There is no CFE in May 2027.
For the September 2027 CFE, the following Day 1 cases will be tested:
Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) v2
TBD, new case v1
Where can I get the Day 1 MEI v1 solution?
CPA Canada will NOT release the solution to MEI v1 until 2027. In the interim, I will write a sample answer to MEI v1. You can download it at the cases section of the Gevorg, CPA website, when available.
Are Day 2 and Day 3 solutions available?
CPA Canada will release the official solutions to September 2025 CFE cases in May 2026.
Will I get MEI v1 solution in Capstone 2?
If you are registered for the Capstone 2 module for Spring 2026, you will NOT receive the solution to Day 1 MEI v1. You should download using the links above. If you are someone challenging the exam, such as an internationally trained accountant applying under MRA/MOU, please also download using the links above.
How do I prepare for the CFE?
There are several prep methods for the CFE. You will need to focus on these three items:
Technical knowledge
Case writing skills
Strategy
I speak a lot about these items on my YouTube channel and webinars. You can check out my latest webinar.
Posted on by Comments Off on June 2026 CPA CFE Cases and Answers (Download)
Similar to prior CPA Canada Common Final Exams (CFEs), the June 2026 CFE will test two Day 1, one Day 2 and three Day 3 cases.
(Note: Usually CFEs are in May and September. For 2026, the May 2026 CFE has been delayed to June [June 2 to June 4], so it’s referred to as “June 2026 CFE” in this post.)
The following Day 1 cases will be tested in June 2026:
Karnat Bread Company Ltd. (KBC) v1
Viviana’s Trattoria Ltd. (VTL) v2
The following Day 2 and Day 3 cases will be tested in June 2026:
Day 2
TBD (300 minutes)
Day 3
TBD (usually 90 minutes)
TBD (usually 80 minutes)
TBD (usually 70 minutes)
For the September 2026 CFE, the following Day 1 cases will be tested:
Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) v1
Meadowlark Entertainment Inc. (MEI) v2
There is no CFE in May 2027.
For the September 2027 CFE, the following Day 1 cases will be tested:
Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) v2
TBD, new case v1
For the September 2028 CFE, the following Day 1 cases will be tested:
TBD, prior case v2
TBD, new case v1
Where can I get the solutions?
The solutions for June 2026 CFE exam cases will NOT be released by CPA Canada until 2027. In the interim, I will write sample answers to help you prepare for the September 2026 CFE.
When available, you can download as PDF and Excel from here.
Will I get these cases in Capstone 2?
If you are registered for the Capstone 2 module for Summer 2026, you will NOT receive these cases at the module. You should download using the links above. If you are someone challenging the exam, such as an internationally trained accountant applying under MRA/MOU, please also download using the links above.
How do I prepare for the CFE?
There are several prep methods for the CFE. You will need to focus on these three items:
Technical knowledge
Case writing skills
Strategy
I speak a lot about these items on my YouTube channel and webinars. You can check out my latest webinar.
Posted on by Comments Off on CPA Canada CFE Day 1 Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) Mock Exam Case
The exam case Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) case will be tested in September 2026 and September 2027 Common Final Exams (CFEs) on Day 1. The original Capstone 1 case will be made available to candidates enrolled in Capstone 1 and released later publicly by CPA Canada.
How do I prepare for Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) CFE Day 1?
On CFE Day 1, you will be presented with the same STC case and you will be required to analyze and answer new strategic and additional issues.
Follow these strategies:
Step 1: Study the Capstone 1 original case well: It’s important that you know the Capstone 1 case inside-out. You will encounter the same users and similar industry challenges. I suggest making notes of the following key situational analysis factors:
Users
Mission, vision and values
Key success factors (KSF)
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)
Step 2: Know the Capstone 1 strategic issues: In Capstone 1, STC faced 4 major strategic issues and several minor issues. In the Day 1 CFE exam, you’ll get 3-5 new strategic issues.
Step 3: Make note of the timeline: CFE Day 1 case is several years in the future and there are new issues to analyze. It helps to stay organized by creating a timeline of events as you are reading the case.
Step 4: Understand key stakeholder preferences: STC case has several users who have opposing views. It’s important that you understand these user preferences as these will repeat in the CFE Day 1.
I strongly recommend practicing with supplemental mock exam cases. In Capstone 2, you will get 3 practice versions of the STC case. However, most writers find that this is not enough and feel unprepared.
Where can I get extra Singular Textiles Corporation mock exam cases?
I will prepare one (1) original Singular Textiles Corporation (STC) supplemental mock exam practice case to help you better prepare for the CFE Day 1. The mock exam case will be a realistic simulation of what you may get on your exam and cover typical AOs that you may find in your Day 1. The casepack will include the STC mock exam case, marking guide and the solution.
When ready, head over to thecasessection of my website for a free preview.
Posted on by Comments Off on CPA Canada CFE Day 1 Karnat Bread Company Ltd. (KBC) Mock Exam Case
The exam case Karnat Bread Company Ltd. (KBC) case will be tested in June 2026 Common Final Exams (CFE) on Day 1. The original Capstone 1 case will be made available to candidates enrolled in Capstone 1 and released later publicly by CPA Canada.
How do I prepare for Karnat Bread Company case for the CFE Day 1?
On CFE Day 1, you will be presented with the same KBC case and you will be required to analyze and answer new strategic and additional issues.
Follow these strategies:
Step 1: Study the Capstone 1 original case well: It’s important that you know the Capstone 1 case inside-out. You will encounter the same users and similar industry challenges. I suggest making notes of the following key situational analysis factors:
Users
Mission, vision and values
Key success factors (KSF)
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)
Step 2: Know the Capstone 1 strategic issues: In Capstone 1, KBC faced 4 major strategic issues and several minor issues. In the Day 1 CFE exam, you’ll get 3-5 new strategic issues.
Step 3: Make note of the timeline: CFE Day 1 case is several years in the future and there are new issues to analyze. It helps to stay organized by creating a timeline of events as you are reading the case.
Step 4: Understand key stakeholder preferences: KBC case has several users who have opposing views. It’s important that you understand these user preferences as these will repeat in the CFE Day 1.
I strongly recommend practicing with supplemental mock exam cases. In Capstone 2, you will get 3 practice versions of the KBC case. However, most writers find that this is not enough and feel unprepared.
Where can I get extra Karnat Bread Company mock exam cases?
I will prepare one (1) original Karnat Bread Company (KBC) supplemental mock exam practice case to help you better prepare for the CFE Day 1. The mock exam case will be a realistic simulation of what you may get on your exam and cover typical AOs that you may find in your Day 1. The casepack will include the KBC mock exam case, marking guide and the solution.
When ready, head over to thecasessection of my website for a free preview.
Posted on by Comments Off on How to Debrief a CPA Canada Case
As you continue on your journey towards your CPA designation, being able to debrief and achieve competency efficiency becomes increasingly important. In fact, debriefing will likely become your main study method.
1. Know when to debrief
The most effective way to debrief is not too long after writing the case. This way, the case facts are fresh in your mind and time can be saved from avoiding having to read the case again. Debriefing the case the following day will be more realistic and effective in managing a work-study balance.
2. Understand the marking competencies and how it relates to you
CD – Know what you completed very well, but not always the optimal rank. C – Know what you you completed correctly RC / NC – Know what you were on the right track on, but needed to include more NA – Know what assessment opportunities you missed
The objective is to achieve a C, noting that achieving a CD might mean you spent too much time on one assessment and could have used that time elsewhere. The goal is to do enough required for each assessment. Focus your attention on the assessments that are not at a level C.
3. Review the sample responses
A sample response will show the level of depth/breadth expected of a candidate writing under the time constraints. Review how you could have approached a quantitative and qualitative analysis more efficiently, what case facts might have been missed, etc. Think “What more did I need to include in my response?”.
4. Review the solution
The solution demonstrates a “best” response, meaning, under no time constraints. It should be noted that candidates are not expected to strive for perfection. However, the solution provides a resource to ensure that your notes are complete.
5. Create and organize your notes
Organize your notes by topic (i.e. Financial Reporting, Tax, etc.) and continue to add to them each debriefing session. Watch as your knowledge on the topics expand over time.
6. Give enough time to the debrief process
Do not rush the process of debriefing and making notes. Typically debriefing a case should take as long as it took you to write the case (i.e. debrief 2 hours for a 2 hour case).
While debriefing can be an intimidating process, it is a necessary process to ensure you are making the steps to improving with each and every case. Building this habit will make the CPA journey much more manageable.
Get effective CPA exam coaching
Check out Gevorg, CPA exam coaching and learn how to pass. Our comprehensive courses cover every stage of the CPA PEP process, including Assurance and CFE, ensuring you’re fully prepared. With a proven track record of helping over 4,500 students succeed, you can be next.
