Hello Everyone, I really need help from people who have knowledge about the CGA program. I am recent graduate of Sheridan College and I did my advanced diploma in business administration accounting. It was a 3 years program. I got more than 70% in all my Sheridan courses so I believe I will get credits for all the foundation level courses of CGA, except for business quantitative and analysis because I haven't done that course. My plan is to complete my degree through CGA-Laurentian program and I will be working full time, therefore, I will be taking 1 course per semester. Do you guys think this route is fine? Should I consider something else instead? How hard CGA is? Some of the comments about CGA on other forums are really making me think whether I should go for CGA or not. Please help.
I'm familiar with this program. An accounting designation is the way to go in my opinion, if you go to any job site and search for CGA, you will find tons of opportunities in this area. There are some negative comments about saturation of the field, but accounting always has it ups and down. The Laurentian program is great because you can end with a degree on top of the CGA designation. Laurentian has also an online MBA that you do as well after CGA.
I am a CGA . You can't go wrong with a CGA designation. You will have to earn a degree before you are awarded the CGA designation. Larentian Univerity is a good way to go but there are other alternatives such as SAIT and Athabacsa etc. if you are just making a 70% in college then you will find the CGA program a challenge. There is a strong likelihood that by early next year there will be one accounting designation in Canada, the CPA. The CAs have been pushing for a merger, the CMAs are on board, the CGAs are divided. The CGA national pulled out of merger's talks but were forced back into talks because Ontario broke ranks with the National. The three accounting designations in Quebec will go CPA early 2012. This is my speculation, if CGA decided not to be involved with the merger with CA and CMA then the the remaining CGAs in Canada (without quebec) may go with ACCA. Your source for CA-CMA-CGA Merger Information l CPA Canada l Votre source d
I agree. In my area (Southern Ontario) employment in the accounting field seems to hold up better than average in tough job markets. I can recommend the CGA designation; I'm glad that I earned mine. It can open up a lot of opportunities. A bachelors degree is required to earn the CGA, so the Laurentian option seems like a good choice for someone who does not currently have a degree.
Thanks for replying guys. I have got A grades in all my major accounting courses at college but I am still concerned about the difficulty level of CGA exams. If I study 20 hours per week while working full time, chances of passing all the exams on first attempt is high or not? I am not exactly sure about the merger you have mention above. This merger wont affect me in anyway if I enroll in CGA this coming February right?
If I enroll in CGA program this coming Feb, then will this merger affect me in anyway? Also, Doing the whole CGA online is hard or not? I have got 80-90% in all my college courses. Please help
I wouldn't think that the potential merger would be of much concern at this point. The various accounting bodies are in discussions, but the merger may not proceed. If it does, I believe that it will take some time before we see a harmonized qualification program. When I enrolled in the CGA, and had my transcript evaluated, I received very few exemptions, since my BSc is not in a business-related discipline. I think that I did 14 or 15 courses, all of them through CGA Ontario. It took just over 6 years, taking 1 course at a time, with a few terms off over that period. I passed all of the exams on the first attempt ... although a few just barely! For each course, the mark is determined 100% by the exam. However, you have to qualify to write the exam by assignment work. Typicaly, there are 10 assignments, and you are required to submit at least 9 of them, and average 65% on the best 9 of 10 to qualify to write the exam. That's how it was when I was enrolled, anyway. It's quite a bit of work, but worth the effort, I think.
