CGA Canada

Anyone here complete their CGA requirements. I was looking at CGA courese in canada and was looking for advise on past CGA grads.

 

CGA

While I am not a CGA (decided to become a CA instead), I know of at least one CGA who has posted on degreeinfo in the past (his name was Dennis Ruhl, I think).

Are you looking to complete your CGA designation? If so, how far along are you? What province are you located in? I may be able to help you out a bit, as I was considering the CGA program at one time and currently know several CGAs and CGA students.

Michael Weedon, CA

 

I am curerntly just beginning in the fall in PEI.

I expect to enter at level 2 .

The main issue I see is finding an employer who you can work with while completing the CGA courses.

I am currently not employeed in the accounting field and from what I see most employers want at least a level 4 student.

Any ideas?

 

That's the case with me too... I will be going through the CMA program but need to be employed in a financial-type setting, which is not my current job description. I too would be interested in some leads.

 

Still wondering if there is anyone out there that can offer any advise in the field?

 

I apologize for not posting sooner; I tried to post a response last week, but the site didn't allow me to ... Anyway, here is my response:

While I am not familiar with the PEI environment, I am surprised by your claim that most employers are looking for a Level 4 CGA student or higher. I guess it depends on what jobs you are seeing out there.

Generally speaking, here is the breakdown of accounting job classifications by CGA level for industry jobs (i.e. working in an accounting department in an organization):

Levels 1 - 2: Accounts Receivable Clerk & Accounts Payable Clerk

Levels 2 - 3: Junior/Intermediate Accountant

Level 4, PACE & CGA: Senior Accountant/Controller/CFO

In public practice (i.e. at an accounting firm), the structure is a little different. From levels 1 - 3, you would get hired as a staff accountant. Once you proceed into Level 4 or higher, you would progress to be a Senior Accountant and higher (i.e. Manager).

Right now, there is plenty of demand for accountants at all levels. For you, I would recommend applying to accounting firms first, as many of them are expanding and they are always looking for good people. In addition, accounting firms provide the best on the job training you can get! As well, you should look at the CGA career service, the government job bank, etc. The key is to be aggressive and knock on as many doors as you can. Most job openings are unadvertised, so you should look to your network (i.e. friends, family, former teachers).

If that doesn't work, I would look at volunteer work in accounting (i.e. doing the books for a charity or non-profit organization) as a way to build experience. At this stage in your career, it is important to build your core skills (accounting knowledge, computer skills such as Microsoft Office and also learning accounting software like ACCPAC, QuickBooks, & Simply Accounting).

Another piece of advice: if at all possible, try to take as many courses as you can outside of CGA and transfer them into the CGA program. For some reason, the CGA courses have a relatively low pass rate (a cash grab if you ask me). If you can't find any local options (either B & M or DL), Athabasca University may be an option.

I hope this helps ... please let me know if you have any further questions.

Michael Weedon, CA

 

Thanks for the information and advise.
I must say I am much more confident about starting the accounting program now..Although i must admit I'm still a little worried about finding someone to hire me as a student accountant.

One question about courses,.. you mentioned the CGA courses tend to be more demanding then their university conterparts. Do you know of any online courses that CGA will take for credit?
So far all I have found is the corresponding courses for transfer offered in the maritimes and NL universities...they get pretty expensive. Especially since CGA often requires two courses at these universities to their one.

 

It is my understanding that most of the CGA program can be completed via distance learning. I haven't looked into it carefully since it's not really of interest to me. From what I recall Laurentian University, Athabasca University and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology are partners and you complete a B.Comm. via DL while registered as a student. Alternatively Laurentian offers a MBA.

I think there are different options if you already have an undergraduate degree.

Here is a link that might help:

http://www.cga-online.org/servlet/custom/workspace?isSubpage=true&docid=/736/867/&objectKey=867&navId=731&secId=736&nav=main&navStyle=tree

I also think that the advice about working as a volunteer is great. I'm sure there are a lot of churches and small charities that could use accounting help (I know a CGA who does the books for her church, pro bono).

EDIT:

This might be what you're looking for:

http://www.cga-online.org/jsp/templates/ca-public/workspace.jsp?isSubpage=true&docid=/736/5693/&objectKey=5693&navId=731&secId=736&nav=content&navStyle=tree

Quote from the site:

Online Education
CGA-Canada was one of the first professional accounting associations to embrace the educational opportunities made possible by advances in the information technology field, and the organization continues to support an online learning model.

In addition to distance education initiatives that use the Internet to deliver the Program of Professional Studies, CGA-Canada has developed online degree programs in conjunction with Canadian universities.

Laurentian University’s Online Honours Bachelor of Commerce (H.B. Com) program satisfies the degree requirement for certification as a CGA, and is fully integrated with the Program of Professional Studies.

The university’s new online Masters in Business Administration will appeal to CGA members looking to advance their professional skills, and is scheduled to begin in June 2004. Applications will be accepted in early 2004, and classes are scheduled to begin in June of that year.

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Bachelor of Applied Business Administration in Accounting and Information Technology distance education program satifies the CGA bachelor’s degree requirement, and offers a unique combination of skills training in accounting management and information technology.

CGA-Canada | Last Updated:

 

University Courses for Transfer to CGA

The programs offered by Laurentian and SAIT are essentially degree completion programs; you take all of the necessary courses through CGA and the universities provide breadth courses, as well as award the degree. You would not be able to avoid any CGA courses by using these options.

Since the CGA program is national (same curriculum across Canada), you are not limited to what courses are offered in the Atlantic provinces in terms of transfer credit. This opens up a number of less expensive options for taking courses.

One of the best options is still Athabasca University. While their courses are about $650 for each 3 credit course (includes all textbooks and study materials), you usually only have to take one of their courses to receive credit for one of the CGA courses. In fact, it is entirely possible for you to earn a complete bachelors degree from Athabasca University at a distance and satisfy virtually all of the requirements of CGA levels 1-4. Other options include the Canadian Virtual University and Campus Manitoba. The best course of action is to get the complete transfer credit schedules for all provinces from thinkcga.org and then see what courses you can take at a distance.

While the CGA courses may be cheaper, the pass rates are not very high. Basically speaking, a CGA will compress up to 26 weeks worth of university material into 10 weeks, with little or no support from a teacher. Assignments are due every week, which do not count toward your final grade. However, the assignments must be completed with a minimum grade of C+ in order to write the final exam. The final exam is worth 100% of the final mark and the passing grade is C+.

In contrast, university courses like those at Athabasca do have some instructor support (quality and quantity may vary) and your assignments do count towards your final grade (final exam may be worth anywhere from 40% to 70% of your final grade, which is a bit less pressure than 100%). You still need to get at least a C+ grade in order to transfer the course into CGA.

While the university courses may seem more expensive at first glance, you also have to consider the costs associated with taking a CGA course more than once (may be likely considering the low pass rates). However, I do know people who have juggled work and family responsibilities, as well as take CGA courses, and not have to repeat any courses. With CGA courses, it is important to keep up with the assignments and readings and you must have good study skills and exam writing skills. With so much material compressed into a short timeframe, there is no room for error.

I hope this was helpful. Good luck!

 

I have 3 courses left in the CGA. I currently work as a corporate accountant.

Here is what I did:

FA1 - Algonquin distance (cheap)

Economics - Algonquin
BLAW - Algonquin

FA2/FA3 through BCIT (on campus)
MA1 - BCIT

Quantitative methods - SAIT (calgary, 1 to 1 transfer, and the only one I could find!)

Tax1 - BCIT (on campus)
MA2 - CGA
AT1 - Athabasca (in progress)
CM1 - CGA
MS2 - CGA
MU1 - CGA
AU1/BC2 - CGA

I dont think I missed any. I really looked hard for courses that were 1 for 1. Many schools will require two courses for each CGA course (ie CM1). I could not find ANY that would be 1 for 1, therefore taking the CM1 through the CGA was the best decision.

CGA courses have a higher failure rate for one simple reason, it is 100% based on your exam at the end. No marks for any assignments, although you must have a 65% on assignments to gain entry to the exam.

Finding work as an entry level accountant is pretty easy. Get your level one finished and learn excel. Then go out for some temping jobs doing data entry, A/P work. Dont worry the market for accountants is very good. I started 4 years ago, studied 2 semesters full time, and then started working full time. I am doing very well and the future looks great.

One last hint, do as many courses outside the CGA as you can. This will save you the CGA Student dues each year.

Good luck...

 

Oh, and if anyone knows of an American school that will take CGA courses as a bulk transfer, please let me know.

This would be a very lucrative thing to get involved with for an American uni. As many CGA students are looking forward to heading south after designation. (like me!)

 

KL,
do you have the cooresponding course numbers for the other schools...for example. fA1 is what at algonquin ? ACC2301?

That would help greatly..thaks a million for the info

 

Just go to the CGA Ontario site. They will have a list of transfer credits for all schools in Ont. You can do this with all provincial associations to see which schools offer courses that equal the CGA courses.

Good luck. It is well worth it.

I forgot I took the FN1 course through BC open learning.

BC open university also offers a 90 credit transfer for the CGA program towards a bach degree.

 

An alternative

Found an alternative for CGA students who need to fulfil the degree requirement to obtain the designation.

http://www.accaglobal.com/students/professionalscheme/degreepartnership/

ACCA will accept transfer credits for almost all levels, you could write three exams concurently with your CGA studies and then you submit a project...and presto a BSC from Oxford Brookes Uni.

I really wish an american uni would jump on this degree completion.....

 

Thanks for the update.

I just registered for law at algonquin.
I'm looking for their distance equivalent to FA1 but can't find it anywhere.

Do you know of any 1-1 transferes for ecomomics? Again I couldn't find any through distance? (checked across the country)

 

I ended up taking two economic courses.

You should also look at www.bcou.ca for distance ed.

They will take the entire CGA program, and the practical experience for a block transfer of 90 credits into a bach.

 

Mr. Bean72:

Is it feasible to take two courses per quarter in the cga program? How do they accomadate students with exam conflicts if they arise?

Thanks

 

I am a CGA Canada. My advice is to get maximum credit outside CGA program then enrolled and do only the mandatory courses with the CGA. The courses run by the CGA are extremely difficult. Although you can enter the CGA program without degree you must have a degree to exit the program.
There are three equality recognized accounting designations in Canada. The CGA, CMA, and CA. As someone said before some are more equal than others. In Ontario the CA is more equal than the others. The CGA has MOUs with a few International designations such as CPA (Australia), CPA (Ireland) and ACCA (UK) to name a few. Also you get special consideration for the MBA programs at Heriot-Watt; Laurentian and Athabasca.
In my opinion the CGA was the most immigrant friendly designation in the sense that the experience requirement was not solely base on auditing experience in a CA firm. The CA experience has moved closer to that of a CGA where industry experience is acceptable.
The CMA program is similar to a mini MBA. The CMA is highly respected for it skill set. A few years ago there were discussions between the CMA and CA about merging. The CA is a venerable brand because of its long history. My advice is that anyone of the designation is a must to be competitive in Canada.

 

Have you had any experience with RPA Canada? The Society of Professional Accountants of Canada

They seem to be very DL friendly but i don't know about the recognition of this designation in Canada

I completed the CMA Australia program that can be completed online. The obivious problem is their lack of recognition in Canada.

 

I earned the RPA designation in the late 90s; however, I do not pay dues so I don’t use it. I see it more as a bridging designation towards one of the big three. I think if your accounting designations is a member of IASB or IFAC then you will earn maximum credit with CGA, then you may only have to do four mandatory courses.