Do you want to obtain a public accountancy permit and be authorized to sign audit or review engagement reports once your CPA permit has been issued? Below you will find all the education, examination and practical experience requirements you must satisfy during the CPA qualification process so that the Order can issue your public accountancy permit in accordance with the Regulation respecting the public accountancy permit of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec.
Practical experience: explanatory sheets
Public accountancy permt limited to review engagements
You can choose the path leading to a public accountancy permit limited to review engagements. This permit allows holders to issue review engagement reports exclusively and use the “CPA auditor” designation, provided that it is followed by “limited to review engagements.”
Education and common examination (CFE)
Education and examination requirements:
CPA education program1
Successfully complete the taxation and assurance modules/courses.
Day 2 of the final cummon examination2
Select and successfully complete the assurance role AND receive a pass standing for depth in financial reportin
CPA education program1
Successfully complete the taxation and assurance modules/courses.
Day 2 of the final cummon examination2
Select and successfully complete the assurance role AND receive a pass standing for depth in financial reportin
You did not meet the requirement regarding the Financial reporting during the CFE? Learn more on the public accountancy examination.
Practical experience
Practical experience requirements depending on the type of permit:
Training environment
Complete the entire 24-month period of practical experience in a pre-approved program in audit that will enable you to develop in-depth competencies in financial reporting and in audit and assurance
Billable hours
24 months of practical experience at a firm recognized by the Order, where you have accumulated 1,250 hours in assurance of historical financial information, including 625 hours in audit of general-purpose financial statements for various types of clients operating in diverse industries.
Guidance
Be guided throughout the period of practical experience by a CPA mentor who holds a public accountancy permit.
Training environment
Complete the entire 24-month period of practical experience in a pre-approved program in review engagement or audit that will enable you to develop in-depth competencies in financial reporting and breadth competencies in assurance.
Billable hours
24 months of practical experience at a firm recognized by the Order, where you have accumulated 1,250 hours in assurance of historical financial information, including 625 hours in assurance of general-purpose financial statements for various types of clients operating in diverse industries.
Guidance
Be guided throughout the period of practical experience by a CPA mentor who holds a public accountancy permit that may be limited to review engagements.
For candidates for the practice of the profession, the 24-month period of practical experience in a pre-approved program in review engagement or audit represents an accelerated path to obtaining the public accountancy permit as soon as the CPA permit is issued. However, any relevant experience in a firm that meets the requirements of the Regulation respecting the public accountancy permit of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec can also lead to obtaining this permit. To this end, you will be able to submit a request for evaluation to the public accountancy committee once you are a CPA member.
NOTES
1 Two education options are available to you: the university graduate program or the national program delivered by the Order.
2 Learn more on the Common Final Examination (CFE).
