Members

Designation Use for Members

How a member presents their designation credentials depends on whether they completed their education and designation through the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP), with one of the legacy designation bodies (Chartered Accountant, Certified General Accountant or Certified Management Accountant), or through a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), Reciprocal Membership Agreement (RMA) or Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with a designation body outside Canada.

Until July 1, 2025 registrants can use the new CPA designation in conjunction with their legacy designation or simply continue to use the legacy designation alone.

For example:

• John Doe CPA, CMA; or
• John Doe CMA
• Jane Smith CPA, CGA; or
• Jane Smith CGA
• Richard Roe CPA, CA; or
• Richard Roe CA

After July 1, 2025 the CPA designation can be used on its own, adding a third option.

For example:

• John Doe CPA

These rules apply to all legacy designations.

Members who hold more than one legacy designation and choose to “tag” should only use the CPA designation once.
For example:

• John Doe CPA, CMA, CGA, CA

Using the US CPA designation in Alberta:

Members who hold a CPA designation from the United States and have been approved by CPA Alberta to indicate that designation must do so in the following manner: Name, Canadian Designations, US CPA Designation (State, USA).

For example:

• John Doe CPA, CMA, CPA (New York, USA);
• Jane Smith CPA, CGA, CPA (Texas, USA);
• Richard Roe CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois, USA)

Members who hold the fellowship designation (FCMA, FCGA, FCA) automatically receive the FCPA designation.

Any candidates who successfully complete the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) will be entitled to use the CPA designation alone.

Education

The education section should describe the professional education program you completed and provider. Program and designation dates are not required, but if you choose to highlight them, just the year designation was granted is necessary. You can indicate additional information such as designations earned through unification of the Alberta legacy bodies in July, 2015, or through MRA/RMA/MOU in bullet points with your education description. Examples include:

• PEP/CPA route: Member of CPA Alberta since (Month, Year)
• Legacy route: Designated as a (legacy designation) since (Month, Year) and member of CPA Alberta since (Month, Year).

Education

The education section should describe the professional education program you completed and provider. Program and designation dates are not required, but if you choose to highlight them, just the year designation was granted is necessary. You can indicate additional information such as designations earned through unification of the Alberta legacy bodies in July, 2015, or through MRA/RMA/MOU in bullet points with your education description. Examples include: