On March 8, 2013, UVic's Peter B. Gustavson School of Business partnered with UBC's Sauder School of Business and SFU's Beedie School of Business to host the 9th annual Business Career Expo, BC’s largest business-only career fair.

For the Chartered Accountants and Certified Management Accountants of BC, the event was an opportunity to spread the word about a new accounting designation—one that will soon become the preeminent program in Canada when it launches later this year.

The new Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is the result of a forthcoming merger between two existing accounting designations, the Chartered Accountants (CA) and the Certified Management Accountants (CMA).

“The CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) will take the best elements of the existing programs to create a flexible program that will be internationally recognized,” says Katie Hensrud, business development officer at CMA. “Students will come out of CPA PEP with an excellent understanding of all facets of business—they will be well-rounded individuals and business leaders, well equipped to work in both public practice and in industry.”

Hensrud and her colleague Jennifer Weintraub, CA recruiter, were present at the Business Career Expo 2013 to answer students’ questions on the new designation and raise awareness about the forthcoming merger.

“The merger is particularly exciting for students in their final year, as they have the chance to become the first graduates of the new program,” says Weintraub. “The CPA PEP is the best program that could possibly have been built here in Canada. As the CPA is the largest accounting designation in the world, students will be getting a designation that is respected and transferable both across Canada and internationally.”

CPA Canada will also offer a Prerequisite Education Program for students who did not major in Accounting in their undergraduate degree. The program will ensure that all participating students have the knowledge and prerequisites to tackle the CPA program, regardless of their background.

For more information on the new CPA programs in British Columbia, visit www.bccpa.ca or the Become a CA Facebook page.

Story adapted from UBC Sauder School of Business