Transcript Orientation - CGA-BC

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Financial
Assistance
Resources
Website
Website
Program
Overview
Exams
Course
Changes
Degree
Requirement
Practical
Experience
Online
Learning
Course
Planning
Transfer
Credit
Courses
Time
Limit
The CGA Program: Time to Succeed
Resources
1. Website
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
CGA-BC.org is your one-stop shop for all information
pertaining to the CGA program. All policies, procedures, deadlines,
important information and staff contact information are available on our
site. Be sure to check the Heads Up section weekly. Heads Up is on
the main student page, once you click on the Student tab.
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Courses
Before you begin taking courses, click through the available links on the
student Web pages. Here, you will find information about your courses, online enrolment, details on
practical experience, schedules and forms, the Handbook, Enrolment Guide, Transfer Credit Guide,
Online Learning Reference Guide and much more. You will also find information about our degree
partners, and what you need to know as you get closer to graduation.
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2. Program Overview: Courses
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
The CGA program consists of 19 courses, two business cases,
and a public speaking requirement. The program is divided into
five Levels (Levels 1-4 and the PACE Level). Every student must
complete all courses in Levels 1-4. In the PACE Level, the final level,
students complete two required courses and two elective courses.
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The elective courses allow you to personalize your studies according to your
strengths, likes, and career objectives. For a full description of the CGA courses,
see the Course Syllabus.
In addition to the 19 courses, each student must also complete two business cases (the Accounting
Business Case – BC1, and the auditing business case – BC2). The business cases are taken in Levels
3 and 4, and allow you to apply the knowledge you’ve learned throughout these levels.
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3. Degree Requirement
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
All students must obtain a bachelor’s degree prior to earning their
CGA designation. This is an exit requirement, meaning that you
do not need a degree to get started on the program, but rather to
graduate from the program. It is not mandatory that the bachelor’s
degree be earned in accounting or finance; the degree can be obtained
in any discipline.
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For students who do not have a bachelor’s degree, CGA-BC offers several degree partner programs
that allow you to earn a degree while working on your CGA courses. See Degree Opportunities.
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4. Practical Experience Requirement
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
Work experience is a key component of earning your CGA
designation. Like the degree requirement, the practical experience
requirement is an exit requirement of the program, meaning you are
not required to have any experience when beginning the program, but
must meet the requirement before earning your designation.
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To meet the practical experience requirement, students must have a minimum of three years (36
months) of experience in an accounting or finance position. Of these three years, at least two of the
years (24 months) must be at a senior level. While basic or foundation level experience will consist of
mainly clerical duties, senior level experience usually requires the application of advanced knowledge,
decision-making, and responsibility for the preparation and interpretation of financial information.
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5. Time Limit
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
Each CGA student is given an individual time limit in which to
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complete their program requirements. This is assessed upon
Learning
admission to the program and is based on transfer credits granted
Course
and the number of remaining CGA courses left to complete. Consideration
Planning
is given to the possibility of time off from taking courses and/or repeating a course.
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If students want to take time off without affecting their time limit, they can take a non-active year. This
must be a full academic year with no academic activity – not with CGA nor for transfer credit. Nonactive years do not count towards the overall time limit and students are still considered current and will
continue to receive all mailings and publications.
Please refer to the Time Limit chart in the Student Handbook regarding the number of allowable nonactive years.
Resources
6. Transfer Credit Courses
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
Students may wish to take equivalent courses outside CGA rather
than take the CGA course directly. This is referred to as Transfer
Credit. In order to receive transfer credits, the following
conditions must be met:
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– The student must be enrolled as an active student; they may not be non-active.
– Courses taken for transfer credit must be approved by CGA as published in the Transfer Credit
Guide.
– Transfer credits are granted based on a minimum grade requirement.
– CGA-BC must receive a copy of the student’s official transcript as well as the Request for
Transfer Credit form with payment.
A fee of $25 per CGA course will be charged for transfer credits. A Transaction Confirmation will be
sent to the student once the transfer credit fee has been processed.
Due to the minimum course requirement, several PACE Level CGA courses are not available for
transfer credit. Please refer to the Transfer Credit Guide for more details.
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7. Course Planning
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
CGA courses require a significant amount of work each week.
Students should plan to spend 15-20 hours per week for each
course, with the exception of public speaking. Business cases
require 40-50 hours of work each.
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Learning
Course
Planning
Practical
Experience
Time Limit
Transfer Credit
Courses
Things you should consider when planning your courses for the year:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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What course is required? Use your Program Sequence forms to determine what you still have
outstanding.
Are the prerequisites met? See the Prerequisites Schedule.
When is the course offered? How many offerings are there per year? Some courses are offered in
many sessions, where others are only offered once per year. Check the Course Offerings
Schedule.
What level courses am I considering? Remember that Level 4 and PACE courses are more
intense than those in lower levels.
What is going on at work and in my personal life that may conflict with my studies?
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8. Online Learning
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
CGA students complete their courses entirely online, and write
their exams in person. Our courses are currently hosted through
Blackboard OLE.
Via online course delivery, students access and submit assignments
online, read through modules, course content, post to discussion boards,
and complete quizzes for instant feedback on their performance.
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Online learning allows CGA students the opportunity to successfully balance work with life,
and to study where they want.
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9. Course Changes
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
Withdrawal from a course
There are two deadlines to remember if you want to withdraw
from your course:
Online
Learning
1. Refund deadline
Usually around week 2 of the course. Refunds are less the material fee
and withdrawal fee.
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2. No academic penalty deadline
Usually a couple of weeks after the refund deadline. Your course is removed from your transcript
for you to add later, at your convenience. No refunds are given for these withdrawals.
Withdrawal requests must be received in writing by the deadlines provided on the Course and Exam
Withdrawal form in the Schedules and Forms section of this Website. You may find it most convenient to
fax this form to our office.
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10. Exams
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
CGA exams are written nationwide four times per year. Each of
the four sessions is followed directly by its exam period.
For courses in Levels 1-3, no exam qualification is required. All
students enrolled in the course are scheduled to write the exam.
Students in Level 4 and PACE Level courses must qualify to write
their end of course exam. This means that they must achieve specific
marks in their course work, or they will receive a mark of DNQ
(did not qualify for the exam), which counts as a failure.
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There are two types of exams that are NOT course enrolments: challenge exams and supplemental
exams.
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11. Financial Assistance
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
While CGA does not qualify for federal or provincial student
loans, there are still several options available to assist you with the
cost of the program.
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Courses
Lifelong Learning Program (LLP)
CGA students can withdraw up to $20,000 from their RRSP (or spouse’s RRSP)
to pay for their education. Repayment must be made within 20 years, with at least 1/20 of the amount
returned to the RRSP each year. Students must be taking at least one course per session to qualify as
a full-time student under this program.
Lines of Credit.
Several lending institutions offer CGA students reduced fees for lines of credit to assist them with their
studies. Further details on this option can be found in the Student Handbook.
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12. Resources
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
Please take full advantage of all the resources available to you.
These are just a select few; much more detail is available in the
Student Handbook.
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Student Handbook and Enrolment Guide
Online Learning Reference Guide
Heads Up
Course Syllabus
Transfer Credit Guide
Career Centre on the Website
Scholarships & Bursary Program
Academic Advisors and Student Services Staff
CGA students taking the same course
Other members and students in your chapter
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Congratulations!
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You have completed the learning part of this orientation. Please take a moment to refresh your memory
on any of the sections before clicking on Test Your Knowledge to take a quick multiple choice test. The
test is just to see where you may need extra assistance or review and should take you no more than 10
minutes to complete.
Test Your Knowledge.
We look forward to assisting you as a CGA student.
The Student Services Division.
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Test Your Knowledge
Question #1
Where can you find important information for students that is
updated each week?
a. Transfer Credit Guide
b. Student Handbook
c. Heads Up
d. Online Learning Reference Guide
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
Question #2
True or False: Public Speaking is a requirement for every CGA-BC
student.
a. True
b. False
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
Question #3
True or False: A degree is required to begin the CGA program.
a. True
b. False
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
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Question #4
In order to meet the practical experience requirement, you must:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Work for a CGA firm
Work in public practice
Supervise more than five staff
None of the above
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Question #5
Which of the following is not required when taking transfer credits?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Maintain active student status
Meet a minimum grade requirement
Notify the CGA office prior to taking a course for transfer credit
Submit official transcript
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
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Question #6
What is critical to remember when planning courses for the year?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Prerequisites are met
Course is available in that session
I have time in my life to commit to my course
All of the above
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
Question #7
True or False: There is more than one withdrawal deadline per
session.
a. True
b. False
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
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Question #8
Which of the following is not an exam type?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Qualification
Challenge
Deferred
Supplemental
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
Question #9
True or False: CGA qualifies for Federal and Provincial loan
programs.
a. True
b. False
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
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Test Your Knowledge
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Question #10
Which of the following is a resource available to you, as a student?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Student Handbook and Enrolment Guide
Online Learning Reference Guide
Transfer Credit Guide
CGA-BC Website and Heads Up
All of the above
Check your answer
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
End Test
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Question #1 - Answer
Answer – C, Heads Up. Student Services staff updates Heads Up each Friday to provide key information to
students such as important dates and deadlines, materials backorder status, tips and tricks for progressing
through your courses. You should bookmark this page and read it weekly.
Back to question
Question 2
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Question #2 - Answer
Answer – A, True. All students in BC must complete Public Speaking prior to graduation. This can be done
either through CGA, or via transfer credit – please refer to the Public Speaking transfer credit guide online.
Although it is considered a Level 4 course, students may choose to complete it at the time that best suits them.
There is no course prerequisite for Public Speaking.
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Question 3
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Question #3 - Answer
Answer – B, False. CGA students must have a bachelor’s level degree to graduate from the program, but it is
not an entry requirement. For those students who are looking for degree options, there are several degree
efficiencies through local institutions as well as our national degree partners opportunities.
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Question 4
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Question #4 - Answer
Answer – D, None of the above. In order to meet the practical experience requirement, students must have at
least three years of experience working in any industry. Two of those years must be at a senior level requiring
advanced technical knowledge, analytical skills, decision-making, and leadership. One of the three years must
be Canadian work experience.
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Question 5
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Question #5 - Answer
Answer – C, Notify the CGA-BC office prior to taking a course for transfer credit. Students are NOT
required to advise CGA ahead of time if they plan to complete a course for transfer credit. It is important to first
double check the Transfer Credit Guide to determine the appropriate course before enrolling, but advising CGA
is only done once the course has been successfully completed. At that point, students should submit both the
Transfer Credit Form, and their official transcripts.
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Question 6
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Question #6 - Answer
Answer – D, All of the above. Students should consider all factors listed, as well as the other suggestions
listed in the Resources and Study Tools section online, assisting students with course planning. While it seems
like a lot to think about all at once, working through the factors becomes automatic after being on the CGA
program through a few enrolment periods.
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Question 7
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Question #7 - Answer
Answer – A, True. There are different withdrawal deadlines for Public Speaking, business cases, courses and
exams. Students should keep track of these deadlines as published in the Schedules and Forms section of the
Website.
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Question 8
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Question #8 - Answer
Answer – A, Qualification. Qualification is not a type of exam. Challenge exams, deferred exams and
supplemental exams are all part of the CGA program and exist for different situations. Students at the upper
level of the program must QUALIFY to write exams by assignment submission. Please refer to the Student
Handbook for more information on CGA exams.
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Question 9
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Question #9 - Answer
Answer – B, False. Unfortunately, the CGA program does not qualify for Federal or Provincial student loans,
however there are several other funding options available.
Back to question
Question 10
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Question #10 - Answer
Answer – E, All of the above. While distance learning can be challenging at times, there are several resources
available for CGA students. In addition to those listed in this test, students should consider each other as
valuable resources. Making connections with fellow students, whether online or in person, is a key support and
motivator when a course gets confusing or draining.
CGA staff members are also here to help. If you are ever in doubt about a policy or procedure, be sure to
check with the CGA office as soon as possible.
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End Test
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Orientation Test Completed
Congratulations on completing the online orientation for CGA-BC. If you have any questions as
you proceed through the program, please contact our advisors for assistance. E-mail the
Association at [email protected] and we will respond to you within four hours. We look forward
to assisting you in your path to a successful future.
Enrol Now
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Resources
1. Website
continued…
CGAjobs.org is our career opportunity site. Find the link to this
fantastic service under My CGA BC. Here you can post your
resumé and search for accounting-related jobs posted by employers
specifically to CGA students and members. This is not a publicly
accessed site, so you already have the inside track to thousands of
jobs when you log on and set up your profile.
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Online
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There is a lot of information to retain; knowing your way around the Website will make life a lot easier.
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2. Program Overview: Courses
continued…
The public speaking requirement is mandatory for all CGA-BC
students. For students residing in the Lower Mainland, we offer a
two-weekend course to meet this requirement. For students outside
the Lower Mainland, as well as those students unable to attend the
weekend course, there are numerous other options available.
See Public Speaking – Transfer Credit Guide.
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For courses and business cases, the materials/textbooks are included in the price of the course.
Materials are automatically shipped to you once your enrolment is processed. Please note that
There are no materials for the public speaking course.
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4. Practical Experience Requirement
continued…
It is important to note that many different positions meet the
requirements for work experience. The practical experience can
be completed in any sector, including industry, public practice,
commerce, finance, government, non-profit, or information technology.
For details on how to report your practical experience, as well as
examples of acceptable experience, please see Practical Experience.
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7. Course Planning
continued…
6.
When is the course exam? Do I have another exam
scheduled or another conflict? Makesureit is the Exam
Schedule that you refer to.
Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
Online
Learning
7.
Do I know anyone else taking CGA courses? Often, taking a
course with a buddy can be an extra motivator and provide critical
discussion or study time to help as you progress through your course.
8.
Are there lectures available? Some CGA courses provide drop-in lectures
at UBC during certain times of the year. If you live in the Lower Mainland,
you may prefer this option to the online lecture offering.
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Once you have answered these questions, you should have a better idea of whether you want to take
the session off or schedule a course, and which course is best for you.
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9. Course Changes
continued…
Session changes
The refund deadline is also the session change deadline. For a
$35 fee, we will move your course to any other available session
in the academic year. We cannot move courses from one academic
year to another.
See the Session Change Request form.
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10. Exams
continued…
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Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
A challenge exam is based on previous course work outside CGA.
Online
Practical
Learning
Experience
If you have some education in a given course, but not enough for an
exemption (or transfer credit), you will be offered a challenge exam.
Course
Time Limit
Planning
You will not be required to enrol in the full course. Instead, IF YOU
Transfer Credit
Courses
CHOOSE, you may simply take the exam for that course. If you are not
comfortable with this option, you may enrol in the full course instead. Any
challenge rights that you have been granted will be recorded on your assessment
page when you were accepted into the program. Note: there are no supplemental exams if you fail
your challenge exam.
A supplemental exam is based on your previous mark in a CGA course. In order to pass your CGA
course, you must have a final mark of at least 65 per cent. If you do not meet this requirement, but
you
have a mark of 50 per cent or better, you will be offered the chance to write the exam again, in the
upcoming exam session. This is just the exam, not the full course. This is an option and is not
mandatory. If you choose not to write the supplemental exam, you may simply re-enrol in the course.
[Continued…]
Resources
Financial
Assistance
10. Exams
continued…
Exams
Course
Changes
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Program
Overview
Degree
Requirement
Exam Deferrals
Online
Practical
Learning
Experience
Students have the right to defer any exam that they are qualified to
write, provided they advise CGA-BC and make payment by the
Course
Time Limit
Planning
published deferral deadline for the exam period. Exams can only be
Transfer Credit
Courses
deferred to either of the next two available exam periods. It is critical
that students follow the EXAM SCHEDULE and not the COURSE OFFERINGS SCHEDULE when deciding
whether to defer their exam. The Exam Deferral policy is outlined in detail in the Student Handbook. Please
familiarize yourself with this policy before you defer your exam.
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11. Financial Assistance
continued…
Bursaries
The CGA Educational Foundation offers bursaries three times
per year to students in need of financial assistance. In order to
qualify, students must have completed at least two CGA courses.
Further details can be found under Financial Aid.
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Program
Overview
Exams
Degree
Requirement
Course
Changes
Online
Learning
Course
Planning
Scholarships and Awards.
Both CGA-BC and CGA-Canada offer several awards and scholarships to
students at all levels of the program. Please refer to Scholarships and Awards.
Practical
Experience
Time Limit
Transfer Credit
Courses