Accounting (CPA Bridging)
Credentials available
- Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals
- Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting
- Post-Bachelor Combined Certificates in Accounting
Campus
- Lethbridge
- Calgary
Intake
Program description
Accounting and finance professionals are recognized world-wide for their strategic thinking, financial expertise, business insights and leadership. Dhillon School of Business’ undergraduate post-bachelor CPA Bridging certificates allow you to build on your existing degree for an expediated pathway to an accounting career and prepare you for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). We offer two post-bachelor certificates and a combined post-bachelor certificate option depending on where you are in your career journey.
Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals (undergraduate program)
Are you looking to advance in your career with business skills in accounting? Are you considering becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant? Our Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals builds on your existing degree, no matter the discipline, can be completed on a full-time basis (3 or more courses) or on a part-time basis (2 or less courses) while you work full-time.
The 10-course certificate not only allows you to acquire some of the most in-demand skills in the marketplace, it also makes you eligible upon completion to enter the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting.
All our courses are recognized for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) and are taught by award-winning PhD- and CPA-qualified faculty. Courses include Accounting Information Systems and Data Analytics, Business Law, Introduction to Microeconomics, Introduction to Tax and more.
See Program Planning Guide for Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals here.
Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting (undergraduate program)
If you have a background in accounting but need to update or enhance your skills, or you’ve completed the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals, the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting is designed for you. In as little as eight months on a full-time basis you can earn intermediate and advanced level coursework for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program, or for the career opportunities that come with an advanced university credential in accounting. The certificate can also be completed on a part-time basis while your work full-time.
Throughout this six-course certificate, you’ll connect with PhD- and CPA-qualified faculty as you explore exceptional curriculum integrating essential knowledge areas in courses like Corporate Finance, Advanced Managerial Accounting, Auditing, Analyzing Cases in Accounting and more.
We also value your experience. Our recognition of prior education provides you with the most direct route to your accounting credential and you can choose to study the courses you need at a pace that works for you.
If you do not have an academic background in accounting, we recommend you start with our Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals.
See Program Planning Guide for Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting here.
Post-Bachelor Combined Certificates in Accounting (undergraduate program)
The Post-Bachelor Combined Certificates in Accounting allows you to take both the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals and the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting in one program. With the Post-Bachelor Combined Certificates in Accounting you’ll build on your existing degree, no matter the discipline and progress to advanced level coursework that can advance your career or prepare you for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program.
The 16-course combined certificates take two years to complete on a full-time basis and provides eligibility for co-operative education. The combined certificates can also be taken on a part-time basis.
See Program Planning Guide for Post-Bachelor Combined Certificates in Accounting here.
Employment stats for a career in accounting*
Job postings in the last 12 months
- Canada: 22,651
- Alberta: 2,807
Average salary
- Canada (zero to five years experience): $72,600
- Canada (six years of experience or more): $108,800
- Alberta (zero to five years experience): $82,800
- Alberta (six years of experience or more): $121,100
Top employers hiring*
Canada:
- TD Bank
- Ernst & Young
- BMO Harris Bank
- Deloitte
- CivicInfo BC
Alberta:
- Ernst & Young
- Government of Alberta
- Nutrien
- Canadian Natural Resources
- Deloitte
* Employment data provided by Lightcast 2023.
Why Accounting (CPA Bridging) at the Dhillon School of Business?
Our courses provide the necessary academic background for entry into the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Professional Education Program (PEP), the path to Canada’s pre-eminent business and accounting designation. Learn more about CPA Alberta.
Wherever you start you’ll receive practical, relevant and research-informed instruction by your PdD and CPA qualified faculty.
Our program is flexible and tailored to ensure the most direct route to your future career. You study only the courses you need at the pace that works for you.
Many of our students also enrol in co-operative education while at the Dhillon School of Business. Co-op allows you to get paid work experience before you graduate and can even help you land a job immediately after graduation.
The advantages for Dhillon School students
Experiential learning
You’ll have lots of opportunities to apply the theories you’ve learned in the classroom to real-life, hands-on situations as well as programs to help you connect with our student community. As a Dhillon student, you may have access to these experiential programs and more:
- Co-operative Education (Co-op)
- Student Professional Development
- Student Managed Investment Fund
- Dhillon School of Business student clubs
- Hungary work-study
- Malaysia work-study
- International exchanges
- Case competitions
Visit our Dhillon School of Business website to learn more about student experience opportunities.
Education that’s personal
Our students say they chose the Dhillon School of Business because of the smaller class sizes and more personal and supportive approach to teaching. Here you’ll get many opportunities to connect and interact with your professors and peers to set you up for success.
Flexible study options
Whether you’re a traditional student interested in our Lethbridge campus with full-time classes during the day or a working professional interested in the Calgary Campus’s evening and weekend classes, we have a flexible study option for you.
Internationally recognized for quality
As an AACSB accredited business school, the Dhillon School of Business have met very rigorous quality standards proven to provide you with the best in business education worldwide. You can trust that your education here will give you a distinct advantage in the real world including more competitive salaries, more employers interested in you after graduation and more. See all our professional accreditations and designations.
If you have any questions about the program please email cpa.bridging@uleth.ca.
Possible careers
Top job titles in Alberta and/or Canada
- Financial analyst
- Accountant
- Financial controller
- Corporate Controller
- Accounting manager
Other possible careers
- Auditor
- Budget director
- Business valuator
- Chief financial officer
- Financial analyst
- Forensic accountant
- Tax planner
Sample classes
- ACCT 3131: Management Control Systems
- ACCT 3160: Auditing
- ACCT 4110: Advanced Financial Accounting
- ACCT 4151: Advanced Tax
For a complete list of courses available in our CPA Bridging certificate programs, check out our program planning guide (PDF).
Quick links
Additional information
Enrolling in CPA Bridging at uLethbridge maintains your student status, making you eligible for student loans, scholarships and bursaries. Information is available on the CPA Bridging websites, or by contacting an academic advisor at any campus.
Thanks to the generosity of two distinguished donors to the CPA Education Foundation, financial assistance is available to eligible Bridging Program students. Financial assistance for students and for program implementation was also provided through a generous grant from the Government of Alberta's Community Spirit Program.
Mike Shaikh FCA and Linda Shaikh Award for Bridging Program Students
You can apply anytime to either post-bachelor certificate through the APPLY NOW link below.
While your application is in progress with us, request a transcript assessment from the CPA Western School of Business. This assessment allows us to streamline your program and exempt you from courses you have taken in your previous studies.
For CPA transcript assessments please visit CPA Alberta Transcript Assessment and follow the steps given. Then send your assessment results to dhillon.advising@uleth.ca.
If you were educated outside of Canada, CPA will also require a basic evaluation by IQAS, ICES or WES (or by any member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada).
Post-Bachelor Certificates (undergraduate)
The 10-course Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals program (see Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals) is available to applicants who have completed an approved undergraduate degree. Please note that completion of this program may take more than one year of study due to course sequencing. Please contact an academic advisor to discuss sequencing, possible waivers and your specific program requirements.
The 6-course Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting/CPA Bridging program (see Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting/Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Bridging) is available to applicants who have completed an approved undergraduate degree with an Accounting major, or substantially similar background.
Applicants who do not hold an Accounting Degree will be offered admission to the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals program or the combined Post-Bachelor Certificates in Accounting program. The Dhillon School of Business will consider non-accounting degrees with substantial accounting courses for the 6-course advanced certificate program on a case-by-case basis. After submitting their application for admission, such applicants are required to submit their CPA evaluation to Dhillon School of Business for review to determine eligibility.
Combined Post-Bachelor Certificates/CPA Bridging (undergraduate)
The Combined Post-Bachelor Certificates in Accounting program (see Combined Post-Bachelor Certificates in Accounting/Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Bridging) is available to applicants who have completed an approved undergraduate degree.
| **Additional (Non-Negotiable) English Language Proficiency (ELP) Admission Requirement for Undergraduate Applicants: Link - mandatory for all applicants, irrespective of individual program, campus, country of origin, educational history, or current residency status. |