In BC, all three accounting designations – the Certified Management Accountants of BC (CMABC), the Chartered Accountants of BC (ICABC) and the Certified General Accountants of BC (CGA-BC) – have signed an agreement to pursue a merger and are working to unite under the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.

Starting this fall, CMABC and ICABC will be jointly offering the CPA Program with the first graduates of the CPA Program expected by Fall 2015.

With more than 34,000 members and students in BC, CPABC will foster the growth and evolution of the accounting profession, while also providing the expertise to help businesses in every sector of the economy.

Together, all three accounting designations will work with the provincial government to enact CPA legislation, legally merge, and establish CPABC, which will be one of the largest professional organizations in the province. Until such time as legislative changes are enacted, CA, CGA, and CMA members will maintain their current designation, and the ICABC, CGA-BC, and CMABC will continue their existing mandates of self-regulation, education, and advocacy.

Currently, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia is the training, governing and regulatory body of B.C.’s 11,000 members and just over 1,800 CA students. The Certified Management Accountants Society of British Columbia represents over 4,000 members and 1,000 CMA students and candidates. The Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia represents almost 11,000 CGAs and nearly 5,000 CGA students. The three bodies protect public interest through rigorous educational and certification programs to uphold the highest professional standards and ethics.

CPAs in British Columbia will serve the public interest across all sectors of the economy with integrity, sound ethical practices, disciplined regulation and proven strategic management and financial expertise. Accounting bodies representing 85 per cent of Canada’s professional accountants are committed to unification or have already merged under the CPA banner.