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Admission of Students to Membership

After years of work, learning and fulfilling your education and practical experience requirements, it’s time to officially enter the profession and become a CPA Ontario member.

Final steps to obtain your membership

  1. Once you have successfully completed the Common Final Examination (CFE) and your final Practical Experience Report has been approved, CPA Ontario will send you an email instructing you how to submit your Admission to Membership application online through My Portal.
  2. Follow the instructions provided and submit your completed online application. Make sure to complete necessary declarations and answer all questions pertaining to good character and bankruptcy.
  3. Remit the one-time Admission to Membership fee of $500 + GST/HST and your prorated Annual Member Dues (which will be calculated in My Portal) as outlined in Regulation 11-1. If you are not admitted to membership by December 31, you are required to pay the next year's Annual Student Dues (ASD).
  4. Once your completed application and full payment have been received, your file will be reviewed. The review process is six to eight weeks. Processing times will take longer if there are any outstanding documentation or character or bankruptcy declarations. Once your application has been approved by the Registrar, you will receive a congratulatory email welcoming you to membership.
  5. After you have been admitted, you can use the CPA designation, and your name will be added to the Member Directory.
  6. Feel free to announce your success to the world. Post on social media and tag us at @CPA_Ontario and #CPAOntario. On LinkedIn, you can add your designation to your name, and add CPA Ontario in your education section.
  7. Within six to eight weeks, you will receive your official membership certificate.
  8. Visit our member section to get a walkthrough of benefits, services and regulatory requirements.

For more information about admission to membership, review Regulation 7-1.

Note: Students are not permitted to use the CPA designation or refer to themselves as a member of CPA Ontario or CPA Canada until they are officially admitted to membership.

If you have questions regarding your path to membership, please review our regulation and guidance pages.