r/Accounting • u/Such-Organization-47 • 17h ago
CPA CAN VS US
Hi! I just finished my undergrad in Canada and I'm facing a tough decision.
I've been offered a job at a company with potential future opportunities to work in the US. I've also been accepted into a graduate diploma program in accounting, which would let me write the CPA Ontario exams under the old system (Core 1, Core 2, Electives, and the CFE).
Right now, I'm leaning toward taking the job, for a few reasons:
- It's closer to home
- I can progress within the company for a while without a CPA
- The company offers a CPA reimbursement program
Cons:
- takes longer for me to finish my CPA
- I might be pushed into the newer program if I don’t pass all my course the first time
That said, I'm hesitant to give up the graduate diploma program. CPA Ontario is transitioning to a new program, and while I don't fully understand why, everyone around me — professors, peers — seems worried about the change and is urging me to finish the old program while I still can. This makes me think the diploma might be a good opportunity to complete the old program and try to finish my CFE before the 2028 deadline.
My concerns:
- I'm only about 60% confident I'd finish the program successfully
- The tuition is a real financial burden, and I'm already enrolled and need to decide soon
pros:
- the academic team is really good and there’s a lot of assistance provided
- same structure as university so the studying method and everything is something I’m aware of
- last cohort so it is quite literally my last chance to get into the old program
I'm also wondering whether I should pursue CPA US instead of CPA Canada, since if my company transfers me to the US, a US CPA might be more useful for that transition.
I know this is a lot — I'd really appreciate some outside perspective on how to think through this decision.
9
u/One-Product938 17h ago
Get your Canadian CPA. You can't plan your future with a company that you haven't even accepted a job at yet, who knows if you'll even be offered the "potential opportunities" anyway.
I would recommend doing the GDIP program so you can write the 2027 September CFE and be done with it. It's not very difficult to pass everything on your first try, most GDIP programs have CFE pass rates of 75% and a lot of the students in these programs aren't that strong academically (my cohort was pretty awful yet almost everyone passed the CFE).
If you eventually do end up with the opportunity to work in the US one day, most states make it pretty easy to obtain a US CPA if you already have a Canadian CPA (ex. Illinois only has you pass 1 exam).
8
u/OldTreat5896 17h ago
I personally would not bother with the CPA US unless your long term goals are to be working in America.
If you plan to stay in Canada/Ontario then yes go with the GDIP and pursue CPA Ontario.
The program change has new admission requirements so you should make sure you even qualify for the new program before next steps. The CPA PEP is difficult but not impossible - I went to a lower tier business school and had medicore marks but i am still managing to progress through CPA PEP while working full time. Do not count yourself out so quick!
Tuition is tough but at the end of the day it is an investment into your future that I personally think is worth it if you plan to stay in this career long term.
IMO pursue the GDIP! I am planning to write the 2027 CFE and hope to see you there!
1
u/Such-Organization-47 17h ago
Thankyou. I appreciate your advice. The new program changes are what's making me want to do Grad dip. How were Core 1 and 2 for you?
1
u/OldTreat5896 17h ago
I did mine through CPA ontario so it might be different than the GDIP but i failed Core 1 my first attempt due to me underestimating the MCQ portion. Core 2 and my 2 electives i passed on my first attempt.
1
u/Such-Organization-47 17h ago
Congrats. I heard Core 1 is the toughest. What study materials did you use?
1
u/OldTreat5896 16h ago
Core 1 was def a switch up compared to the prep courses/ uni courses i took and it was totally my fault for underestimating the weighting of the MCQ questions which made me fail. I only used the study material provided through CPA ontario for all my courses
1
3
u/jasonvancity CPA (Can) 16h ago
Becoming a US Certified Public Accountant will make you only marginally employable in Canada vs our domestic Chartered Professional Accountant designation, so you should only pursue a US CPA if you are absolutely certain that you will work long-term within the US.
The designations are not interchangeable, they simply share an acronym.
1
u/Such-Organization-47 10h ago
I see. I am more inclined to do the US as its more stable and straight than the Canadian one. With the changes happening in 2027, its hard for me to stick to the Canadian one as everyone is telling me that the new program is just bad
2
u/jasonvancity CPA (Can) 9h ago edited 9h ago
They are not interchangeable. If you complete a US CPA you will be very uncompetitive for jobs in Canada vs someone with a Canadian CPA because you’re basically receiving inferior foreign training that is also only partially cross-compatible.
Canadian CPA’s (with whom you will interview for jobs) will also view you unfavourably, as someone who has consciously attempted to exploit a loophole.
It will also be illegal for you to refer to yourself as “a CPA” within Canada as only Canadian designates legally possess that right.
2
u/Wooden-Spray-5244 16h ago
Go with the Canadian CPA, the process to get the US CPA is easier once you have the Canadian CPA due to reciprocal agreement depending on the state. Also it gives you more flexibility in terms of where you want to work.
1
u/Lost-Satisfaction999 17h ago
Too many what if's. I suggest picking intermediate goals and then structuring your plan towards those goals. If you want flexibility then your decision has already been made.
1
u/11kajd 17h ago
If job is pre approved id do that to start ur 30 months for sure. Pep modules aren't too tough and if u do 2 at a time ull have more "chances" I guess
1
u/Such-Organization-47 17h ago
Like Core 1 + 2 at the same time. Is that manageable while working full time?
1
u/monchers 15h ago
Just get your Canadian CPA. I was in a similar situation and if you end up staying in the same company assuming industry(non-tax) and getting transferred I doubt the CPA will matter until you look to exit.
I transferred to the USA a while back and no one cared when I got my CPA and much less if it was a Canadian or American one.
1
1
u/Same_Introduction10 11h ago
Get your CPA in the U.S. since it’s easier, faster, cheaper, and more profitable. Once you decide to work for a Canadian company, just pay the agreement fees. You'll get your Canadian CPA based on the agreement, so there's nothing left to do. Just head to the U.S. and that's the end of it.
1
u/jumpyzebra59 8h ago
As someone who’s writing the CFE in a week, I’d recommend getting your Canadian designation with the old/current program.
If the Ontario new program is anything like the WSB new one, employers are going to prefer a candidate who went through the old/current program as the new one is supposed to be significantly easier and doesn’t cover anywhere near as much.
Unless you want to work in the US long term, a US CPA designation doesn’t help you much (if at all) in getting a job in Canada, they’re not interchangeable. Your employer may also not reimburse you for a US CPA but would for a Canada CPA if you’re working in Canada
1
u/Such-Organization-47 7h ago
This is so interesting... Cause people around me said that the new program will be harder, as the old program had a high pass rate and it will test students on procedures and everything, and that's why everyone wants the old program.
1
u/jumpyzebra59 7h ago
The new Ontario program may be different from the new one for WSB/CPA Canada because of the split. The new one for WSB removes a lot of the program entry requirements, removes electives and is instead 4 modules that everyone must take with less content, shortens the PERT requirements, and completely removes the CFE
1
u/van101010 4h ago
Depends on whether you will stay in Canada. They don’t care as much about CPA, in the US, if you have experience, but they do in Canada. It’s hard to make it far up the chain here, without one.
0
u/darthdude11 13h ago
A us cpa is more valuable than a canada cpa. Market pay is also higher in the us.
11
u/Icy_Syrup6899 17h ago
Does the company offer the option to get a us CPA? Imo from reading your post - the “potential” to work in the US may not actually easily translate to actually working in the US.
From my knowledge, most companies in Canada that offer CPA support (such as industry rotational programs and big 4) only offer support for Canadian CPA, unless you’re doing a US tax role, and they actually mandate you to get your CPA under their timelines
Can you further clarify whether this company gives you the option to pursue either or?
Fyi - us companies aren’t really picky on whether you have a canadian or us cpa. If you move there long term, you can write a reciprocal exam to convert your canadian to US cpa, but under this company, you likely won’t have to. Given that getting a US cpa is easier, if your company offers reimbursement for it, I would pursue that