Designations

If you would like to pursue accounting as a career and want to get designated, there are three main routes which you can take in Canada:

Get your CPA Designation (Previously referred to as a 'CA')

There are roughly 80,000 Chartered Professional Accountants in Canada.  A big proportion of CPAs work in public practice, which means that they provide all kinds of services to large and small companies, such as performing audits, reviews, and all kinds of other consultations.  The remainder of the CPAs hold positions in the industry, government, and various other organizations.  You'll find that many of the high profile executives such as CFOs and VPs of Finance hold this designation.


Get your CMA Designation

The CMA designation is different than the CA and the CGA in that it deals more with management accounting rather than financial accounting.  The 50,000 Certified Management Accountants work mainly in the industry and perform various analysis and decision making that help organizations achieve success.


Get your CGA Designation

There are about 75,000 Certified General Accountants in Canada and they also hold all kinds of different positions.  They are different than CMAs in that they focus more on the financial accounting as opposed to managerial accounting.  The majority of CGAs work in the industry, which means they hold jobs in various companies which you may or may not recognize.  A smaller percentage of CGAs also work in public practice.


I know that it's a difficult decision for many on deciding which route you want to take.  My best advice is to try to speak to people who already have their designation and find out what they do at work and whether this is something you would like to pursue as well.