February 2026
Greetings,
This month’s updates are a bit different. They are not about standard changes, but rather about changes in our profession that are important for you to know. The first is about changes to the membership model and registering with CPA Canada separately from your provincial membership. The second is an update on the recently revised CPA Professional Program. Read on…
CPA Canada Dues and Membership Changes
Membership notices are coming out, and there are changes!! Remember that we must be members of our provincial and territorial regulatory bodies (PTBs); membership with CPA Canada is optional… although, in my opinion, an absolute necessity.
The CPA membership model in Canada has been revised. CPA Ontario and CPA Quebec split from CPA Canada over a year ago. Following this, the other PTBs also changed their membership models.
The easiest way to understand the membership model is to recognize that you will be a member of two separate CPA bodies now.
PTBs are the regulatory bodies that regulate CPAs, so you must pay your membership dues and belong to your PTB, and others if you work in provinces other than your own. While these are distinct regulatory bodies, they will continue to work together in various aspects of the profession.
CPA Canada is the national organization established to support a unified Canadian accounting profession. It is CPA Canada that is a member of IFAC. While CPA Canada does not set standards (that is done by the AASB and the AcSB), their role in standard setting is one of stewardship and support of the integrity of Canada’s independent standard-setting process.
Membership with CPA Canada is voluntary. All Canadian CPAs enjoy complimentary access to the CPA Canada Handbook through Knotia. That is the same as before. This means that you do not have to be a member of CPA Canada to access the standards. However, if not a member, you will miss out on many other fantastic resources. In fact, many of the thought leadership publications I send out through this monthly update are from CPA Canada.
Membership in CPA Canada is only $200 (there are two other levels… but this membership level seems to make the most sense for me). Membership at this level includes not only access to the aforementioned thought leadership publications but also 16+ hours of CPD and other benefits. It is the same price you were paying before; the only difference is that you were paying it separately through your PTB. You will now need to pay a separate invoice.
You are not automatically signed up; you have register directly with CPA Canada to join. I literally just registered and paid my membership. I think there are so many benefits to joining that it doesn’t make sense not to.
REGISTER FOR YOUR CPA CANADA MEMBERSHIP HERE
Your current CPA Canada membership will continue until April 1, 2026. It is important to recognize that you have to take action… membership is not automatic. It is a small investment with a big payoff.
CPA Program Changes
I have been in public practice a long time… over three decades to be exact. When I was obtaining my designation, I was in the “CA Program”… I took a bunch of courses and wrote the UFE. Then it became the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP), and students wrote the CFE to obtain their CPA. Today, further updates to the program are being made with the launch of the CPA Professional Program.
If you are reading this and have your designation, you don’t technically have to read any further. However, it is always good to know what is happening in our profession. If you are in the midst of obtaining your CPA or have staff obtaining their CPA, read on, as you need to be aware of the program changes and transition options.
The CPA certification program is being updated to align with Competency Map 2.0. CM2.0 is a visionary map for the Canadian CPA profession. It sets out the skills and competencies required upon obtaining the CPA designation. These re-imagined components form the CPA Professional Program.
There are many changes to the program, including setting framing principles, clarifying specific, foundational and sub-foundational competencies and establishing proficiency levels. And, there is no longer one “final” exam, but rather three professional final exams along the way. Rest assured, for those that are currently in PEP, there will be an extended transition period, with the last CFE being in September 2028.
CHECK OUT THE DETAILS OF THE NEW CPA PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM OVERVIEW HERE
How Leaders Handle Difficult Conversions
CPA Australia has a INTHEBLACK newsletter that often has great articles. I discovered a recent podcast I found very interesting. This short (20-minute) podcast dives into the sensitive area of having difficult conversations at work. Emotional intelligence expert, Amy Jacobson, author of The Emotional Intelligence Advantage explores five of the most difficult conversations we face as leaders. Worth the listen, plus I love the accents.
CPD Declaration
Along with your PTB membership notifications, you are also receiving reminders to make your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Declarations. There is a difference between CPD Reporting and CPD Declarations.
CPD Reporting is when you record the hours of specific courses you have taken. I always try to remember to record these on a timely basis throughout the year.
The CPD Declaration is a separate activity to be completed by the deadline, typically by March 31. The Declaration simply states you have completed your CPD hours and are in compliance. A declaration must be made for both annual and three-year rolling requirements. Reminder… the requirements are you must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD annually, of which 10 hours must be verifiable, and 120 hours over a 3-year rolling cycle of which 60 hours must be verifiable.
This is another action item. All PTB sites are now open to make your declaration.
It doesn’t take long, so if you haven’t done it… do it now.
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Next month I will be back to “regular” technical updates. My AASB Audit Evidence and Risk Response (AE&RR) Advisory Group is meeting next week. We are exploring changes to CAS 330, CAS 500 and CAS 520 along with other conforming revisions. It will be a fun morning debating the standards and making recommendations on changes. I am looking forward to it and will keep you posted.
In the meantime, rest assured, there is nothing imminent you need to know. For the next few months, you can focus on getting your existing work completed without having to deal with a lot of changes. Changes are coming, but not for the immediate future.
As always, I am here as needed. Reach out any time so I can help you save time and achieve peace of mind.
Best regards,
Kirsten S. Albo, FCPA, FCA
President