The fact is that previously there were three designations of accountant – chartered accountant (CA), certified management accountant (CMA), and certified general accountant (CGA).
CA specialists usually worked in public practice, performing corporate and government audits, and sought jobs with large auditing firms such as Deloitte and KPMG.
CMAs are corporate leaders. Their training is comparable to MBA programs, which are more focused on business management.
CGA is an accounting qualification that does not require a university degree. It gained popularity among new immigrants, university graduates, and those who did not complete business schools.
The biggest change will affect mid-level specialists and immigrants who do not have a Canadian university degree in business or finance and will lose the opportunity to take the CGA. But the new CPA will offer a separate qualification program for students who have obtained higher education in other specialties. Both programs will be available remotely, opening doors for working professionals outside major educational centers.
Based on materials from the CMC «Parta».