Fortunately, for Chartered Accountants from most parts of the English-speaking world, the path to becoming a CPA in BC is a relatively easy one as long as you have a membership in good-standing in your home country. 

 

It is also a lucrative one - employers in British Columbia will often have designation as a CA / CPA listed as a job requirement for any of the more senior and better paying accounting roles. One thing to know is that the CA and CPA designations merged into one in Canada so don't get confused when people use both interchangeably. Older former CAs in Canada often use the designation CPA CA in their signatures but new accountants only go by CPA.

 

If you have a Big 4 experience and are from an English-speaking country you should not have issues finding a job in Vancouver, either through agencies or recruiters but I will note that salaries in the sector are generally lower than those available in Australia, the U.K, the U.S or even in other parts of Canada like Calgary or Toronto. 

 

I have set out the instructions that the CPA gives on this below with my own commentary in italics (I have used the CAANZ experience that I had but other jurisdictions seem similar):

 

Source: Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) members seeking the Canadian CPA designation

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Pathway to the Canadian CPA Designation for CA ANZ Members

To obtain the Canadian CPA designation, eligible CA ANZ members must register with the appropriate provincial/regional CPA body by:

1. Completing the International Candidate Application Form and sending it to the provincial/regional CPA body to which you intend to apply (This will be British Columbia if coming to Vancouver. Note that there is both a CPA board in BC and Canada - you will be a member of both)

2. Completing the Certification of Membership with GAA Bodies form

3. Providing confirmation that you are a CA in good standing with CA ANZ. Such confirmation must be directly provided by CA ANZ to the provincial/regional CPA body (CAANZ will not fill out the form in their format but will send a good standing confirmation to BCCPA for you)

4. Providing proof of your legal name as evidenced by acceptable government-issued documentation

5. Paying the appropriate fee as determined by the applicable provincial/regional CPA body (Remember you will have to pay fees for both BC and Canada bodies)

6. Completing any additional requirements as prescribed by the applicable provincial/regional CPA body 

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Once this is all done you will receive confirmation from CPABC that you are set to go pending the payment of final membership fees. I personally waited until I got a job before paying the fees (which were paid by my employer) but it's up to you -  Note that until you have paid in full, you may not use the CPA designation.

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In order to maintain membership, you must successfully complete the CPA Reciprocity Professional Development course (CPARPD) within two years of your official membership admission date. This course consists of approximately 20 hours of online study in Canadian tax, law and ethics. (Please do this early on as it is pretty straightforward and gives a good intro to some Canadian concepts. They will follow you up for it! Also counts towards your CPD).

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