Chartered Professional Accountancy

Routes to a CPA | Program Requirements | Questions?

Pursue your Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation by studying in the most technologically advanced accounting program in Canada.

Accountants are increasingly dependent on computer technology, statistical procedures for auditing and forecasting, and mathematical techniques such as operations research. Math/Chartered Professional Accountancy (Math/CPA) is the only accounting program in Canada leading to a Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) degree. You’ll acquire a strong background in mathematics, statistics, and computer science, complemented by an equally focused study in accounting, economics, and business-related topics.

The Waterloo Accounting advantage

The School of Accounting and Finance is nationally accredited by CPA Canada. As a result, Math/CPA students will: 

  • have the opportunity to gain up to 16 months of CPA approved work experience through co-op work terms
  • be exempt from the CPA professional education program upon completion of the eight-month Masters of Accounting (MAcc) program at Waterloo (only graduates of Waterloo's Accounting programs, including Math/CPA, are eligible for the MAcc program)

Compare the undergraduate programs offered through the Waterloo School of Accounting and Finance (SAF).

Routes to a Professional CPA designation for Waterloo Math/CPA students

Both of the following routes provide you with all the academic coursework currently required to pursue a professional CPA designation.

Path to CPA Designation

Relevant work experience

Thirty months of relevant practical work experience is also a CPA designation requirement. Depending on the nature and scope of the work experience, you can gain as many as 16 of the 30 months during your 4 co-op work terms in the Math/CPA program. Details can be found at Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Ontario.

Data Analytics Specialization

Data analytics, the science of extracting information from data to drive decision-making, is now at the forefront of the accounting, business, and finance tech worlds. Industry employers have identified data analytics as the "must have" skill of new graduates, and Math/CPA students are in a great position to leverage an education in industry-applied courses from mathematics, statistics, and computer science in a Data Analytics Specialization while pursuing their Chartered Professional Accountancy (CPA) designation and Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) degree

Program requirements

Complete list of course requirements.

Students considering a Chartered Professional Accounts (CPA) designation should be aware of all CPA requirements, which can be found through the  Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Accounting & Finance Student Association

The Accounting & Finance Student Association is a student-run organization and is one of the major groups that accounting students at the University of Waterloo can get involved in.

More questions?

Contact:
Peter Balka
Math/Chartered Professional Accountancy Program Director
peter.balka@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567, ext. 35546