We receive a lot of questions from CPA candidates who are recent arrivals to Canada. Many have considerable accounting and/or auditing experience back home and some even hold accounting designations. Having to go through the CPA examination process is very challenging. Preparing for the exams, passing the CFE and finding employment are just some of the hurdles facing those who are new to Canada.

In this short blog post, we asked one of our contributors, Alla Volodina, to answer frequently asked questions we receive from candidates who may have considerable practical experience and who are preparing to write the CPA exams.

Question: “The process seems overwhelming. Where do I start?”

Alla Volodina: Depending on your individual situation, you will be entering the CPA process at different points but everyone has to write the Common Final Evaluation, which is comprised of cases. Case-writing can be challenging and students find that it takes continual practice to make the task easier and easier with each subsequent case. However, it is important that you not only write cases, but also debrief them i.e. review your answers and seek to understand where your response could be improved. The focus of your debrief is on analyzing the case facts you did not identify as well as the technical knowledge you did not present in your response. It is the combination of both of these that will result in a strong and competent response.

Question: “Should I be looking for external help?”

Alla Volodina: Having a tutor or a marker could be beneficial, especially if you do not have a lot of experience in case-writing. A tutor would not only comment on your responses and help you assess whether you’ve scored “Reaching Competent” or “Competent”, etc., but will also point out what could be done better and help you identify areas for improvement. Case-writing is not about memorizing the right answer. Rather, it is about evaluating each particular case situation and providing a recommendation that is specific to that case. It is also critical to be able to show that you understand that various alternatives are possible given that in many real-life situations, whether it is financial accounting, audit or tax, the answer is not always black and white.

Question: “If I have been exempted from taking such courses as tax or management accounting in Canada, should I still take these courses as part of a continued education program at an university level?”

Alla Volodina: It will depend on your level of knowledge. Many mature students who are new to Canada find it extremely beneficial to take courses to help them focus on the most important technical topics and to streamline their studies. However, if you determine that you prefer studying on your own, there are other helpful resources available.

Question: “How long does it take to study for a case-writing exam such the Common Final Evaluation?”

Alla Volodina: “It will depend on your individual schedule and whether you are working while studying. Having said that, many students find that they had to write at least around 40 non-comprehensive simulations and 6 comprehensive simulations to feel confident. Again, don’t forget that debriefing is key. Just writing these cases without debriefing will not be beneficial.”

If you are new to Canada, check out this article published by CPA Canada: https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/connecting-and-news/cpa-magazine/articles/2016/june/getting-in-from-the-outside

If you are looking for further advice on how to pass the CFE and improve your case-writing, send us an email at