The Graduate Diploma in Professional Accountancy program is a specialized program which prepares graduates of McMaster’s Commerce program (and MBA program) for the certification of the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, the only professional accounting designation in Canada commencing 2015.  The program provides candidates an in-depth learning of the principles and practices of a professional accountant. The curriculum is developed to provide students with the necessary tools and techniques required for the profession. Therefore, the course offerings are designed to match their content with The CPA Competency Map, more specifically the core and elective modules of the CPA Professional Educational Program (PEP).

Graduates of the Honours Commerce program (and MBA program) would have completed the equivalence of the CPA Prerequisite Educational Program (PREP) and met the entry requirements of the CPA PEP.  The Graduate Diploma program further develops candidates’ knowledge in six technical competency areas: financial reporting, strategy and governance, management accounting, audit and assurance, finance, and taxation.  By completing the Graduate Diploma program in the summer term on a full-time basis, candidates will be eligible for direct entry to Capstone 1 (Integrative Module) of the CPA PEP.  They will also be able to complete the certification requirements (Capstone 1 – Integrative Module; Capstone 2 – Evaluation Preparation; and Common Final Evaluation) in five months as compared to the two-year CPA PEP.   With extensive coverage in the six technical competency areas, candidates also have greater opportunities and choices in their career as a professional accountant.