CPD Requirements in Canada
A comprehensive guide to continuing professional development for Canadian CPAs
As a Canadian CPA, maintaining your professional competence through continuing professional development is not just a requirement — it's essential for providing quality service and staying current in a rapidly evolving profession.
Annual Hours
Minimum each calendar year
Rolling 3-Year
Over any consecutive 3-year period
Verifiable Hours
At least 60 of the 120 must be verifiable
Ethics Hours
Minimum ethics hours over 3 years
Record retention: Maintain detailed records of all CPD activities for 5 years, including certificates, receipts, and learning outcomes. Provincial bodies can conduct compliance reviews at any time.
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CPD Compliance Calculator
Check your current status against Canadian CPA requirements
CPD Compliance Calculator
Check your current CPD status against Canadian CPA requirements
Enter Your CPD Hours
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Compliance Results
Your progress toward meeting CPA requirements
Target: 20 hours per calendar year
Target: 120 hours over any 3-year period
Target: 60 verifiable hours over 3 years
Target: 4 ethics hours over 3 years
Recommendations
Provincial CPD Requirements
Select your province for specific requirements and guidelines
Ontario
CPA Ontario requirements and compliance guidelines
View requirementsAlberta
CPA Alberta requirements and compliance guidelines
View requirementsBritish Columbia
CPA British Columbia requirements and compliance guidelines
View requirementsQuébec
CPA Québec requirements and compliance guidelines
View requirementsSaskatchewan
CPA Saskatchewan requirements and compliance guidelines
View requirementsManitoba
CPA Manitoba requirements and compliance guidelines
View requirementsNova Scotia
CPA Nova Scotia requirements and compliance guidelines
View requirementsNew Brunswick
Requirements guide coming soon
Coming soonNewfoundland and Labrador
Requirements guide coming soon
Coming soonPrince Edward Island
Requirements guide coming soon
Coming soonNorthwest Territories
Requirements guide coming soon
Coming soonNunavut
Requirements guide coming soon
Coming soonYukon
Requirements guide coming soon
Coming soonUnderstanding CPD Requirements
Essential information about verifiable hours, ethics requirements, and documentation
What Counts as Verifiable CPD?
Verifiable Activities
Formal courses and workshops with certificates
Professional conferences with attendance records
Webinars and online training with completion certificates
University or college courses with transcripts
Teaching or presenting with documentation
Unverifiable Activities
Reading articles without formal assessment
Watching videos without completion certificates
Self-study without documented assessment
On-the-job training without formal documentation
Key point: At least 60 of your 120 total hours over 3 years must be verifiable. Verifiable CPD requires documentation that proves your participation and learning.
Ethics and Professional Responsibility Hours
Minimum Required
Hours over any 3-year period
All CPAs must complete at least 4 hours of ethics and professional responsibility CPD within any rolling 3-year period. This requirement cannot be waived.
Qualifying Ethics Topics
Professional conduct and integrity
Independence and objectivity
Confidentiality and privacy
Professional competence and due care
Conflicts of interest
Understanding the Rolling 3-Year Requirement
The "rolling 3-year" requirement means you must maintain 120 CPD hours over any consecutive 3-year period — not just calendar-year blocks. Compliance is checked on an ongoing basis.
Rolling Period Example
Key Points
- You can complete more than 20 hours in a year to bank ahead
- The oldest year drops off as each new year is added
- Compliance is checked continuously, not just annually
- The annual 20-hour minimum still applies each year
Planning Tips
- Track regularly — don't wait until before audits
- Use busy years to build a buffer for slower periods
- Remember: 60 of your 120 hours must be verifiable
Documentation for Verifiable Hours
Certificates & Transcripts
- Course completion certificates
- Professional development certificates
- University transcripts
- Training program certificates
Registration & Receipts
- Conference registration confirmations
- Workshop attendance records
- Payment receipts for courses
- Event tickets or confirmations
Supporting Documents
- Course outlines or agendas
- Learning outcome summaries
- Speaker presentation materials
- Evaluation forms
Best Practices
- • Keep all documentation for 5 years
- • Scan physical documents for backup
- • Note learning outcomes for each activity
- • Record dates, hours, and provider details
Audit Preparation
- • Organize documents by year
- • Include relevant details for each hour
- • Demonstrate professional relevance
- • Maintain digital and physical copies
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