• Professionals working in the accounting or finance field
• Professionals interested in entering the accounting field
• Anyone interested in pursuing an RPA or CPA professional designation
• Anyone looking to reinvent their business career

Earning an Accounting Diploma or a Certificate in Advanced Accounting opens doors to a wide range of rewarding careers including:

• General or Management Accountant
• Finance or Non-Profit Executive Director
• Portfolio Accountant
• Controller
• Financial Analyst
• Chief Financial or Executive Officer
• Auditor or Senior Financial Auditor
• Strategic Management Consultant or Advisor

With the financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight and management skills you’ll gain as part of becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), this sought-after designation is your ticket to a world of opportunities in accounting and finance.

To learn more about the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, please visit CPA Ontario.

Academic Prerequisites for Admission to the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP)

Before entering the CPA Professional Education Program, you must complete a degree and cover specific subject areas. Specific subject areas may be covered during a university program, or through additional degree-credit courses offered by post-secondary institutions such as McMaster Continuing Education, academic institutions in another country or through the CPA Ontario preparatory courses.

McMaster University Continuing Education offers specific subject courses through flexible and convenient online self-study and virtual classroom learning formats. Please refer to CPA Ontario Approved Pre-requisite Courses for approved McMaster Continuing Education courses.

*If you’re interested in pursuing a CPA designation or registering for individual courses to use toward the CPA PEP, please visit or contact CPA Ontario for further program details such as admission applications, course requirements and membership details.

Learn more about CPA in this video: 

If you’re interested in pursuing a McMaster University Certificate or Diploma either on its own or in conjunction with a professional designation, please contact accounting@mcmaster.ca. If you’re interested in pursuing degree studies at McMaster University, you may be eligible for undergraduate academic credit based on completion of our Diploma in Accounting or Advanced Certificate in Accounting.

Becoming a Registered Professional Accountant is a great professional choice. RPAs are leaders in a multitude of companies and industries and some have even taken entrepreneurial routes and opened accounting practices. With McMaster’s RPA-accredited suite of accounting and finance courses, you can earn your RPA professional designation and set yourself apart in today’s competitive job market.

To learn more about the Society of Professional Accountants Canada (SPAC) and RPA, please visit RPA Canada.

Academic Prerequisites for Entry to the RPA Professional Review Program

To become an RPA, you must successfully complete the course prerequisites aligned to SPAC’s 5 educational pillars, in conjunction with a degree or diploma from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution such as McMaster Continuing Education. Completion of all course prerequisites is required to participate in the Professional Review Program and attempt the final Mandatory Professional Exam.

McMaster Continuing Education’s suite of courses has been approved by the Society of Professional Accountants of Canada (SPAC). Course prerequisites are offered through flexible and convenient online self-study and virtual classroom learning formats. Get more information on the RPA-accredited suite of accounting and finance courses.

*If you are interested in pursuing an RPA designation, please visit RPA Canada for further details.

Learn more about RPA in this video: 

If you’re interested in pursuing a McMaster University Certificate or Diploma either on its own or in conjunction with a professional designation, please contact accounting@mcmaster.ca. If you’re interested in pursuing degree studies at McMaster University, you may be eligible for undergraduate academic credit based on completion of our Diploma in Accounting or Advanced Certificate in Accounting. 

Are you a current McMaster University undergraduate student?

Explore the ElevateYourSkills option to learn how you can earn an Accounting certificate or diploma as part of your degree.

• Use your electives to earn a professional certificate or diploma
• Fully online courses that you can fit into your schedule
• Providing you with real-life career skills and experience before you graduate

Learn more here.