Get ahead in managerial or financial accounting
Whether you are pursuing a career in managerial or financial accounting or working towards your CPA or RPA designation, our Accounting programs can help. Gain the in-demand skills you need to succeed in this rewarding profession.
Please note: CPA Ontario is working with partners across the profession to launch a new CPA Professional Program in January 2027 — a modern path to becoming a CPA. It blends essential technical excellence in accounting with a strong foundation in ethics, along with real-world experience and future-focused skills that evolve alongside the demands of a world redefined by AI. Learn more about the new CPA Professional Program.
We will provide updates as they become available. For those looking to complete our Diploma in Accounting while pursuing their CPA designation, reach out to us to discuss a study plan/course selection.
Online Self-study; Virtual Classroom
Approx. 7-15 hours per week, per course
Diploma: 1-2+ years Certificate: 8+ months
Schedule and fees
Open enrolment
Course prerequisites
Earning an Accounting Diploma or a Certificate in Advanced Accounting opens doors to a wide range of rewarding careers including:
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.
Please note:
CPA Ontario is working with partners across the profession to launch a new CPA Professional Program in 2027 — a modern path to becoming a CPA. It blends essential technical excellence in accounting with a strong foundation in ethics, along with real-world experience and future-focused skills that evolve alongside the demands of a world redefined by AI. Learn more about the new CPA Professional Program.
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:
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.
Learn more here.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career. I found that the Business Administration program was really the best fit for me, because the learning that I was able to take in through this program was really cutting edge and current to the labour market. The learning that I took on is something I use every day.
I wanted to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that.
I wanted to be able to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that because of McMaster Continuing Education. Being a nurse, there are so many different avenues of nursing that I can try new things and continue to learn. The instructors were really understanding. When you’re working full-time, having someone that will promptly answer your questions and make time for you when you need it, they made it really easy.
Harnessing humour and using the currency of comedy helps in our negotiating and communicating both personally and professionally.
Explore the requirements below and register today!
Earn the Diploma in Accounting by completing the five core courses and any six specialist courses listed below.
Academic Credit – 33 Units
Please note: Graduates of the Certificate in Advanced Accounting are not eligible for the Diploma in Accounting.
Future Degree Studies
Students who successfully graduate from the Accounting Diploma program and wish to pursue degree studies at McMaster University may be eligible to receive up to 33 units of undergraduate academic credit, as determined by the Faculty to which they are applying. The student must be accepted into the Faculty before this advanced standing is granted.
For application information for degree studies, visit the Registrar’s website: http://registrar.mcmaster.ca.
Students applying to the Bachelor of Commerce program after completing their diploma must be aware of the following criteria for advanced credit:
The DeGroote School of Business does not accept students who have previously earned a degree.
Students intending to pursue this option are strongly encouraged to contact us for detailed information.
My OWN McMaster is a pathway that combines McMaster Continuing Education and McMaster undergraduate courses to earn a McMaster diploma and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History or Sociology.
Please ensure you have completed any course prerequisites or equivalencies before enrolling for Accounting courses. Visit Accounting Course Prerequisites for more information.
3.0 UNITS
$820.40
1.5 UNITS
$533.55
$812.88
$857.68
** The final examination will be administered using an online proctoring tool. Further details will be posted to your Avenue to Learn course.
Earn the Certificate in Advanced Accounting by completing any six specialist courses listed below.
Academic Credit – 18 Units
Please note: Graduates of the Diploma in Accounting are not eligible for the Certificate in Advanced Accounting.
Students who successfully graduate from the Certificate in Advanced Accounting program, and who wish to pursue degree studies at McMaster University may be eligible to receive up to 18 units of undergraduate academic credit, as determined by the Faculty to which they are applying. The student must be accepted into the Faculty before this advanced standing is granted.
Students applying to the Bachelor of Commerce program after completing their certificate must be aware of the following criteria for advanced credit:
Explore course options including CPA and RPA approved courses. Register today!
Please note: CPA Ontario is working with partners across the profession to launch a new CPA Professional Program in 2027 — a modern path to becoming a CPA. It blends essential technical excellence in accounting with a strong foundation in ethics, along with real-world experience and future-focused skills that evolve alongside the demands of a world redefined by AI. Learn more about the new CPA Professional Program.
Please refer to the CPA Ontario Approved Pre-requisite Courses for Entry into the CPA PEP for more information.
(Currently Not Available)
$827.61
Registration: Fall and Winter terms open in mid-July and Spring term opens in mid-March. Program Requirements: Review certificate or diploma tab. Time Zone: Courses run in the Eastern Time (ET) Zone. Course Fees: A McMaster Part Time Student fee is included in the cost of academic credit courses. There is no tax on courses unless indicated at the bottom of the schedule chart. Additional Fees: New students pay a one-time, non-refundable $39 activation fee for their first academic-credit course. Not every program or course requires textbooks. Learn more about textbooks. Learning Formats: Each course is offered in Online, Online Self-Study, or Virtual Classroom formats, as shown below. Visit Learning Formats for details.
The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information.
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If English is not your native language, you must meet McMaster University’s English proficiency requirements by either qualifying for an exemption or passing a McMaster-approved English test. You will not need to provide proof of meeting this English requirement prior to registration. If you demonstrate English proficiency below the required standard, you will be asked to provide proof or to withdraw.
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
Visit the Schedule tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.