Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
Which letters should you look for on an accountant’s door? CPA. The old CA, CMA and CGA designations were three separate titles in Canada, and they were merged into one, Chartered Professional Accountant. In Quebec the law that created the CPA came into force on May 16, 2012. So look for CPA, then check the provincial body for the person you plan to hire.
What did the old letters stand for?
| Letters | Full name | Status today |
|---|---|---|
| CA | Chartered Accountant | Merged into CPA |
| CMA | Certified Management Accountant | Merged into CPA |
| CGA | Certified General Accountant | Merged into CPA |
| CPA | Chartered Professional Accountant | The single designation |
Each of the three bodies used to run its own training and its own exams. Afterwards there was one designation and, in each province, one regulator. In Quebec that’s the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec. Other provinces have their own CPA bodies, and their dates and rules weren’t the same, so there isn’t one national timetable to quote.
At the national level, CPA Canada was formed on January 1, 2013, and the last of the three older national bodies joined on October 1, 2014, according to Wikipedia’s article on CPA Canada. Think of that as the national umbrella. Your accountant’s licence still comes from the province.
Why do some accountants still write two sets of letters?
Because members who held an old title were allowed to show it next to CPA for a transition period. Quebec set that period at ten years, and using CA, CGA or CMA on its own is prohibited there. Someone who signs “CPA, CA” is a CPA who once held the older title, and that’s all it means. Someone who writes only “CA” or “CGA” today? Ask about their current status. Other provinces may have chosen other periods, so if you’re unsure, ask the provincial body.
Firms get the same treatment in Quebec. A firm can use “CPA” in its name only if practising CPAs control it.
What does the CPA title tell you?
Less than you might hope. A CPA belongs to a provincial body that sets the training and exam rules, and members are normally listed in a register you can search. The title doesn’t say the person knows small business tax, payroll, estates or cross-border returns, and it doesn’t set a price. Fees vary, and we couldn’t confirm a reliable range, so get a quote in writing.
What about your bookkeeper? Bookkeepers may or may not hold the CPA title. If the person calls themselves a CPA, the register will tell you. If they don’t, that’s not a red flag by itself, it just means the title isn’t what you’re buying.
How do you choose an accountant for tax work?
- Check the provincial register yourself and confirm they’re a current CPA.
- Ask how many returns like yours they file a year, whether that’s a corporation, rental income or self-employment.
- Get the fee in writing, along with what costs extra, such as amended returns or CRA letters.
- Find out who does the work: the CPA, or a junior on the team.
- Ask how they store and send your documents.
One more test is worth a ten-minute call. Ask how they’d handle your most awkward item, say a year of missing receipts or a shareholder loan. A good accountant answers with specifics and asks you a question back. A vague answer tells you something too, and it costs you nothing to hear it before you sign.
Turn up with your own rough numbers, because it saves everyone’s time at tax time. The income tax calculator gives an estimate for an employee, and the self-employed tax calculator does the same for a sole proprietor. Own a company? The corporate tax calculator shows what the corporation itself owes.
What is a good return worth?
Take an Ontario corporation with $300,000 of active business income. For calendar 2026 it pays $27,000 of federal tax and $8,088 of Ontario tax, which is $35,088 or 11.7%. A British Columbia corporation with $600,000 pays $82,000. At that size, a careful look at expenses, salary and dividends can matter. It’s also why you should ask what an accountant will check as well as what they’ll charge. The dividend tax calculator tests the owner’s side of that choice.
Where do people go wrong?
- Assuming any old letter still means a licence to practise. Check the register.
- Hiring on title alone, without asking about your kind of return.
- Expecting this page to rank firms. It makes no claims about named firms or fees.
- Skipping a written scope of work before the engagement starts.
More tools for owners sit on the business tax hub.
Where this information comes from
The merger facts and the Quebec rules come from a law firm’s summary of the Quebec statute that created the CPA order, which we read in September 2026. The national dates come from Wikipedia. We couldn’t read the CPA Canada pages or the other provincial bodies, so we don’t state training and exam requirements or the rules outside Quebec. Tax figures come from this site’s calculators, which use 2026 federal and provincial data. This site isn’t connected to any accounting body or government.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CPA, CA, CMA and CGA?
There isn't one anymore. CA, CMA and CGA were separate designations that merged into the CPA, though the old letters may still appear next to it.
When did CA, CMA and CGA become CPA?
In Quebec the law came into force on May 16, 2012. Other provinces moved on their own dates, so ask the provincial body.
Can someone still use CA on its own?
Not in Quebec, where using CA, CGA or CMA alone is prohibited. Elsewhere, ask the provincial CPA body what its rules say.
How do I check that an accountant is a CPA?
Search the public register of the provincial CPA body. Don't trust the letters in an advertisement.
What do CPAs charge?
We couldn't confirm that. Ask for a written quote that lists what's included and what costs extra.
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