Overview
The Professional Accounting Advanced Diploma is offered on both full-time and part-time schedules. Designed for graduates with any bachelor's degree aiming for the CPA designation, this program enhances financial acumen, strategic thinking, and managerial skills crucial for professional accountants. Start the program at your preferred pace.
Earn your Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and pursue a rewarding career in accounting and finance. Professional accountants are in high demand in the Canadian workforce, earning above-average salaries with unlimited opportunities for career growth. Employers rely on the financial acumen, strategic mindset, and management skills of professional accountants to steer their organizations to business success.
The Professional Accounting advanced diploma courses are designed for degree holders in any discipline who require prerequisite courses for admission to the CPA Professional Education Program.
About the program
- 12-month full-time or
- Part-time at your own pace
- Fast-track to a CPA designation
- Courses recognized by the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC
- Courses offered in Downtown Vancouver
- Full-time program runs during the day and in a cohort
- Part-time program runs evenings and weekends
Learn more about accounting accreditation and designation with our Program Details.
Who should apply for the Professional Accounting Advanced Diploma?
The Professional Accounting advanced diploma program is right for you if you:
- Completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline
- Are looking to earn your CPA designation
- Want to pursue a multi-faceted business career
Ready to enroll in the Professional Accounting advanced diploma program? Visit Entrance Requirements to get started.
What grads can do
Thanks to the comprehensive courses included in the Professional Accounting advanced diploma program, graduates of the program are ready for entry-level and mid-level positions in a variety of business settings. They are also prepared to further their education by completing a bachelor’s degree in just one extra year.
To find out more about the positions Accounting diploma grads enter, visit Graduating and Jobs.
International study
BCIT offers a number of international study opportunities that helps students gain a global perspective of the economy, culture, government, and everyday life of the country they study in. You could participate in a summer field school or complete an international degree. Learn more about studying abroad.
- Next up Entrance Requirements
Entrance Requirements
About Flexible Learning
Take a single course or work towards a credential — all at a pace that’s right for you.
Part-time courses are offered in a variety of scheduling formats, including at night or on weekends. If you meet the prerequisites and there’s space available, you can register for a course immediately. Courses are offered in each of three terms: January (Winter), April (Spring/Summer) and September (Fall).
Students intending to pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation are advised to confirm the eligibility of their degree with CPABC prior to program admission.
Application processing
Full-time: Open to applications beginning October 1st (or next business day).
Part-time: Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains.
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
- Math: one of the following:
- Pre-Calculus 11 (67%) or
- Foundations of Math 11 (67%) or
- Workplace Math 11 (67%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- OPMT 0199 - Math for Business (67%) or
- OPMT 0198 - Business Math Assessment Test (67%)
- Post-secondary education:
- Bachelor's degree in any discipline and
- Completion of one of the following:
- ACCG 5110 (60%) or
- FMGT 1100 (70%) and FMGT 2100 (70%) or
- Other equivalent courses
If you are currently enrolled in the final term of your degree, you must be on track to complete before the program start date. To apply, submit the following documents from your post-secondary institution:
- Transcript of completed courses
- Confirmation of enrolment letter verifying your current course enrolment and registration in your final term
Applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered. These reports must include course-by-course evaluations and GPA calculations.
Recommended for success
Recent financial accounting training is recommended. If more than five years has elapsed since you completed a financial accounting course, upgrading is preferred.International applicants
The full-time option is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
The part-time option is available to international students who currently have a valid status in Canada. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
Transfer credit
Transfer credit may be granted for courses completed at BCIT or another post-secondary institution where the learning outcomes duplicate those of the BCIT course. As per Admission Procedure 5003-PR1, the department reserves the right to determine the granting of credit where appropriate.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
- Go back Overview
- Next up Costs & Supplies
Costs & Supplies
Bring your own device
Most courses and programs in the School of Business + Media are BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Please ensure you bring a laptop to every class. Plug-in outlets will be provided at most stations in classrooms, but not in all classrooms, so please ensure you have at least 2 hours of battery life available at the beginning of each class. Check the following recommended computer requirements prior to the start of class. If a program or course does not require you to provide your own device, that information will be provided by your instructor or indicated in the course outline.
For online classes, it is important you have a stable and consistent internet connection to access course content.
Tuition fees
Full-time Studies
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on full-time tuition and fees, visit:
Flexible Learning
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information on domestic and international tuitions.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
- Go back Entrance Requirements
- Next up Courses
Courses
Please note: part-time programs and courses are open enrolment and although we make every effort to accommodate demand, course registration cannot be guaranteed in every semester. High demand courses fill quickly and may result in students unable to register for a course that semester. Courses may also be cancelled due to low enrolment.
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Part-time program: | |||
---|---|---|---|
Students completing this program on a part-time basis should select and register for courses from the Part-Time Program Matrix [PDF]. |
|||
Full-time program: Term 1 (15 weeks) |
Credits | ||
ACCG 5150 | Accounting Information Systems | 4.0 | |
ACCG 6310 | Auditing and Assurance | 4.0 | |
ACCG 6510 | Corporate Finance Principles | 4.0 | |
FMGT 3110 | Financial Accounting 1 | 5.0 | |
OPMT 1130 | Business Statistics | 5.5 | |
Term 2 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
ACCG 6210 | Managerial Accounting - Comprehensive | 4.0 | |
ACCG 6410 | Taxation | 4.0 | |
ECON 5210 | Economics | 4.0 | |
FMGT 4110 | Financial Accounting 2 | 5.5 | |
Term 3 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
BLAW 3100 | Business Law | 4.0 | |
FMGT 7121 | Advanced Accounting | 3.0 | |
FMGT 7210 | Advanced Management Accounting | 3.0 | |
FMGT 8911 | Strategic Performance Management | 3.0 | |
Total Credits: | 53.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
- Go back Costs & Supplies
- Next up Program Details
Program Details
Accounting and BCIT – an unbeatable combination
Employers value BCIT’s applied, job-ready approach to education and training. It’s the BCIT advantage that sets our graduates apart from the pack. Our courses are taught by knowledgeable and experienced instructors who are industry professionals. Students typically receive more time in the classroom for fuller coverage and application of course material when compared with similar courses delivered by other education providers. With BCIT you will be better prepared to pursue the CPA designation and to launch a career in accounting and finance.
Program length
Full-time
One year, full-time.
Part-time
The rate of progress through the part-time program varies. Although most individuals take two to four years to complete their studies, students have up to seven years to complete the program requirements.
Program delivery
Full-time
In person: The full-time program is delivered on campus.
The full-time program is delivered over three, fifteen-week terms.
Part-time
In person: The part-time program is delivered on campus.
The part-time program is offered on a course-by-course basis, allowing you the flexibility to complete courses in any order, provided that required course prerequisites have been completed. Students register for each course individually and may undertake studies in any term (Winter, Spring/Summer or Fall). For specific registration dates, please view the Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) Key Registration Dates.
While you may choose the pace of your studies, all program requirements must be completed within seven years.
Please note that some courses in this program are offered only once or twice per year, and BCIT reserves the right to cancel courses if enrolment is insufficient.
Program location
Full-time:
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
Part-time:
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
Continue your education
All program courses are officially recognized by the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC (CPABC) for transfer credit to required prerequisites for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) and for exemption from specific modules within the CPA Prerequisite Education Program (CPA PREP). The road to the CPA designation is an easy one with the Advanced Diploma in Professional Accounting program.
To learn more about the CPA designation requirements, visit the CPABC website.
- Go back Courses
- Next up Graduating & Jobs
Graduating & Jobs
Program graduates can apply to the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC (CPABC) for transfer credit towards the required prerequisites for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) and for exemption from specific modules within the CPA Prerequisite Education Program (CPA PREP). The road to the CPA designation is an easy one with the Advanced Diploma in Professional Accounting program.
To learn more about the CPA designation requirements, visit the CPABC website.
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
- Go back Program Details
- Next up Contact Us
Contact Us
For program related inquiries, please reach out to:
fmgtpts@bcit.ca
Yasmin Alami
Program Head, Professional Accounting
yasmin_alami@bcit.ca
Deacon Devlin
Flexible Learning Coordinator, Accounting, Finance, and Insurance
604-412-7453 | Deacon_Devlin@bcit.ca
Questions or comments?
- Go back Graduating & Jobs
- Next up Subscribe
Subscribe
Sign up to receive updates, invitations to events, and information about BCIT and your program.
We promise not to spam you, we won’t share your personal information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
- Go Back Contact Us
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.