ISO - Opinions on CGA

[365724]

Thank you

Thank you for all the suggestions, I found Terb a very good place to talk to people from all walks of life; for me, it will be a long long way before I ever got that designation anyway, but I guess it's worth pursuing, in any case I got my undergrad. done long time ago, so that's not a problem.

 

[wrong hole]

Hi every Terbite, I read the whole thread on MBA (very informative) and decide to start another one. Basically I am a (sort of) IT guy but I feel I am not going anywhere in my IT career. I don't feel I can do IT when I am 50+, and of all those employment problems in IT right now. I did have some Accounting training, am taking some courses now, wonder if it's worth to take the CGA. I asked a few people and I believe the hard part is to find a boss that will prove your accounting experience. Any ideas?

Don't

get away from the accounting field.....it's a dreary dreary life....even if you make it to partner and have your own corner office...looking down at all the people like ants

you will come to realize you don't ever create anything new....just some cog in a machine no matter how high up you are....and there comes a point...all the money...never quite fills the emptiness of employment

do something real....like...be a bicycle thief....sell lattes....test blow up dolls.....work for Alliance Atlantis as their marketing VP.....

Thank god I decided to become a shoe cobbler after I finish my degree in Womens Studies

 

[guelph]

The degree requirement for the CGA progam is an exit, not entry requirement. Eventually, you will have to obtain a university degree, which can be in any discipline (i.e. sociology)

QUOTE]


This is not correct the requirement for a degree prior to qualify as a CGA.

Of the the organizations in Canada only GCA develops it's own course of studies and delivers the course through distance education.

The CGA course has received international recognition for excellence by accounting training bodies through out the world, and has been selected several foreign Universities as their accounting program.

 

[popodaki]

This is not correct the requirement for a degree prior to qualify as a CGA.

Of the the organizations in Canada only GCA develops it's own course of studies and delivers the course through distance education.

The CGA course has received international recognition for excellence by accounting training bodies through out the world, and has been selected several foreign Universities as their accounting program.

To enter the CGA program, one does not need a degree. You will be required to meet CGA's degree requirement prior to receiving your CGA designation, hence, the degree is an exit not entry requirement. The CGA does offer students the opportunity to receive their bachelor's degree through correspondence courses while enrolled in the CGA program. This is unequivocally stated in any CGA literature.

 

[guelph]

To enter the CGA program, one does not need a degree. You will be required to meet CGA's degree requirement prior to receiving your CGA designation, hence, the degree is an exit not entry requirement. The CGA does offer students the opportunity to receive their bachelor's degree through correspondence courses while enrolled in the CGA program. This is unequivocally stated in any CGA literature.

Similar to the other programs,

only other programs - don't offer their own courses therefore there is no apparant entry when they start taking the specific required courses.

 

[red]

Similar to the other programs,

only other programs - don't offer their own courses therefore there is no apparant entry when they start taking the specific required courses.

i don't know about cgas, but to article as a CA student requires a university degree, and having successfully completed certain university courses.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

The degree requirement for the CGA progam is an exit, not entry requirement. Eventually, you will have to obtain a university degree, which can be in any discipline (i.e. sociology)

QUOTE]


This is not correct the requirement for a degree prior to qualify as a CGA.

Of the the organizations in Canada only GCA develops it's own course of studies and delivers the course through distance education.

The CGA course has received international recognition for excellence by accounting training bodies through out the world, and has been selected several foreign Universities as their accounting program.

It should be noted that the degree requirement on exit is a very new requirement by the CGA in an attempt to lend credibility to the designaiton.

Over 90% of CGA's do not have a university degree.

While some foreign university's may value the CGA program for a degree program, none of the country's in which those universities are located recognize the CGA designation as satisfactory to get a public accounting license.

The only Canadian accounting designation that is universally recognized throughout the world is the CA. End of story.

As for the proposed merger between the CMA and the CA it won't happen in the current form. There may be work towards a future merging of qualification requirements but there is no way the majority of CA's are going to agree to allowing all exhisting CMA's to suddenly start using the CA designation.

As to the overall question is the CGA worth it. That depends on your career goals. If you want to be an in-house accountant then yes. But if your goals are Controller/VP/CFO of a large company then no, you will need a CA.

 

[dreamer]

As to the overall question is the CGA worth it. That depends on your career goals. If you want to be an in-house accountant then yes. But if your goals are Controller/VP/CFO of a large company then no, you will need a CA.

I know lots of Controllers who are CGA's, some large companies, who have excellent skills. Now of course they have worked for the same company for many years and worked their way up. That may not be a possibility these days.

I agree with knowing what your career goals are before deciding.

Most of the CGA's I have spoken to could care less about performing audits, however most hate the fact that they cannot do reviews or notices. They loose alot of money being restricted. Problem is they wanted to create their own standard, CA's said sure, but under one standard.

You cannot go wrong with a CGA designation if you like accounting work.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I know lots of Controllers who are CGA's, some large companies, who have excellent skills. Now of course they have worked for the same company for many years and worked their way up. .

There are always bright people who are the exception to the rule and as you said you have to work many years to work your way up within a single company.

Myself and most my colleagues all hit the VP level within 8-10 of graduating university.....and these are with successful public company's.

 

[guelph]

The only Canadian accounting designation that is universally recognized throughout the world is the CA. End of story.

The Canadian CA's are not recognized through out the world - a number of comwealth and former countries have their own desigation called Chartered Accountant, some of these have been known to grant more exemptions to CGA's than Canadian CA's when people have moved to another country. The Chartered in Chartered Accountant is from receiving a Royal Charter many, many years ago so the term Chartered Accountant is a pretty generic name there is no relationship with Chartered Accountants in other countries, nor is their any special recognition between the various CA bodies.

 

[wrong hole]

CGA's are hot!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

The Canadian CA's are not recognized through out the world - a number of comwealth and former countries have their own desigation called Chartered Accountant, some of these have been known to grant more exemptions to CGA's than Canadian CA's .

Every country has its own designations and control its own granting of said designation and yes there are several that use the term "chartered accountant".

Please educate me. I've yet to hear of another country, especially in the commonwealth, that would grant a public accounting license to a Canadian CGA but not to a CA.

Also, what is a former country?

 

[guelph]

Huh? Certainly not amongst industrialized, "first World" nations.

I suppose if you want to take your Canadian CGA and move to "Slackerania" and get one of their "CA" designations.....

Or to England 0ne subject fewer for GCA than for CA for licensing

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Or to England 0ne subject fewer for GCA than for CA for licensing

I think you may want to check that......if you hold a Canadian CA you only need write the english reciprosity exam and you are qualified (same if an english "CA" comes to Canada)....no courses required.......same is not true for the CGA.

Same is true for the CPA in the United States......A canadian CA only has to write the reciprosity exam.....a CGA however is not eligible to write the exam and must write and pass the full CPA exams along with required courses.