10-23-2010, 01:02 AM
Dear Taimoor
Welcome to Canada.
I would not say there are no exemptions at all. In fact there would be exemptions available. But the problems are the remaining requirements in terms of remaining subjects/ courses to pass and the remaining Canadian experience requirement to satisfy. Therefore, eventually it would take long time and efforts to finish Canadian certification.
You have 2 options for Canadian certification i.e. (1) direct route, and (2) indirect route. To have direct route, you would have to apply for exemptions based on current qualification and start from there. For indirect route you may consider ICAEW's membership based on ICAP's membership and then apply for CICA's membership. Still you would have to pass CICA's reciprocity exam and you would have to satisfy CICA's experience requirement. Please note that you would have to satisfy ICAEW's requirements too to have ICAEW's membership in first place.
Another indirect route is to have ACCA's membership based on your current qualification and then apply for CGA's membership while living in Bahrain.
Unfortunately I don't know which State would accept CA(Pak) for exam writing eligibility these days. Each State's requirements keep changing. Please note one important issue that having at-least CPA certificate is necessary, if not the license. Passing only exams do not carry weight for employers. Exam sitting requirements and CPA certificate or license requirements are different. Transfer exam results from one State to another State after passing exams does not solve the problem as new State would evaluate credentials as of prior to writing first exam. Essence of this point is, a candidate should keep in mind the certificate requirements BEFORE appearing in first exam, not only the exam sitting requirements.
Later on even the Canadian associations require at-least CPA "certificate" in good standing, if one does not have license. They do not accept only passing CPA exams.
You may initially start reviewing requirements of 10 or 15 States where usually Pakistani candidates appear from, and then short list to 3 States. Send your documents to evaluators for at-least 3 States. Satisfy the remaining requirements of at-least "certificate" (if not license) BEFORE appearing in first exam, and then write the exams. Perhaps you may consider Delaware or Illinois to start from.
Apart from job related difficulties, you and your family would enjoy life in Canada. Objective of this thread was to educate prospective immigrants to reduce job related difficulties by planning well in advance.
I hope it helps. Keep in touch, and see you soon here.
Best Wishes
Welcome to Canada.
I would not say there are no exemptions at all. In fact there would be exemptions available. But the problems are the remaining requirements in terms of remaining subjects/ courses to pass and the remaining Canadian experience requirement to satisfy. Therefore, eventually it would take long time and efforts to finish Canadian certification.
You have 2 options for Canadian certification i.e. (1) direct route, and (2) indirect route. To have direct route, you would have to apply for exemptions based on current qualification and start from there. For indirect route you may consider ICAEW's membership based on ICAP's membership and then apply for CICA's membership. Still you would have to pass CICA's reciprocity exam and you would have to satisfy CICA's experience requirement. Please note that you would have to satisfy ICAEW's requirements too to have ICAEW's membership in first place.
Another indirect route is to have ACCA's membership based on your current qualification and then apply for CGA's membership while living in Bahrain.
Unfortunately I don't know which State would accept CA(Pak) for exam writing eligibility these days. Each State's requirements keep changing. Please note one important issue that having at-least CPA certificate is necessary, if not the license. Passing only exams do not carry weight for employers. Exam sitting requirements and CPA certificate or license requirements are different. Transfer exam results from one State to another State after passing exams does not solve the problem as new State would evaluate credentials as of prior to writing first exam. Essence of this point is, a candidate should keep in mind the certificate requirements BEFORE appearing in first exam, not only the exam sitting requirements.
Later on even the Canadian associations require at-least CPA "certificate" in good standing, if one does not have license. They do not accept only passing CPA exams.
You may initially start reviewing requirements of 10 or 15 States where usually Pakistani candidates appear from, and then short list to 3 States. Send your documents to evaluators for at-least 3 States. Satisfy the remaining requirements of at-least "certificate" (if not license) BEFORE appearing in first exam, and then write the exams. Perhaps you may consider Delaware or Illinois to start from.
Apart from job related difficulties, you and your family would enjoy life in Canada. Objective of this thread was to educate prospective immigrants to reduce job related difficulties by planning well in advance.
I hope it helps. Keep in touch, and see you soon here.
Best Wishes
