PrintProfessional Designations
A professional designation is a good way to document your knowledge, skills, and abilities. In some careers, a designation is required. Courses in the Commerce program can help to meet the requirements for a variety of professional designations.
Additional course work towards a professional designation may be taken while in the program, and further units of credit may also be taken after graduation.
Common professional designations
- Chartered Accountant (CA) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Society of Management Accountants of Ontario
- Certified General Accountant (CGA) Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario
- Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario
DeGroote’s commerce program offers all of the courses that fulfill the academic requirements of the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation. These courses have been accredited by the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario and upon their satisfactory completion, students are qualified to write the National Knowledge Exam (NKE).
Accounting courses in DeGroote’s honours commerce program are recognized as Transfer Credits for CGA’s Foundation Studies, Advanced Studies, and the Public Practice option of Professional Studies (PACE level). Graduates may have to write challenge exam for specific courses in CGA’s Advanced and Professional Studies. All candidates must complete Issues in Professional Practice (PA1) and Strategic Financial Management (PA2) in their pursuit of the CGA accreditation.
By completing specific accounting courses graduates of DeGroote’s honours commerce program have to take three additional courses to meet the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario’s 51-credit requirement. Graduates are then qualified to write the Core Knowledge Exam (CKE), attend the School of Accountancy (SOA), and complete the Uniform Evaluation (UFE) in their pursuit of the CA accreditation.
DeGroote’s honours commerce program is an accredited CMA program. By completing specific accounting courses and achieving the grade requirement graduates will be granted exemption from the CMA entrance exam. Graduates can then enroll directly in CMA's Strategic Leadership Program.
Student profile
Andrea Fraser, who graduated from DeGroote's Commerce program in 2006, knew she wanted to be a chartered accountant in high school.
"When looking for a university to attend, a critical factor was that it must offer all courses needed to meet the 51 credit-hour requirement in the CA education program. Naturally, DeGroote offers all of the courses I need to obtain my chartered accountant designation!" she says.
Now in her "dream job" as a staff accountant at the Deloitte, which offers assurance, financial advisory, consulting, tax, and enterprise risk services to clients, Fraser says, "The accounting program at DeGroote has exceeded all of my expectations in terms of quality of learning, and especially quality of professors. I have found the accounting professors at DeGroote to be invaluable sources of knowledge, advice, and inspiration."