Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting

Sheridan’s Professional Accounting program is your first step to becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Get your CPA preparatory courses with Sheridan

This program gives you a clear pathway to becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). Once you’ve successfully completed this program, you can apply to CPA’s Professional Education Program (PEP) — the final step before you write your Common Final Exam (CFE). Even if you don’t have an accounting background, you’ll soon be on your way to becoming a CPA.

Co-op or fast track: the choice is yours

If you start in May, you’ll have the option to apply for our co-op program, which adds a four-month work term. This gives you the chance to gain valuable work experience and showcase your accounting skills to potential employers. You may also choose to fast track your studies by starting in September or January. In that case there’s no co-op term, so you can complete the program in three semesters.    

Learn in a supportive classroom environment

CPA’s preparatory courses are rigorous and challenging to complete. By taking our Professional Accounting program, you’ll get the equivalent courses in a supportive classroom setting. You’ll also benefit from the best of the college experience — practical learning, one-on-one attention and small classes.

Learn the latest accounting software

Accountants need to have a strong theoretical knowledge as well as practical software skills. Unlike other institutions, Sheridan gives you both. This combination of theory and software experience will make you more marketable to potential employers. And because you’ll be familiar with the latest accounting software, you’ll be ready for the workplace.

Learning Outcomes

• Integrate ethical and socially responsible decision-making processes into all aspects of the accounting profession.

• Apply recognized accounting principles to the systematic recording of transactions relating to assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses for sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations.

• Prepare accurate and relevant transactions, business reports including financial statements, and operating budgets to meet international accounting standards for partnerships and corporations.

• Analyze financial and managerial accounting information to assist in effective management decision-making.

• Formulate accurate and timely financial information using business applications software and information systems.

• Evaluate various product and service costing methods appropriate to specific business situations.

• Utilize statistical techniques effectively in the analysis of financial information.

• Calculate and apply appropriate corporate finance measures to common financial and accounting management situations.

• Recommend appropriate accounting and financial reporting information system structure, planning and usage as they relate to their role in a business.

• Determine appropriate accounting practices to reduce legal risk within a business situation.

• Communicate across various levels in an organization clearly, concisely and accurately in both the written and spoken form to fulfill the intended purpose.

• Analyze the economic and fiscal context in which the entity operates and its impact on financial reporting.

• Plan effective external, internal, and information systems audits to meet compliance and assurance requirements.

• Identify and manage financial priorities by leveraging strategic thinking as well as economic, operational and technological knowledge.

• Prepare tax submissions for personal and corporate clients to meet legal standards.

• Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

Co-op Option

Students who start this program in May can apply to the co-op program during their first academic semester. Enrolment in the co-op program is limited through an additional co-op application process that takes place in the first semester. Students in the co-op program are eligible to complete a co-op work term during the four-month term following the second semester.

Cooperative Education is a form of work-integrated learning that links classroom learning with paid or unpaid work experiences within a professional environment. Co-op work terms are related specifically to the academic studies of each student. The work terms provide an opportunity to learn by doing. You’ll apply theory to practice, develop a meaningful view of the working world, and cultivate an awareness of yourself as a professional.

Students receive in-class and one-on-one career education support to help prepare for the work term. The co-op component is delivered by Sheridan’s Cooperative Education Office, which facilitates more than 2,000 co-op/internship work terms per year Sheridan-wide.