Program Overview

The requirements for enrolling in the Accelerated Program are:

• Completion of a recognized university degree, or CMABC limited waiver as described on previous page (see “*”).
• Official transcript review, showing completion of pre-requisite coursework in Introductory Financial Accounting, Introductory Management Accounting, Economics and Quantitative Methods* (please refer to the Advanced Standing Guide for equivalent courses)
• CMA Student Membership
• Residence in British Columbia

* The Economics, Quantitative Methods and Commercial Law pre-requisites may be completed through self study. For more information, please see the ‘Self-Study Courses’ section under ‘Transcript Reviews’.

Students are permitted to register for the program while one or more of the pre-requisite courses are in progress. Students in this situation will be enrolled on a conditional basis and must submit official transcripts showing completion of all pre-requisites by the deadline listed on the application form (typically one month after the start of the program).

CMA British Columbia offers the Accelerated Program in three formats (options):

1 & 2: In Class and Distance Education:
The Accelerated Program (AP) reviews concepts in the topic areas of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Taxation, Corporate Finance, and Strategic Management, and includes over 175 hours of instruction.

For January, there are 3 options for In Class programs. The Downtown Vancouver class is offered 2 evenings per week, classes typically run from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. Saturday classes are also offered in both Burnaby and Kelowna, they typically run from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm. 

There is also an option for Distance Education. This Distance Education option is offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:30 pm and consists of 2-hour online sessions which run twice per week.

The AP includes four mandatory exams. Each one is designed to evaluate the students’ comprehension of the material that they have covered. 

These exams are in a multiple-choice format that closely resembles the type of questions that CMA students encounter when they take the CMA National Entrance Exam. Exams are typically written during class time and the examination content is cumulative. 

The CMA Accelerated Program also includes one assignment, which students will complete towards the end of the program while covering the Strategic Management topic.

To complete the CMA Accelerated Program successfully, CMA students must write all four exams and complete the assignment, with an overall program score of at least 60%. It is also mandatory for all CMA Accelerated Program students to attend the CMA National Entrance Exam Prep Course. In addition, students must submit 80% of the pretests, which are short, open-ended quizzes administered each session.


3: Self Study (Streaming Video Lessons with Online Support):
This Accelerated Program option covers essentially the same material as both the In Class and Distance Education Programs and therefore prepares you to write the National Entrance Exam. This 8 month program follows a prescribed 22 week schedule of lessons and involves self study coverage of the syllabus material. Students access this material through an Accelerated Program website and receive pre-recorded streaming video lessons for each session. Online instructor support through the Accelerated Program website is offered for any questions you may have about lessons, quizzes, or exams.

The CMA Self Study option can be a good alternative for those who wish to learn on a more independent self study basis or are unable to attend/participate in scheduled sessions. Although this program is offered on a self study basis, students must keep up with the material on a weekly basis to ensure they are prepared for each quiz and exam. All exams must be written on the specified dates as per the exam schedule.

The CMA Self Study option is covered in two segments across four exams. Segment one is covered in weeks 1 – 11 while segment two is covered in weeks 12 – 22. Each segment has 2 exams worth 40% and 50% respectively, as well as weekly quizzes worth 10%. To successfully pass the Self Study Accelerated Program option, students must receive 60% or better on each segment. Students also learn about six of the less predominant CMA prerequisite topics through selected readings. These topics are quizzed on throughout the program; students must pass these six management studies quizzes with 60% or better.

Students must also attend the CMA National Entrance Exam Simulation Prep Course upon completion of the Self Study Accelerated Program.

Because the Self Study program runs on a different schedule and covers the material in a different manner than the CMABC In Class and Distance Programs students may not switch options once the program has started.