Canadian · Professional Licensing · Explainer
Who can verify a CPA? The CPA Canada designation explained.
People search for “verify CPA Canada,” but the national body is not the regulator. The Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is granted and regulated by provincial regulators, so verification happens with the body in the province concerned.
Use the official register for the answer: To verify a CPA, search the provincial CPA body’s register. This page links to each province’s guide and cannot confirm anyone’s status. It cannot confirm anyone’s status.
What the register covers
- Who grants the designation — CPA Canada states that the CPA designation is governed and granted by provincial regulators under provincial legislation.
- What those bodies do — license and regulate members and firms, set and enforce ethical and practice standards, and investigate and adjudicate complaints.
- CPA Canada’s role — a national body that supports the profession and members; in its membership FAQ it says it is not a regulator.
- Where to verify — the register of the CPA body where the person is registered. Provincial guides on this site are linked below.
Directories are the regulator’s own and can lag; being listed does not by itself guarantee good standing. Contact the regulator to confirm status.
Open the official search
The regulator’s own site owns the search result. Links open in a new tab.
Provincial verification guides
- British Columbia (CPABC)
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec (OCPAQ)
- Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI
This site does not have guides for the territories or other regions yet; CPA Canada lists the provincial and regional bodies on the page linked above.
Why the title matters
Protection of the CPA title and of public accounting work is set provincially, so what a person may call themselves or sign off on depends on the province. Use the is my accountant a CPA checklist for a step-by-step check.
Sources
- CPA Canada: CPA provincial and regional accounting bodies (Retrieved October 2026)
- CPA Canada membership FAQs (Retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Does CPA Canada have a directory I can search?
This page does not rely on one. CPA Canada says the designation is granted and regulated by provincial regulators, so you verify with the body in the relevant province.
Is CPA Canada a regulator?
CPA Canada says in its membership FAQ that it is not a regulator.
Which register do I use if I do not know the province?
Start where the person or firm operates, then try other provinces. A CPA may be registered in a province other than the one where they appear to work.
Is a CPA the same as a licensed public accountant?
No. Membership is one thing; a licence or permit to perform audit, review or compilation work is separate in the provinces that issue them. Check the public practice or firm directory for that.
Guide only — not a verification tool
This page describes the register and links to it. It does not check anyone’s membership, it does not copy or proxy any register data, and nothing you might type here is transmitted anywhere. Use the official register to confirm status. Not legal or professional advice.