Hi everybody:

The CD site is real good information for recently landed immigrants. I have landed two months back and am now into the job search mode.

I am a chartered accountant from India and my first bet was to target accounting jobs. However, none of the ones i applied for even for a junior accountants post accepted any of my indian experience or CA !!! As i read all along and hear it too - its "canadian experience" that is required !!!

Would anyone in the group, please let me know if there are any exemptions available for an Indian CA if he wants to do a Canadian CA or a canadian CGA? I dont think i am in a position to invest three years of articleship for a Canadian CA so the CGA seems to be a better bet. Any advice on that?

Many thanks

ptm was a Chartered Accountant who went back to India. Try searching his posts or send him a Private message.

Thanks & regards.

Rajan.

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Let's make India a better place !

Hi there

I am an Indian CA,CMA and CS from India.Am surprised that you have not already contacted CGA or CA institute for an assessment of your qualifications and experience to see what exemptions are available.Generally,I understand that it varies paperwise from person to person,though on an average for CGA,upto Level 4 can be reasonably expected.

I would suggest that you contact Robert Half or Accountemps for temporary jobs.Failing that, try some volunteer accounting positions for sometime.That helps you acquire local software knowledge and exposure and something to put on your resume.

Try also contacting CA firms, especially the small firms.You may have to compromise on salary expectations initially.Once you prove yourself, there should be no problem in getting market rates. Gradually as you gain canadian qualifications, you should be better able to compete for professional accounting jobs in industry. Note that CA experience with a CA firm is considered valuable experience for industry jobs,at least for entry level or junior level roles.

Hope that helps.

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Sathish Subramanian
Email:

hi Satish,
its pleasant surprise to see your post. It was you who told me about cd site.


ptm

Thanks satish - I very much appreciate your taking time to reply. I will contact the CGA insititute. Does the CA Insititute also offer exemptions? Also, will go for the suggestions you've offered.

PTM, i did read through your entire thread of emails - you have been so active on the site. I was upset reading some of the reactions to your mails - people very many times can be unkind. I understand what you mean and what you are going through. I am myself new, I am 42 and I am trying to make it happen so wouldnt have any suggestions but the only thing I will humbly say is don't regret anything later.....PTM you are knowledgeable and will make it - it may be harder, may take longer but then as one of the posts said, If amitabh at 64 can make such a comeback after losing everything - INR 90 crores in debt and 60 criminal cases - is coming to Canada and starting afresh such a difficult thing? I wish you all the best in your attempt for a fuller living.

I am a CA from India. Am in the PACE level of the CGA. I got exemptions for Levels 1 to 3 and a challenge exam privelege for FA4 and MA2 (meaning just have to write the exams, no assignments). That means I had to write 8 exams for the CGA designation.

To get a Canadian CA designation, an Indian CA do a course in law, do the School of Accountancy program, work 36 months in a CA firm and pass the UFE exam.

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JM

The provinces have different licensing requirements. Information quoted above relating to the CGA and CA programs is generally applicable to Ontario, but may not necessarily be applicable to BC (your location says Burnaby).

It is unlikely that you will get much credit for the Indian CA. In a number of provinces however, you should be able to get advanced standing if you complete a US CPA. In Alberta, for example, you should have to complete only 1 or 2 modules of the School of Accountancy in addition to the UFE. Furthermore, if you have qualitative experience outside of Canada, and present it appropriately, experience review committees do take it into consideration towards meeting the experience requirement (therefore you would not have to go thru another 'articleship').

If you need to know more, try talking to the Institute....

http://www.becomeaca.com/bca.php?section=emailca.php3&cat=4