Is Canada getting rid of CFE?

Yes, Canada is phasing out the current CPA Common Final Examination (CFE) as part of a major overhaul of the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP), with the last CFEs scheduled around 2028, transitioning to a new, restructured program (CPAPP) launching in 2027 featuring new assessments, less technical focus, and different experience reporting. Current students can finish under the old system by late 2028 or voluntarily switch to the new program.

Is there no CFE in 2026?

There will be a CFE in June 2026 and September 2026. In 2027 and 2028, there will be one CFE written in September of each year.

Is CFE recognised in Canada?

CFE is a globally recognised qualification, it is accepted everywhere in Canada .

Is CPA Ontario keeping the CFE?

The current CPA Certification Program will continue to be offered until the new education program is available. This includes the offering of the CFE during a transition period. It's important to note that the new certification program was not part of the discussions about the governance of the profession.

What is the new program for CPA Canada 2027?

Developed through extensive consultation with over 4,000 stakeholders including employers, academics, students and CPAs across the country, and launching in 2027, the CPA Professional Program will equip CPAs to lead business forward in a fast-moving world.

September 2025 CFE Results: Why Students Failed and What To Do | Gevorg

Is CPA still worth it in 2025?

Yes, the CPA is still highly worth it in 2025, offering significant advantages like higher earning potential, enhanced job security due to industry shortages, and access to leadership roles, acting as a career catalyst even with AI, because it validates specialized expertise and ethical commitment, opening doors in public accounting, corporate finance, and advisory, though its primary value shifts slightly depending on your specific career path. 

Will the CPA Exam change in 2026?

New tax provisions with effective dates in 2024 and 2025 will appear on the test starting July 1, 2026. Provisions that take effect in 2026 or later will follow the standard exam policy for testing—six months after the effective date. The changes in content will affect the REG and TCP portions of the exam.

Is CFE harder than CPA?

The CPA exam is generally considered much harder and broader in scope than the CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) exam, requiring significantly more study time (300+ hours vs. ~60 hours) and covering extensive accounting principles, while the CFE focuses specifically on fraud, leading to higher CFE pass rates (around 70-75%) compared to the CPA's lower rates (around 50-55% per section). The CPA opens more doors, but the CFE is a valuable specialty, especially in forensic accounting, and many professionals with both find the CPA more challenging but more impactful for broader career progression. 

What is the hardest CPA exam 2025?

In 2025, the Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR) discipline has statistically been the hardest CPA exam section based on the lowest pass rates (around 38-40%), closely followed by Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), due to its massive content and complexity, though some find AUD's subjectivity tough; however, difficulty is subjective, with BAR and FAR being the toughest statistically, while Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP) is generally the easiest. 

What is happening with CPA Canada?

Beginning April 1, 2026, CPA Canada will transition to a new governance structure and a revamped membership model that simplifies access to CPD, tools and community for an unmatched professional value.

Is becoming a CFE worth it?

Yes, the CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) certification is generally considered worth it for anti-fraud professionals, as it significantly boosts earning potential (around 32% more than non-certified peers), enhances career opportunities by demonstrating specialized expertise, and makes individuals more valuable to employers by helping organizations detect fraud faster and reduce losses, according to ACFE, Franklin University, and Research.com. While there are costs and time commitments for exams and continuing education, the credential offers strong professional credibility, a global network, and improved marketability in fields like accounting, auditing, and investigations. 

How many CFE attempts?

CPA Canada allows candidates to attempt the CFE three times. At each unsuccessful attempt, candidates can appeal and ask for re-marking. After three unsuccessful attempts and remarkings, candidates will automatically be de-registered from the CPA PEP program.

Is the CFE getting harder?

The 2024 CFE pass rate has dropped to 67.3%, continuing the downward trend from previous years. With Core 1 also seeing a slight decline, it's clear that the exams are getting tougher. If you're preparing for PEP modules or CFE, now is the time to step up your study game.

Can I be an accountant without a CPA in Canada?

The good news is that you don't need to be a CPA – or have a degree – to launch a meaningful accounting career. With a focused diploma and work experience, you can build the skills employers are looking for today.

Is ACCA going to be replaced by AI?

The question keeps coming up: “With automation and AI advancing so fast, will accountants even be needed in the future?” According to ACCA, the answer is clear, AI won't replace accountants, but accountants who know how to work with AI will replace those who don't.

Which CFE day is the hardest?

Let's be honest — time management on Day 2 and Day 3 of the CFE can be brutal.

• If you've ever run out of time or felt overwhelmed during a case, you're not alone. ...
• This is a big one. ...
• Sometimes you recognize the AO and know what it's asking… but then you freeze because you don't remember what to write.

Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?

The top 3 toughest exams globally consistently include China's Gaokao (college entrance), India's IIT-JEE Advanced (engineering), and India's UPSC Civil Services Exam (government jobs), due to their extreme competition, vast syllabi, and life-altering consequences, though other candidates like the All Souls Prize or Master Sommelier Diploma are also noted for extreme difficulty. These exams demand immense knowledge, analytical skills, and endurance, with failure often meaning significant setbacks, making them notoriously difficult.
 

Which country's CPA is the easiest?

It's a prestigious and highly respected designation that prepares you for an accounting career in Canada. It also has higher pass rates and facilitated modules. US CPA exams are somewhat easier due to the objective format of the questions and extended exam windows.

Is a 75% on the CPA Exam passing?

Yes, a score of 75 or above on a CPA exam section is a passing score, but it's crucial to understand it's not a literal 75% of questions answered correctly; the score is on a 0-99 scale, reflecting sufficient knowledge to protect the public interest, based on weighted question difficulty and performance.
 

What is better, CIA or CFE?

Key takeaways: CFE and CIA certifications are both meant for auditors, though a CFE certification has broader applications than a CIA certification. To qualify for a CIA certification, you need more work experience than you do to be eligible for a CFE certification.

Do tax lawyers make more than CPAs?

Yes, tax attorneys generally earn more than CPAs because they handle complex legal issues, court representation, and high-stakes tax litigation, commanding higher fees than CPAs who focus more on accounting, financial planning, and return preparation, although both can earn high salaries, especially in senior roles at large firms. A tax attorney's specialization in law often leads to higher earning potential, with median lawyer pay significantly exceeding that of accountants, though specific salaries depend heavily on experience, firm size, and location. 

How many people fail the CFE?

Below are the official exam pass rates as reported by CPA Canada. The 2024 CFE pass rate is 67.3%. *In 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021, there were two offerings of the CFE. The 67.3%, 70.5%, 71.3% and 73.6% pass rates are the combined averages of the first-time writers in both the May and September CFEs.

Are CPAs decreasing?

The AICPA/CIMA 2022 Annual Report (https://tinyurl.com/2p8jzfsp) reveals a 7% decrease from 2021 to 2022 for the total number of candidates taking the CPA exam.

Is it possible to pass all 4 CPA exams in 6 months?

Students, recent graduates, and people with plenty of time to study should aim to sit for and pass 4 sections of the CPA Exam in about 6 months. This would have you taking an exam every 6-7 weeks and studying about 22-26 hours each week.

What happens if I fail core 1-3 times?

You have three attempts to pass a Core or Elective module-end examination. If you are unsuccessful on your third attempt of either the Core 1 or Core 2 examinations, you will be removed from the CPA PEP. For Cap- stone 1, if you are unsuccessful in the module, you will be required to repeat it.