Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting

A Faster Path to CPA

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Designed for working professionals, with evening classes that fit around your schedule.

CPA Preparation

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Accounting

A post-baccalaureate diploma is a credential designed for individuals who have already completed a bachelor’s degree and want to gain specialized, career-focused education. Rather than repeating a full degree, a post-baccalaureate allows you to build targeted expertise, meet professional designation requirements, and advance your career more efficiently.

You can earn your Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting at the Melville School of Business and position yourself for entry into the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) program. Fully accredited, all courses in this diploma meet CPA professional education entry requirements — giving you a clear, credible pathway forward.

Build in-demand accounting expertise across financial reporting, management accounting, audit and assurance, taxation, and corporate finance. You’ll gain advanced, practical knowledge through courses such as Advanced Financial Accounting, Advanced Managerial Accounting, and Corporate Finance.

Study full-time or part-time, and start in the fall semester. Prefer to move faster? Choose the accelerated option and complete your diploma in as little as 16 months — without compromising academic depth or professional recognition.

Two women sitting and looking at a laptop.

The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting is designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and are ready to pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. This program provides the required accounting coursework needed for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP), offering a clear and recognized pathway toward a professional designation.

Aligned with CPA Canada’s nationally defined competency framework, the program develops the technical expertise essential for success in the profession. Students build strong capabilities across financial reporting, management accounting, audit and assurance, taxation, finance, strategy, and governance.

In addition to technical proficiency, the program emphasizes the development of CPA enabling competencies, including professionalism, ethical decision-making, written and oral communication, leadership, and analytical problem-solving — skills critical for long-term career advancement in accounting and business.

Students may choose between two program options:

Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting — 15 courses (51 credits)
Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting with Cooperative Education — 17 courses (61 credits)

Both options are designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge, competencies, and professional readiness required to progress confidently into the CPA designation pathway.

Code	Title	Credits
ACCT 2293	Accelerated Introductory Financial Accounting	3
ACCT 5110	Intermediate Financial Accounting	4
ACCT 5220	Introductory Managerial Accounting	3
ACCT 5335	Taxation	4
ACCT 5480	Corporate Finance	4
ACCT 5500	Data Analytics for Accountants	3
ACCT 5510	Advanced Financial Accounting	4
ACCT 5645	Audit and Assurance	4
ACCT 5720	Advanced Managerial Accounting	3
ACCT 5800	Strategy and Governance	4
BUQU 1230	Business Statistics	3
BUSI 2390	Business Law	3
CBSY 2205	Management Information Systems	3
ECON 1150	Principles of Microeconomics	3
ECON 1250	Principles of Macroeconomics	3

Total Credits - 51

In addition to the Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:

successful completion of a recognized undergraduate degree in any discipline, or
an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional work experience demonstrated by a portfolio

All applicants using the above portfolio are assessed by an admissions committee for maturity, fit to the academic program, educational background, and work experience. Applicants may also be interviewed by a member of the Admissions Committee as part of the application screening process. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.

Our streamlined application process makes it easy to get started. Applications are accepted year-round with multiple intake periods to accommodate your schedule.

Have a Question? Ready to Apply?

Who Should Pursue a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Accounting

The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting is ideal for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are ready to take the next step toward the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.

This program is well suited for:

Career changers who want to transition into accounting or finance and require CPA-recognized prerequisite courses
Business or non-accounting graduates who need any of the required academic foundation to enter the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP)
Professionals currently working in finance, operations, or business roles seeking formal accounting credentials to advance their careers
Internationally educated professionals looking to align their academic background with Canadian CPA requirements
Graduates committed to professional designation pathways who want a clear, structured route toward CPA competency

If you are motivated to build strong technical accounting expertise while developing the professional skills expected of today’s CPAs — including ethical judgment, communication, leadership, and problem solving — this diploma provides a direct and credible pathway forward.

A woman and a man analyzing graphs on a paper.

Information Session: March 3, 2026 at 5pm PST

Career Outcomes

Career opportunities are numerous, diverse, and well-compensated. Roles span public accounting firms, corporate and management accounting, as well as positions in government and the not-for-profit sector. These positions provide the work experience necessary to pursue the CPA designation, and a solid foundation for any business career. Based on your skills and experience, you may be able to enter or advance in roles such as:

Staff Accountant
Tax Associate
Management Accountant
Cost Accountant
Payroll Accountant
Financial Analyst
Financial Manager
Internal auditor
Financial auditor
Bookkeeper

Career Outlook

Accounting professionals are among the most in-demand occupations in British Columbia. According to WorkBC, accounting ranks #2 on the province’s list of high-opportunity careers with thousands of job openings and strong earning potential expected over the next decade.

Accountants

13,170

Forecasted Job Openings*
(2024-2034)

$140,000

Estimated median annual earnings*

Financial Managers

4,250

Forecasted Job Openings*
(2024-2034)

$115,876

Estimated median annual earnings*

Source: WorkBC, 2025

Program Summary

Tuition

Our tuition estimator will give you an approximate cost of the tuition for this program.

Delivery Style

Hybrid delivery (in-person and online)

Length

Full-time: 16 months
Part-time: 24 months

Availability

Currently accepting applications

Need More Info?

Interested in this program but still not sure? Get all your questions answered about the program, courses, fees, how to apply, and more by attending an Information Session.

Instructors

Valerie Warren

FCPA, FCA, MBA

Sarah Lee

CPA, CA, MPAcc

Lindsay Clayton

CPA, CMA, MBA

Taryn Greig

MPAcc, CPA, CMT-P

Student Testimonial

From Ravi

Choosing the Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting at Kwantlen Polytechnic University was a turning point in my journey. The program didn’t just teach me accounting— it gave me direction, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Every course, every challenge, and every interaction with faculty brought me closer to my goal.

Ravi Kataria

Application Deadlines

Fall 2026: Jul 1, 2026

Ready to Apply?