Education, examinations, and practical experience
To achieve certification, a student must successfully complete all three requirements of the Program of Professional Studies: education, examinations, and practical experience. Each requirement is designed to ensure students demonstrate the core competencies required of a newly certified CGA.
The Association uses various methods of measuring and assessing the performance of its students throughout the program, both within the course materials and the individual course examinations (see past examinations). Examination blueprints identify the content areas covered on course examinations and the weighting of each content area.
In the final level of the program before certification, called PACE (Professional Applications Competence Evaluations), students choose from four different career options, depending on their goals and interests. Each option contains two elective courses and examinations, plus two final capstone courses and examinations. PACE courses and examinations have been developed to ensure the candidate's ability to integrate knowledge and issues and to fully demonstrate the competencies required of a newly certified CGA.
All candidates must also satisfactorily complete practical work experience and assessments. Specified competencies are generally met through 36 months of approved work experience, but on assessment may be found acceptable after 24 months. Students’ practical experience or portfolios are assessed from time to time by their provincial/territorial affiliate office. Further details on this requirement can be found in the Syllabus.
General examination information
Before taking a CGA examination, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with examination procedures.
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