CFE Schedules and Enrolment

CFE enrolment and deadline schedules

The CFE is offered twice a year, once in May and once in September. Please see the CPA PEP schedule for module enrolment dates and details.

Location changes

Location changes for the CFE within Ontario can be requested up to 70 days before the CFE, provided there is capacity. There is a $50 + HST fee. You can change your examination centre by logging into My Portal ► Manage My Journey ► select Change Location from the Actions menu.

What you must bring to the examination

Students must bring valid government-issued photo ID to the examination. The personal information on the ID must match your student information on file with CPA Ontario or you will not be permitted to write the examination.

Please review the CPA Canada Examination Regulations prior to writing the CFE.

For results remark and Performance Analysis Review fees, please refer to our page.

You can pay your fees using one of the following options:

• Online payment using VISA, MasterCard, Amex or Interac Debit. Confirmation receipts for online payments will be available upon successful payment completion. 

Payment cannot be made with VISA Debit, cheque or cash. 

When you enrol, you will be able to select your desired method of payment from the options available:

• Select NO if you are paying now with Credit Card or Interac.
• Select YES if your employer will submit payment directly to CPA Ontario at a later date. Please ensure payment is received no later than two weeks after the enrolment deadline.

If you receive an error message upon payment, do not re-enter your card information. Please contact CPA Ontario for assistance by email or call 1 800 387.0735.

To access your enrolment invoice, select Financial History ► Invoices.

If you took Capstone 1 as part of an accredited program, you must complete the Day 1 case linked to the Capstone 1 module you completed on your first attempt, provided that case is available on the CFE you attempt.

Please note that the version of the Day 1 case (i.e. version 1 or version 2) is not a reflection of the difficulty level of the CFE question. Each version simply presents a unique scenario related to the Capstone 1 case for students to analyze. All CFE markings are calibrated by the Board of Evaluators to ensure there is consistency and fairness across the various offerings of the examination.

CFE Day 2 elective depth role

Your elective depth role is evaluated during Day 2 of the CFE. There are four elective depth roles available:

• Assurance*
• Finance
• Performance Management
• Taxation

Find more information here on choosing your elective depth role.

It is recommended that your depth role be one of the two elective modules that you completed during the PEP program.

*If you wish to pursue a Public Accounting Licence (PAL) you must select Assurance as your Depth role.

Withdrawal policy

You cannot defer the CFE. Instead, you will need to withdraw and enrol in a future offering.  

If you withdraw in advance of the scheduled start time of your first writing day and do not attend the CFE, this is not considered an attempt. For example, if you are required to write all 3 days of the CFE you must withdraw before the scheduled start time on Day 1. If you are a Day 2 & 3 only writer, you are required to withdraw before the scheduled start time on Day 2 otherwise it will count as an attempt at the examination. 

If you attend Day 1, then withdraw and do not attend Days 2 and 3, it will be considered an attempt for all three days. Similarly, if you attend Day 2 and do not attend Day 3, it will be considered an attempt at the examination.

Please refer to the CPA PEP Module Refund Schedule for more details on withdrawals from the CFE.

No refund, or partial refund, will be available after the scheduled examination start time unless you provide documentation of extenuating circumstance (e.g. car accident on the day of the examination, hospitalization, etc.). Please contact us if this is the case.

To withdraw from CFE, log in to My Portal, select Manage My Journey ► CPA PEP ► Actions ► select Withdrawal

Refunds are issued within four to six weeks.