The Lethbridge Polytechnic Business Administration program is strengthening its longstanding relationship with Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Alberta, the CPA Education Foundation and the CPA Western School of Business. These partnerships play a vital role in supporting business students — particularly accounting majors — as they prepare for successful careers in business and the accounting profession.
CPA Alberta represents more than 32,000 Chartered Professional Accountants across Alberta. Nationally, the CPA designation represents more than 220,000 professional accountants throughout Canada.
Lethbridge Polytechnic’s School of Business recently received an $11,000 grant from the CPA Education Foundation. The funding will support the continuation of the highly successful and popular Accounting Advantage Dinner, held annually in November, as well as provide opportunities for accounting students to participate in accounting-focused competitions.
In addition to the grant funding, James Reimer, instructor and chair of the School of Business, announced that following extensive consultation, the Business Administration – Accounting major has once again been formally recognized by CPA. Students graduating from this diploma program will now receive even greater credit toward their CPA designation requirements.
As CPA updates its professional education program to provide more relevant and responsive certification pathways, graduates of the Lethbridge Polytechnic Accounting program will now receive 33 credits — equivalent to 11 courses — toward the 45 credits required to enter the CPA program. Under the previous CPA structure, students received credit for nine of 14 required courses.
“This is very exciting news for our students,” says Reimer. “Having their education recognized for such a significant portion of the CPA pathway demonstrates the strength and quality of our Accounting program and provides students with a strong head start toward achieving this industry-standard designation.”
Jessica de Groot of the CPA Education Foundation also expressed enthusiasm for the continued collaboration. “We look forward to a [continued] successful partnership with Lethbridge Polytechnic and thank you for providing excellent learning opportunities for your students,” she says.
Applied, hands-on learning of putting theory into practice is central in all three majors of the Lethbridge Polytechnic Business Administration program: Accounting, Business Operations and Management. All three majors are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2026 semester. More information can be found on the polytechnic’s website.
Local CPAs interested in being added to the wait list of mentors for Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Accounting Advantage Dinner can contact Reimer at james.reimer@lethpolytech.ca.