How to verify that an accountant is registered with the Order (CPA)

In short: at Canada The CPA designation is protected and regulated by a professional order. Verifying that an accountant is registered with this order and compliant with regulations is more important than simply looking at a diploma on the wall. Bankeo checks this for you, using over 67 criteria, free of charge.

Many entrepreneurs believe that simply asking to see a diploma is enough. In reality, a diploma only proves that training was completed at some point. What matters today is active registration with the professional body.

Diploma versus registration with the professional body: the real difference

The CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) designation is regulated in Quebec by the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (Quebec Order of Chartered Professional Accountants), and in Ontario by CPA Ontario. To use this designation and sign certain documents (such as financial statement certifications), an accountant must be registered with the professional order and in good standing : up-to-date with continuing education, insurance, and professional ethics requirements.

A diploma doesn't tell you anything about that. A person can have studied accounting without being a CPA, or be a CPA without still being one today. Active registration is what matters, not a copy of a diploma. That's why, at Bankeo, we don't ask for copies of diplomas: we verify registration, the only thing that counts.

Do you absolutely need a CPA?

Not always, and it's important to point that out. A CPA is required for auditing and certifying financial statements. But for bookkeeping, GST and VAT, routine tax returns, or day-to-day advice, a good accountant or a competent bookkeeper often does the job just fine, at a better price.

The issue isn't "CPA or nothing." It's: if the accountant presents themselves as a CPA, are they actually registered and in good standing? And if they aren't, are they still reputable, insured, reputable, and competent in your field?

How to verify the registration yourself

The professional bodies maintain public records. To verify:

• In Quebec, consult the Order's table on the CPA Quebec website;
• In Ontario, see the CPA Ontario registry;
• search for the professional's name and check that their registration is active (not suspended, not cancelled).

It's free and public. But you still have to do it for each accountant you're considering, and know how to interpret the displayed status.

How Bankeo verifies it for you

Registration with the professional body, for accountants who are CPAs, is one of the criteria for the Bankeo Index . We verify that the professional is properly registered and in good standing before presenting them to you. And since the Index also checks insurance, the actual existence of the business, client reviews, and expertise in your sector, you get the complete picture, not just a title.

You don't have to do anything: you describe your needs, we present you with the right accountant, already vetted, free of charge. You choose, and we remain by your side.

An audited accountant, registration included. Find yours for free.

In summary

• The diploma proves prior training; active registration with the professional body proves the right to practice today.
• You don’t always need a CPA, but if they claim to have one, the registration must be real and in good standing.
• Bankeo verifies this registration for you, as part of the Bankeo Index .