Learning Process
Lectures
The CGA program offers students the flexibility of learning with or without attendance at in-class lectures. For students that learn more effectively in an in-class environment, lectures or workshops are available to supplement CGA`s learning process. These in-classroom sessions are generally scheduled on a weekly basis, using room facilities at the University of Manitoba, Red River College and the CGA Building. Additionally, Saturday review sessions are held periodically to assist students preparing for examinations. Refer to the course offering schedule on page 19 to determine which courses provide in-class support. For students whose geographic residence or career and personal commitments make regular attendance at in-class lectures difficult, CGA offers weekly online audio lectures that facilitate the entire CGA program being completed by independent and collaborative distance learning.
Online Support Resources
A variety of online learning support resources are provided for each course. In addition to the audio lectures mentioned above, students have access to a national tutor, study groups/chat lounges, practice examinations, examination blueprints, interactive module notes, and model financial statements. Modules and Course Work Each CGA Course has 10 weekly modules with required readings and may include an assignment, quiz, and/or online discussion. In the Foundation and Advanced Studies courses, online assignments and quizzes will be assessed for 30% of your final course grade. At the PACE level in the CGA Program of Professional Studies, which includes two PACE Electives and our Capstone courses PA1 & PA2, the assignments and/or online discussions will be used to qualify you for the national course examination. Each module also provides a set of review questions and suggested solutions to reinforce the concepts and skills you have learned.
Examinations
Three-hour national examinations are written at the end of each course in the Foundation and Advanced study levels. At the PACE Level, the exams are four hours in length. To assist examination preparation, you are provided with a practice examination and previously written CGA exams. In-person review sessions are available for courses provided with in-class support, in addition to online audio review files. Students must achieve a minimum final grade of 65% to earn credit for a course. For Foundation level courses, the final grade is a blend of the results from the term work and final examination. For the Advanced Studies and PACE levels, the final course grade is based solely on the final examination.
Study Workload
The CGA program prepares you for certification as a financial professional. To be successful you will need commitment, self-discipline and organization skills. You should anticipate devoting approximately 20 to 25 hours per week for a single course to your studies. CGA recommends that you take only one course per session while you are working full-time.