A meticulous art.
A highly functioning business counts on critical financial fundamentals that accounting brings to the table. More than number crunching, accounting is a data-driven, strategic, and ultimately impactful, practice for success, whether that be in local or global markets. Preparation is key, with planning and administering of accounting systems, reporting of financial information, examination of records, analysis of statements and more.
This two-year Accounting program has the goods to help you develop multiple skills in the field of general financial accounting. You will focus on developing critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the addition of learning to interpret complex information and develop comprehensive reports that are typically presented to management. You will leave here with a learning portfolio, prepared to launch into your career or continue your educational plans.
If you have natural proficiency and a love for numbers and are excited about the concept of keeping a business or organization at peak operational efficiency, this field is an excellent choice for you.
This is a career to count on.
- A six-week work placement to hone your skills
- Training for diverse career opportunities
- Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- Accredited under the National Committee for Management Accreditation (NCMA) Professional Accreditation
- Transfer credits to institutions such as Memorial University of Newfoundland (Grenfell), Athabasca University, Plymouth University and University of New Brunswick (Saint John)
- According to Statistics Canada, operating revenue in the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services industry reached approximately $30.9 billion in 2024, reflecting continued strong post-pandemic growth driven by increased demand for advisory and compliance services. [1]
- Following steady expansion over the past decade, the accounting and related services industry in Canada has maintained an average annual growth rate of roughly 6–8% between 2013 and 2024, with particularly strong gains in 2022–2024 as businesses increased outsourcing of financial and tax functions. [1]
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Apply fundamental principles of accounting to various types of financial transactions and situations including a broad understanding of international accounting standards and practices
- Demonstrate proficiency in financial reporting that includes the preparation and analysis of financial statements for a range of businesses and organizations using both manual and computerized accounting systems
- Use a variety of software applications and tools, including accounting software, and spreadsheet programs to assist in preparing and analyzing financial statements
- Develop financial and budgetary plans based on varying business objectives, changing business environments, and underlying business assumptions including a solid understanding of income tax, payroll tax, and sales tax
- Make responsible and ethical accounting decisions that align with organizational values and effectively communicate to various stakeholders using both oral and written communications methods
- Exhibit the application of employability skills defined by the Conference Board of Canada to facilitate successful entry into the workplace and work collaboratively with team members from diverse backgrounds and skill sets to achieve common goals
Accounting is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) in all campus locations. ACBSP is the leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence.
Accounting is accredited under the NCMA Professional Accreditation, which recognizes alignment with the academic requirements established in the Chartered Management Program (CMP). NCMA Professional Accreditation is a distinguished standard that supports, validates, and promotes excellence in management education and professional readiness.
[1] Statistics Canada, Table: Service industries statistics, accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (latest available releases, 2023–2025
- Graduates of College of the North Atlantic's Accounting diploma program may transfer up to 60 credits towards Athabasca University's Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma), Bachelor of Commerce with Major (Post Diploma), Bachelor of Management (Post Diploma), or Bachelor of Human Resources Labour Relations (Post Diploma) programs.
- Graduates of College of the North Atlantic's Accounting diploma program, with a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.33 (B Grade), may transfer into the third year of Royal Roads University's Bachelor of Business Administration in Innovation and Sustainability degree program.
- Graduates of College of the North Atlantic's Accounting diploma program, with a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.33 (B Grade), may transfer into the third year of Royal Roads University's Bachelor of Commerce in Entreprenurial Management degree program.
CNA Graduates from this area - 5 year trending
Eligibility for admission to Accounting program requires the applicant to meet one of the following academic criteria:
1. High School
Provincial High School Graduation Certificate with a 60% overall average in the following (or equivalent):
i. English 3201
ii. Mathematics (4 credits) chosen from:
Advanced: 2200, 3200 (50% minimum in each course)
Academic: 2201 (50% minimum), 3201 (60% minimum)
iii. Five credits at the 3000 Level
2. College Transition (prior to 2024, students would have completed Comprehensive Arts and Science (CAS) Transition)
College Transition Certificate with the following courses:
i. English (minimum 60%): CM1060, CM1061
ii. Math (minimum 60%): MA1040, MA1041
3. Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (Level III) Graduation with Business-Related College Profile including the following courses (or equivalent):
i. English 3101A, 3101B, 3101C or 3102A, 3102B, 3102C
ii. Mathematics 1101A, 1101B, 1101C, 2101A, 2101B, 2101C, 3101A, 3101B, 3101C
Applicants with Adult Basic Education (Level III) Graduation with a different Profile may be eligible for admission to the program provided the appropriate selection of courses including those outlined above have been completed.
4. Mature Student Requirements
Applicants who do not meet the education prerequisites for this program, must be 19 years at the time of application and out of school for at least one year may be considered on an individual basis under the Mature Student Requirements; for more information regarding the Mature Student Requirements please refer to Procedure AC-102-PR Admission.
International Students – Admission Requirements and Information
1. High School
i. Proof of senior high school/secondary school Diploma/Certificate with equivalent minimum grades for the required high school courses listed above.
ii. India applicants only – Proof of senior high school/secondary school Diploma/Certificate with an equivalent Grade 10 Mathematics (50% min.) and Business/Commerce Stream.
2. English Proficiency
All international applicants must meet the College’s English language proficiency requirements for acceptance into our regular programs; for more information regarding the College’s English language proficiency requirements please refer to AC-102-PR, Admission Procedures, Section 5.2 English Proficiency.
COURSES
| CODE |
TITLE |
Hrs/wk |
| Semester 1 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC1260 |
Financial Accounting I |
5 |
4 |
3 |
| CM1240 |
Business Communications I |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| HN1230 |
Human Resource Management I |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| FN1140 |
Introduction to Finance |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| MC1260 |
Integrated Software Applications |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| MR1100 |
Marketing I |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 2 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC2260 |
Financial Accounting II |
5 |
4 |
3 |
| CM1241 |
Business Communications II |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| HN1240 |
Human Resource Management II |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| LW1230 |
Business Law |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| MR2100 |
Marketing II |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| MC1242 |
Spreadsheet Essentials |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 3 |
Intersession |
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC2230 |
Computerized Accounting I |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| CM2200 |
Oral Communications |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| The Course and Lab hours per week are based on a 15 week semester. In intersession, the Course and Lab hours will be adjusted to reflect the shorter semester length. Refer to course outline. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 4 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC2220 |
Intermediate Financial Accounting I |
5 |
3 |
5 |
| AC3270 |
Payroll and Commodity Taxes |
4 |
3 |
2 |
| AC2250 |
Managerial Accounting I |
4 |
4 |
1 |
| CM2300 |
Report Writing |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| EC1110 |
Microeconomics |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| MA1670 |
Statistics |
4 |
4 |
1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 5 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC1350 |
Income Tax |
4 |
3 |
2 |
| AC3220 |
Intermediate Financial Accounting II |
5 |
3 |
5 |
| AC3250 |
Managerial Accounting II |
4 |
4 |
1 |
| AC2365 |
Principles of Internal Auditing |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| EP2150 |
Entrepreneurship |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| SD2200 |
Workplace Ready |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 6 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| OJ1580 |
Work Experience - Accounting |
0 |
0 |
6 wks |
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of this program may obtain employment in a variety of accounting areas such as
- Administrative Assistant
- Project team lead
- Finance Associate
- Financial Clerk
- Treasury Clerk
- Payroll Clerk
PROGRAM TRANSFERABILITY
The Accounting program offers exit points after Year 1 and Year 2.
- Students can graduate at the end of Year 1 with a Business Administration Certificate.
- Students graduate at the end of Year 2 with an Accounting Diploma.
FURTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of the Accounting program may have the opportunity to transfer credits to institutions/associations such as:
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, Grenfell Campus
- Athabasca University, Alberta
- Plymouth University, UK
- University of New Brunswick, Saint John Campus
Graduates may also wish to further their studies to achieve professional designations with:
- Canadian Institute of Financial Planning
- The Payroll Association of Canada
- Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA)
Canadian Students
The confirmation fee is due within two weeks of receipt of your Letter of Acceptance. It is required in order to hold your seat in the program.
Application Fee - $30.00 (per program)
A non-refundable fee required for each application submitted to the College | Application Page
Application fees are only refundable if the program does not go ahead, and the applicant does not want to transfer the application to another program.
Note: The following fee is non-refundable and must be paid within two (2) weeks of receiving your Letter of Acceptance for each program at the College.
Confirmation Fee - $105.00 (per program annually)
A non-refundable annual fee due upon confirming acceptance into each program. This covers registration and student association services and must be paid each academic year.
Academic Audit Fee - $50.00 (once per program)
A one-time fee assessed for auditing academic records during your program.
Technology Fee - $83.00 (per semester)
A semester-based fee to support student access to software, internet, and digital services across all campuses.
| School |
Regular Term
(15 weeks) |
Intersession
(up to 7 weeks) |
Certificate & Diploma Programs:
| Business & Information Technology |
$1,099.00 (per semester) |
$524.00 (per semester) |
| Program Type |
Tuition Fee |
Certificate & Diploma Programs:
| Certificate & Diploma Programs |
$320.00 (per course) |
All student fees must be paid by the date specified in each term. These dates can be found in the Academic Calendar .
- Students receiving Student Aid must present their notification of award on the first day of classes. These students may defer payment until aid is received, at which time fees must be paid in full.
- Students who do not pay fees within the prescribed time may have their registration cancelled.
- Students with outstanding balances are:
- Ineligible for future term registration
- Unable to receive diplomas, transcripts, or grade reports
- Denied access to online grades until the balance is paid in full
It is the student's responsibility to clear all balances and contact their campus Student Services office with any account inquiries.
Additional Notes
- If the College cancels a program, all tuition and fees will be fully refunded.
- Out-of-sequence students registering or withdrawing mid-term will be charged on a pro-rated basis.
- Students taking additional courses beyond a standard load must pay for each extra course.
- Senior citizens (60+) receive a 50% discount on confirmation fees and tuition.
- Students auditing a course must pay:
- 50% of tuition
- 100% of any applicable technology fees
International Students
A fee, which is applied toward program tuition and compulsory fees and includes a deposit fee, is due within two weeks of receipt of your Letter of Acceptance.
Application Fee - $100.00 (per program)
A non-refundable fee required for each application submitted to the College | Application Page
Note: The following fees are non-refundable and must be paid within two (2) weeks of receiving your Letter of Acceptance for each program at the College.
Confirmation Fee - $105.00 (per program annually)
A non-refundable annual fee due upon confirming acceptance into each program. This covers registration and student association services and must be paid each academic year.
Deposit Fee - $1,500.00 (Included in First Semester Tuition)
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit required to secure your seat. Included in first semester tuition.
Academic Audit Fee - $50.00 (once per program)
A one-time fee assessed for auditing academic records during your program.
Technology Fee - $83.00 (per semester)
A semester-based fee to support student access to software, internet, and digital services across all campuses.
| School |
Regular Term
(15 weeks) |
Intersession
(up to 7 weeks) |
| Business & Information Technology |
$4,484.00 (per semester) |
$2,243.00 (per semester) |
| Program Type |
Tuition Fee |
Certificate & Diploma Programs:
| Certificate & Diploma Programs |
$1,046.00 (per course) |
The document below provides a summary of estimated program costs for international students applying to the 2025–2026 academic year.
Please note that all amounts are approximate and subject to change without notice. These costs apply only to international applicants.
If applying online, the application fee must be paid via credit card during the submission of your application to College of the North Atlantic.
College of the North Atlantic has partnered with PayMyTuition for all international tuition payments. All tuition payments, unless otherwise noted, can be paid via PayMyTuition.
- Payments can be made from any bank, in any country, and in any currency.
- Offers better than bank exchange rates.
- Fast, secure, and cost-effective.
Please note that you can only use PayMyTuition once you have been assigned a CNA student number.
All student fees must be paid by the date specified in each term. These dates can be found in the Academic Calendar .
- Students receiving Student Aid must present their notification of award on the first day of classes. These students may defer payment until aid is received, at which time fees must be paid in full.
- Students who do not pay fees within the prescribed time may have their registration cancelled.
- Students with outstanding balances are:
- Ineligible for future term registration
- Unable to receive diplomas, transcripts, or grade reports
- Denied access to online grades until the balance is paid in full
It is the student's responsibility to clear all balances and contact their campus Student Services office with any account inquiries.
Additional Notes
- If the College cancels a program, all tuition and fees will be fully refunded.
- Out-of-sequence students registering or withdrawing mid-term will be charged on a pro-rated basis.
- Students taking additional courses beyond a standard load must pay for each extra course.
- Senior citizens (60+) receive a 50% discount on confirmation fees and tuition.
- Students auditing a course must pay:
- 50% of tuition
- 100% of any applicable technology fees