Get Certified
Validate Your Expertise. Elevate Your Career.
Earn Your Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) Designation
The Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) designation is more than just a title—it is Canada’s nationally recognized standard for bookkeeping excellence. By earning your CPB, you signal to clients and employers that you possess verified advanced knowledge, a commitment to professional ethics, and the discipline to maintain the highest industry standards.
CPB Canada is your partner in this journey. As the national certifying body, we assess your experience and knowledge to ensure you meet the benchmark required to lead in our industry. Whether you are ready for the CPB designation today or are building toward it, we offer a clear, supported path to success.
Your Path, Your Starting Point
We recognize that every professional is at a different stage in their career. That is why we offer a flexible framework designed to validate your skills right where you are.
Professionals meeting the advanced requirements may apply directly for the CPB designation. If you are currently building your experience, our Technician and Apprentice levels provide official verification of your growing competencies, helping you demonstrate progress as you work toward the gold standard of the CPB designation.
Key Knowledge Categories
Across all levels, your expertise is assessed in six core areas:
- General Bookkeeping
- Sales Taxes
- Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable
- Period End
- Inventory
- Payroll
NIRI Certification Programs
nvestor relations professionals have a high degree of responsibility and can make a significant impact within their organizations. This demands competence across key disciplines including finance, strategy, and communications. Earning the IRC demonstrates necessary knowledge and skills in the IR Competency Framework.
Why Become Certified?
Certification is a recognition offered by an independent organization to validate the knowledge of a professional through standardized assessment. Investor relations professionals have a high degree of responsibility and can make a significant impact within their organizations. This demands competence across key disciplines including finance, strategy, and communications.
The Investor Relations Foundations certificate program is designed to cover the core competencies and skills of the most foundational domains of investor relations. This certificate provides a solid knowledge base and competencies for professionals who are in their early- to middle-IR career journey.
The IR Foundations exam is two hours long and consists of 110 multiple choice questions. A passing score for the examination is 77 correct answers of 110 scored items. The Exam Blueprint is as follows:
The IR Foundations Test
- Fee: NIRI members: $650 / Nonmembers: $725
- Format: 110 intermediate-level questions
- Passing Score: 77
Your Achievement
You will receive official confirmation of your Intermediate-Level competencies. To maintain this verification, annual membership renewal is required. We recommend completing 10 CPD units annually to keep your skills sharp.
The Investor Relations Advanced certificate program is tailored for professionals with deeper expertise and advanced IR responsibilities. This program covers complex competencies and practices, regulatory and governance knowledge, and business insights helping seasoned practitioners validate their elevated knowledge and skills.
The IR Advanced examination is 90 minutes long and consists of 75 multiple choice questions. A passing score for the examination is 52 correct answers of 75 scored items. The Exam Blueprint is as follows:
The IR Advanced Test
- Fee: NIRI members: $500 / Nonmembers: $700
- Format: 75 multiple choice questions
- Passing Score: 52
There are no eligibility or maintenance requirements for either exam. Once the certificate is earned, there is no need to renew. This program is U.S.-based, and the examinations are administered in English. Upon successful completion of either exam, you will receive an e-certificate and digital badge.
Additional fees:
Exam Retake Fee: $250
Transfer/Rescheduling Fee: $125
Refund Administrative Fee: $200
Eligibility Requirements
- Pass the IRC examination or achieve both the IR Foundations and IR Advanced certificates within two years.
- Meet one of the following educational and professional work experience options:
- U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent with three or more years of qualifying full-time work experience as an IR corporate professional or IR consultant.
- Six years of qualifying full-time work experience as an IR corporate professional or IR consultant. At least 50% of duties should be directly focused on IR activities. (Alternate work experience and paid IR internships will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.)
- Hold a current certification relevant to IR practice with three or more years of qualifying full-time work experience as an IR corporate professional or IR consultant. Relevant certifications include:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Other certifications may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
- Have experience in at least seven of the following IR domains as outlined in the IR Competency Framework, with a publicly traded company as an IR corporate professional or IR consultant:
- Comply with the NIRI Code of Ethics and the IRC Code of Conduct.
The IR Certification Exam
Once your application is approved, you will be invited to purchase and schedule your virtually proctored exam.
- Fee: NIRI members: $1095 / Nonmembers: $1295
- Format: 160 advanced-level questions
- Passing Score: 112
- Frequency: Offered once per month
This program is U.S.-based, and the examination is administered in English. It is executed in a computer-based format online and on demand with live remote proctoring worldwide.
Additional fees:
- Exam Retake Fee: $250
- Transfer/Rescheduling Fee: $125
- Refund Administrative Fee: $200
- Duplicate Score Report: $25
Resources to Support Your Success
We want you to succeed. NIRI offers practice exams to help you identify your strengths and pinpoint areas for further study before you take the official assessment.
Practice Exams
Focus on a specific area where you need more review. Each single exam covers one knowledge category.
- Includes: One advanced-level assessment aligned to a specific category.
- Price: $99 per exam
- Access: 30 days of continuous access
Get Exam Ready
Prep Course at a Glance
- 30 Hours of targeted core competency review and exam preparation.
- 90 Days of unlimited online access.
- Available only for NIRI members.
Ready to Advance Your Career?
The CPB designation tells a story about your competence, discipline, and professional accountability. When you are ready to take that step, we are here to recognize your achievements.