When Should I Write the Module Exams so I get to the CFE before it disappears?

Published October 24, 2025 by Michael Levi

A common question we often get from students is how you I schedule the writing of the Module Exams. This takes on great importance for those students graduating in 2026 given that the last CFE is in 2028.

There are four times the Module Exams are written during the year:  March, June/July, September, and Dec.  The exams are offered over 2 days. On Day 1, Core 2, Finance and Tax are written, and on Day 2, Core 1, PM and Assurance are written. The Module normally begins about two months before the exam. What order do you write in?  You have to complete both Core 1 and Core 2 before the Electives and then you have to complete the two Electives before Capstone 1.

So, how do you decide when to write?  Well, I would work backwards.  Start with when you want to write the CFE – let's say May 2027.  That means you have to be finished your Module Exams by March 2027 (i.e. you have to pass all four by then so you can go to Capstone 1 in May 2027).  So the latest you could start Core 1 -assuming you do one module at a time - is Spring of 2026.  That way, you would write the exams as follows: Core 1 in June/July 2026, Core 2 in September 2026, Elective 1 in December 2026 and Elective 2 in March 2027.  

The above assumes that you pass each exam the first time, which hopefully will happen; otherwise you would need to wait until September 2028 to write your CFE. However, if it is important to you to write the CFE in 2027 and you want to allow for possible failure of an exam, you can start Core 1 earlier, say in January 2026.

Another option for getting to the CFE quickly is to fast-track, meaning that you take 2 modules at the same time.  In Ontario,  and Quebec, students can do the two Core Modules at the same time.  In Ontario, in order to take Core 1 and 2 simultaneously, you require a GPA of 75% in the core prerequisites.  

If you are registered with CPA Western School of Business you can also take the two Elective Modules at the same time.  However, when it comes to the electives if you would like to do two electives simultaneously, you will need to choose electives for which exam dates do not conflict.  For example. PM and Assurance are offered on the same date and Tax and Finance are offered on the same date.

We would not recommend fast tracking if you are working full time given the significant time commitment required for each module.

If you have a very busy job and/or personal life, depending on the province in which you are writing, extended modules are offered for some of the exam dates.  These extended modules are provided over 20 weeks, which allows you to spread the work for each module over a longer period.

For more info, or to discuss the optimal path to take, feel free to give me call at 416-560-3797.

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