In Canada we have three types of accredited accountants.  Accredited means "recognized as coming up to an official standard".  Accreditation means that an accountant has completed years of official courses, passed a comprehensive exam and proven to the society that he/she has sufficient practical work experience to fulfill the requirements for that certification. 

The accredited accounting designations are:  CMA for Certified Management Accountant, CGA for Certified General Accountant and CA for Chartered Accountant. 

Each designation is awarded by an official body set up under an accounting act with the federal government such as the Society of Management Accountants of Alberta.  Each accounting body requires that the accountant take and pass courses in what is known as a core body of knowledge for accounting:  introductory accounting, intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, financial accounting, sometimes cost accounting, statistics, business law, interpersonal relationships. public speaking, case review, taxation, economics, possibly management and marketing and so on. 

Each designation can focus on a particular area such as management accounting or audit or working in industry.

(CPA is an American designation.)

See CMA-Alberta.com for further details. 

I see the Certified Management Accountant designation as being especially beneficial when dealing with self-employed business owners.  My training emphasis, beyond the basic body of knowledge, was on management.  Being a part of a management team.  Working with business owners and managers.  Talking to owners and managers.  Being proactive.  Being a part of a decision making process.  Freeing up owners from office tasks so they can focus on selling their skill or product.  

Check out these related websites:

http://cma-alberta.com

http://cica.ca

http://cga-canada.org

http://cma-canada.com

http://RPA-professionalaccountants.org

http://CRA-ARC.gc.ca

http://gov.ab.ca

http://wcb.ab.ca

http://medicine-ht.ab.ca