The education component of the CPA Program professional level is offered by distance learning mode. For each segment, candidates have access to a range of learning resources. Formal assessment for each segment is by one three-hour exam at the end of the semester.
To successfully complete the CPA Program, candidates commencing in semester 2, 2009 will need to complete four compulsory segments and two elective segments, chosen from a list of four, within six years of commencement.
The compulsory segments are:
- Ethics and Governance
- Strategic Management Accounting
- Financial Reporting
- Global Strategy and Leadership – capstone segment
The elective segments are:
- Advanced Taxation*
- Malaysia Taxation*
- Singapore Taxation* (enrolment conditions apply - see below)
- Advanced Audit and Assurance*
- Contemporary Business Issues**
- Financial Risk Management
* Candidates who have not completed studies in auditing and / or taxation at undergraduate level must complete these segments as part of the CPA Program in order to advance to CPA status (see below).
Local taxation courses will become available over time for candidates in major markets outside Australia as an alternative to studying Australian taxation. This will benefit those candidates who wish to work in other jurisdictions and who may not require a detailed knowledge of Australian taxation law.
For Singapore Taxation, candidates must attend face-to-face workshops throughout the semester and the exam in Singapore.
** Contemporary Business Issues is offered in a blended learning format which includes two modules delivered in an online format only. This delivery mode provides greater flexibility for candidates to access the material anytime, anywhere. The online material is not included in the content of the printed study guide and is examinable. System requirements also apply. Please see the segment outline for more information.
Enrolling
For information about enrolment, please see:
- Professional level application and enrolment
- Enrolment regulations for candidates beginning the CPA Program in semester 2, 2009
Candidates can enrol in any segment except for Global Strategy and Leadership as their first segment enrolment. Candidates will not be able to enrol in Global Strategy and Leadership until all other compulsory segments of the CPA Program professional level have been successfully completed.
Candidates working full-time are strongly advised to enrol in only one segment per semester.
Advancing to CPA status
To advance to CPA status, candidates must complete the professional level within six years. Candidate must also have at least one of the following:
- a bachelor or masters degree
- a postgraduate higher education award of no less than eight units
- an overseas qualification, for example another professional accounting qualification or international university degree, that the Australian Government recognises through the AEI-NOOSR guidelines to be at least equivalent to these Australian qualifications
Candidates who are unable to complete the CPA Program professional level within six years may be eligible to apply for an extension of time.
Candidates admitted without auditing or taxation
It is possible to be admitted to Associate membership of CPA Australia without having completed studies in auditing and / or taxation at undergraduate level. These subjects must be completed in order to be eligible to advance to CPA status.
New members admitted under this policy must complete these subjects at postgraduate level as part of the CPA Program by completing the auditing and / or taxation segments.
For example:
Candidate A commences the CPA Program in semester 2, 2009. They have a major in accounting but have not completed studies in auditing; therefore, their CPA Program will look like this:
- Ethics and Governance
- Strategic Management Accounting
- Financial Reporting
- Elective
- Advanced Audit and Assurance
- Global Strategy and Leadership
or
Candidate B commences the CPA Program in semester 2, 2009. They have a major in accounting but have not completed studies in auditing or taxation; therefore, their CPA Program will look like this:
- Ethics and Governance
- Strategic Management Accounting
- Financial Reporting
- Advanced Audit and Assurance
- Advanced Taxation*
- Global Strategy and Leadership
* Or alternate local taxation variant.
As part of the admission process, you will be asked for information about the subjects you completed as part of your previous studies, and whether you have completed studies in auditing and taxation.
Your letter advising you of your admission to Associate membership will tell you what you must do to successfully complete the CPA Program.