| Q. |
Can CPA Australia provide me with a list of recognised universities and degree qualifications? |
| A. |
No. There are simply too many institutions world-wide and many of the qualifications are limited by the division, class or aggregate grade awarded. In determining the status of your degree, we mainly use the guidelines published in the relevant AEI-NOOSR Country Education Profile. |
| Q. |
Who can certify my documents? |
| A. |
We will accept documents endorsed by any of the following:
- commissioner for oaths
- Justice of the Peace
- notary public
- lawyer
- police officer, sheriff, sheriff's officer
- dentist, legal practitioner, medical practitioner, pharmacist, veterinary surgeon
- CPA or Chartered Accountant
- bank manager
- Australian consular officer or Australian diplomatic officer
- any other official who, in your home country, is authorised to endorse documents and legal declarations or witness sworn affidavits
- MARA registered migration agents (commenced 1 October 2007)
|
| Q. |
What information does a certification need to include? |
| A. |
Each page of the document must contain the original endorsement clearly stating the name, contact details and capacity (and registration number) of the certifier, their signature and date sighted. This endorsement must be on all pages. CPA Australia must be able to contact the certifying officer or notary directly if necessary. |
| Q. |
How much information should the syllabus contain? |
| A. |
Each subject outline should contain enough detail to demonstrate that your studies adequately covered our requirements in each of the core knowledge subject areas.
For example, a description for financial accounting which merely shows that the subject 'covers aspects of duties undertaken in a financial accounting environment' tells us nothing.
This kind of description is often found in university handbooks. If your subject outlines look like this, then you must provide more detail. You will avoid unnecessary delay and possible fees by ensuring that your application includes syllabus / subject outlines which list all the key topics covered in each of the relevant subjects. |
| Q. |
I do not have a copy of my syllabus, what can I do? |
| A. |
Most reputable institutions keep some information about courses conducted in past years. If not in the form of comprehensive course notes, at least the brief outlines usually found in the handbook / calendar.
Contact the university / institution at which you studied and ask if they can provide you with this information. If you graduated recently, you may be able to find the information in the university's website.
If the university cannot provide syllabus / outlines for the exact period during which you studied, try to get as close as possible. In this case, the subject names or codes may not exactly match your academic transcript. Please make sure that you clearly indicate those changes. You can do this by writing directly onto the syllabus document and / or academic transcript so that we can easily cross-reference the relevant subjects. You will need to include a Statutory Declaration stating that the changes made by you are a true representation of the studies that you completed.
If you have a complete booklet of all subject outlines offered by your university / faculty, photocopy and submit only the relevant outlines. If you submit the complete booklet, please clearly mark the relevant outlines. This will save us time searching the entire book to find the information we need. Time wasted in this way results in significant delays - to you and everyone else awaiting assessment results. |
| Q. |
I have contacted my university but they cannot give me any syllabus detail for my studies: what can I do? |
| A. |
You must prepare your own summary of topics covered and submit it with a statutory declaration that the information given in the summary is true. Syllabus / subject outlines copied from other sources will not be accepted (e.g. material copied from websites of other universities). |
| Q. |
I graduated years ago and cannot recall what I studied: what can I do? |
| A. |
Remember that the basic purpose of the qualifications assessment is to determine that you have the knowledge relevant to your qualifications and the occupation for which you are being assessed. The assumption is that your knowledge is current and therefore useable in your nominated occupation if and when you arrive in Australia.
Failure to provide sufficient syllabus detail may adversely affect the result of your assessment. You will be advised to complete further studies in any subject areas in which we are unable to assess the depth of your knowledge. This will adversely affect the result of your assessment. |
| Q. |
I completed my university studies more than 10 years ago, do I need to supply any additional documentation? |
| A. |
Yes, as it has been more than 10 years since you completed your final year of study, we need you to provide details of how you have kept your accounting knowledge up to date. In this regard, please provide certified copies of official work testimonials from your previous and current employers detailing relevant work experience for at least five of the last 10 years*. The testimonials should briefly list your roles and responsibilities carried out while in their employment, or official evidence of current membership of at least five years continuous duration of a professional accounting body in which maintenance of status is subject to completion of CPD.
*CPA Australia will neither recognise nor approve exemptions in any subject area on the basis of work experience alone. |
| Q. |
Do I have to pay GST (goods and service tax) on my assessment fee? |
| A. |
No. Our assessment fee is GST-free. |
| Q. |
I live in Australia and have a relative / friend overseas who is applying for migration and has sent me his / her documents to apply for assessment. Is it OK for me to send the application on his / her behalf? |
| A. |
Yes. But the application form must indicate the address to which we send correspondence (i.e. the applicant or the Australian relative / friend).
We will issue only one acknowledgment and assessment result so the intermediary must undertake to pass on or otherwise deal with all relevant correspondence.
Australian privacy legislation prohibits CPA Australia from discussing details of the assessment with third-parties unless the applicant provides a signed authority for us to do so. |
| Q. |
I do not know what ASCO occupation to nominate. Will you provide assessment results with more than one ASCO code? |
| A. |
No. DIAC will allow you to nominate only one occupation. For security reasons, we are reluctant to issue more than one assessment result except where an assessment result has been reviewed or updated. You must decide which occupation you intend to nominate before you submit your application for assessment. You can ask us to change your ASCO occupation at any time before your assessment is completed. If you have already received your assessment result and subsequently decide to change your nominated occupation, you may return the original assessment to CPA Australia with a written request for amendment. Definitions of ASCO occupations can be viewed on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website. |
| Q. |
My assessment results tell me that I must complete studies in taxation law and / or auditing. What are my options? |
| A. |
All applicants who are advised to complete further study in the subject areas of taxation law and / or auditing have the option of fulfilling this requirement as part of the CPA Program.
This means that if you successfully complete study in all core knowledge areas except taxation law and auditing, you will still meet the Associate membership requirements. However, if you do choose to complete taxation law and auditing as part of the CPA Program, it is a compulsory requirement that you complete them as two of your three elective segments.
Alternatively, if you complete taxation law and auditing prior to being admitted as a member, you will have the flexibility of selecting all three electives of your choice in the CPA Program. |
| Q. |
My assessment results tell me that I must complete studies in financial accounting, management accounting, business finance and / or quantitative methods. What are my options? |
| A. |
You have two options: complete bridging unit/s with CPA Australia or complete accredited units via a registered higher education provider.
The bridging unit Introduction to Business Finance covers CPA Australia's core knowledge requirements for both finance and quantitative methods. If you have either or both of these outstanding you may complete the introduction to business finance bridging unit.
Also note that there are no exemptions possible in the CPA Program on the basis of these bridging units. |
| Q. |
I have received my assessment result but it is unsuccessful because I have been advised to complete more than three subjects. Do I have to study through one of the accredited university courses or can I study at a university in my home country? |
| A. |
We strongly recommend that you complete accredited studies at a recognised university.
However, if for any reason you absolutely cannot complete the studies through an accredited study program, then studies completed in your home country may be accepted. In this case, you must seek confirmation from CPA Australia before you enrol that the proposed non-accredited study program will be accepted. Otherwise you risk wasting time and money completing studies which are ultimately not recognised. |
| Q. |
I have received my assessment results and I have been asked to complete further studies in an area I believe I have studied already. What do I do? |
| A. |
If you have already provided transcripts and information regarding this subject please inform your assessor in writing within six months of receiving your assessment results. If you have documentation that you did not supply with your application please send the additional documentation along with $80.00 to the qualification assessment units. It is the applicants responsibility to insure that all relevant documents are provided. |
| Q. |
I have completed additional studies through a CPA Australia accredited program as requested in my assessment letter. What do I do? |
| A. |
Your assessment remains valid for five years and your documents remain on file with us. During this period updates for migration purposes are provided at no extra cost. Send documentation relating to the additional studies undertaken. Include your reference number and notify us of any changes to your address details.
If you have completed all the subjects listed on your assessment letter you can apply directly for associate membership. |
| Q. |
I am a CPA Australia member and wish to be assessed for the New South Wales Taxation Board, what do I need to supply? |
| A. |
Send a written request (include your member number) along with a certified true copy of your degree award/s and transcript/s to:
Team leader, qualifications assessment
CPA Australia GPO Box 2820
Melbourne Victoria 3001 |
