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Home > Admission & Education > Public Practice Study Programs > CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate > Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

The questions and answers below cover the following topics. You may scroll to view all of the questions or use the links to access your specific area of interest.

About CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate distance learning

Q. How much time will be required to study CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate?
A. CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate is the equivalent of a one-semester postgraduate unit of study. Total hours of study required will depend on a candidate's capabilities and individual study technique. As a general guideline, a minimum of 10 to 15 hours per week over a 12-week period is required.
Q. Is a program outline available? 
A. Yes. Please see Program outline.
Q. What are the prerequisites?
A. To be eligible to enrol in CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate members must be of CPA or FCPA status and have successfully completed the Taxation segment of the CPA Program. Members who have not completed the Taxation segment may enrol in this segment and CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate in the same semester.

Enrolment

Q. Who should enrol in CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate?
A. Members who wish to offer public accounting services in Australia must hold a Public Practice Certificate or a Limited Practice Certificate.

Members who wish to provide part-time services only and do not plan to earn more than $25 000 gross fees per annum from the provision of public accounting services in Australia can apply for a Limited Practice Certificate.

Successful completion of the CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate distance learning program is required to be eligible to apply for a Limited Practice Certificate unless a member currently holds a Public Practice Certificate and wishes to transfer to a Limited Practice Certificate or a member has completed the distance learning component of the Public Practice Program within the last five years.

Members who are currently earning less than $25 000 per annum from the provision of public accounting services in Australia but who intend to earn more than $25 000 in future should complete the Public Practice Program.

Members who are of CPA or FCPA status and who do not plan to earn more that $7500 gross fees per annum from the provision of public accounting services do not need to obtain a Public Practice Certificate or a Limited Practice Certificate. However, these members are not permitted to advertise and they must hold professional indemnity insurance.
Q. How do I enrol in CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate?
A. Please see How to enrol and the Enrolment regulations.
Q.  How do I cancel my enrolment in CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate?
A. For instructions regarding cancellation of enrolment, and to download the cancellation form, please see Cancelling your enrolment.

Study materials

Q. What study materials are available?
A. The package sent to enrolled candidates includes a printed study guide and an additional satchel of supplementary materials. The material includes interactive computer-based learning material on CD-ROM and/or reference items that assist candidates to understand and apply concepts to practical situations.  
Q. When should I receive my study materials?
A. Deakin University despatches study materials within four weeks of the enrolment first closing date to all candidates who enrol by the enrolment first closing date. Candidates who do not submit their enrolment form by the enrolment first closing date may not receive their study materials by the commencement of the semester.
Q. What if my materials are not complete or damaged?
A. On receipt of the study materials, candidates should ensure that the contents match the checklist included in the package. The checklist also provides instructions for replacing missing or damaged components.

All enquiries should be addressed to the Business Services Group, Deakin University (see Contacts).
Q. Is access to the Members' Handbook required?
A. All candidates must have access to the Members' Handbook, available for purchase via CPA Store or accessible via the website homepage (member log-in required). Candidates using the CD-ROM or online versions will need to print out significant portions for the examination. Candidates should be familiar with APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, APES 320 Quality Control of Firms, the Professional Statements (especially APS 1, APS 2, APS 9, APS 10), Risk Management Statement RMS 1, Public Practice Statements PP 1 - PP 5, and the By-Laws.  
Q. Are the 'Further Readings' in the materials examinable?
A. No, however these readings may assist candidates in gaining a better understanding of the material.  

Fees

Q. Is there a fee for enrolling in CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate?
A. A fee is payable for enrolment in CPA 202 Limited Practice Certificate. Please see Fees.

Important dates

Q. How can I access the important dates for the public practice study programs?
A. Important dates are included in the Guide to Public Practice Study Programs 2008 or please see Important dates.

Examinations

Q. What is the format of the exam?
A.  The examination is of three hours duration, plus fifteen minutes reading time. The exam is open-book.    
Q. What is the structure of the exam? 
A. Details about the structure of the examination are enclosed with the examination notification statement issued to candidates prior to the examination. 

Candidates should attempt all questions. Marks are not deducted for incorrect answers.
Q. When is the exam?
A. Scheduled examination dates are advertised in advance in INTHEBLACK. They are also listed on the public practice study programs enrolment form and in the Important dates.

An alternative examination date is not available. If the advertised dates are unsuitable, candidates should delay their enrolment to a future semester.
Q. How do I receive my notification of examination location and time?
A. Personalised examination notification statements are mailed to candidates to confirm the location and time of the examination. Enclosed with the statement is information on examination regulations, administrative provisions and the structure of the examination paper.
Q. How can I change my examination location?
A. For instructions and the form for changing the exam location, please see Changing your examination arrangements.
Q. Are alternative examination arrangements available?
A. Alternative examination arrangements can be provided for candidates under the following circumstances only: remote area location or debilitating medical condition. For further information about these circumstances, please see Changing your examination arrangements.
Q. Is it possible to defer the exam?
A. Yes, an examination deferral allows a candidate who has enrolled in a public practice study program to postpone the examination. A result of 'Deferred' will be recorded on the candidate's printed statement of results against the semester of enrolment and the candidate will be automatically re-enrolled in the equivalent examination in the following semester. Deferrals into a later semester are not available.

Candidates can not defer and sit the examination in the same semester.

For further information on examination deferral and the applicable fees, please see Changing your examination arrangements.
Q. If I defer, will I get new materials next semester?
A. Once an examination has been deferred, the study materials should be retained. However, due to the dynamic nature of the public practice field supplementary updated materials will automatically be sent the following semester.
Q. What should I take to the exam?
A. For a list of items candidates are required to bring to the examinations, please see Attending examinations.
Q. What is an acceptable proof of identity?  
A. An official form of photographic identification should be presented at the public practice study program examination. For a list of acceptable forms of identification, please see Attending examinations. It would be expected that the name on the photographic identification would be the same as the name on the examination notification letter.
Q. When should I arrive for the exam?
A. It is recommended that candidates arrive at the examination venue no less than 15 minutes prior to the commencement of reading time.

Candidates may not enter the examination room more than 30 minutes after the commencement of reading time, nor are they permitted to leave during the first 60 minutes after the commencement of reading time or the last 10 minutes of the examination.
Q. How should I allocate my time in the exam?
A. Fifteen minutes of reading time is allocated to candidates prior to the commencement of the examination. During this time, candidates should familiarise themselves with the structure of the examination paper, and identify relevant reference material.

Time allocations are suggested on the examination paper based on the marks assigned to each section. Marks are not deducted for incorrect answers.

Additional time to complete the covers of the question booklet and multiple-choice answer sheet, or to transfer answers from working notes to the multiple-choice answer sheet, will not be provided.
Q. How do I apply for special consideration? 
A. Candidates who sit for an examination may be eligible to apply for special consideration if their examination preparation and/or performance is adversely affected by exceptional circumstances beyond their control.

Grounds for special consideration include medical condition, personal hardship, late receipt of study materials and an examination incident. Documentation must accompany the application for special consideration.

To access instructions and the form for applying for special consideration, please see Special consideration.
Q. What if I cannot attend the examination?
A. Candidates who are not able to attend a scheduled examination may be eligible to apply for an examination deferral. Alternatively, all candidates may apply for a cancellation of their enrolment at any time up to the advertised closing date each semester. 
Q. Are exam 'Tips and Traps' available?
A. Yes. Please see Exam tips. 
Q. What is the marking process?
A. All candidates' multiple-choice examination answer sheets are electronically scanned by two independent computer systems. In addition, the written response section is examined by a minimum of two independent CPA Australia expert members. Marks are then combined to give a total mark for the examination.
Q. When are exam results available?
A. Please see Important dates. For information about the release of examination results, please see examination results.
Q. What is the format of the exam results? 
A. Official examination results indicate the grade awarded. The grades that are currently in use include Pass, Fail, Did Not Sit, and Deferred.

In accordance with the policy of CPA Australia's Education Advisory Committee, actual examination marks are not released.
Q. How is the Pass mark set?
A. The pass mark is based on a determination of the minimum level of knowledge and skills that candidates must acquire to become competent public practitioners. 

CPA Australia does not fail a predetermined percentage of candidates.
Q.  What if I failed the exam?
A. All candidates who fail an examination will be mailed a detailed individual analysis letter, which reviews the candidate's examination result by topic.

After an analysis letter has been received, candidates who wish to discuss a 'Fail' result and gain assistance in planning a program of revision may contact the Public Practice Education Coordinator (see Contacts).

Contacts

Q. Who can I contact about the public practice study programs?
A. Please see Contact details.

Limited Practice Certificate application

Q. How do I apply for a Limited Practice Certificate?
A.  Members who successfully complete the distance learning program must apply for a Limited Practice Certificate through their nearest divisional office if they wish to offer public accounting services in Australia. Members must successfully apply for a Limited Practice Certificate within five years of completing the examination. You must also have passed the Taxation segment of the CPA Program. For additional prerequisites, application instructions and to access the application form, please see Application for limited practice certificate.
Q. Do I need a Limited Practice Certificate if my practice income is minimal?
A. If you are of CPA or FCPA status, and you do not plan to earn more that $7500 gross fees per annum from the provision of public accounting services, you do not need to obtain a Limited Practice Certificate or a Public Practice Certificate. However, you must hold professional indemnity insurance.
Q.  Is there a time limit for applying for a Limited Practice Certificate?
A. Yes, applications for a Limited Practice Certificate must be made within five years of passing the distance learning examination. Any applications falling outside this timeframe will be denied and the member will be required to repeat the distance learning program and pass the examination again.

Page last updated: Wednesday, 3 September 2008

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