Specialist designations are designed for CPAs who have reached a level of competence significantly higher than that of general practitioners.

Candidates for specialist designations are members specialising in a particular field of accounting. They may come from a range of fields, including the private sector, public sector, public practice and academia.

The specialisation can be promoted via your business cards and letterhead, and is written in one of these forms:

(F)CPA (Specialist in XXXXXXXXXX) or
(F)CPA, XXXXXXXXXX

To achieve a specialist designation, members have one of the following:

• completed an accredited postgraduate course and have at least three years experience in the chosen specialist field
  
• five years experience in the specialist area in a responsible position

There are eight areas of specialisation to choose from:

• auditing
• external reporting
• financial planning
• IT
• insolvency and reconstruction
• management accounting
• taxation
• treasury

Financial planning specialisation

You must be a CPA or FCPA to be eligible for the financial planning specialisation.  It is available to those members who can demonstrate their eligibility through experience and education within the financial services industry.

IT specialisation self-assessment tool

You must be a CPA or FCPA to hold the IT specialisation.