Thank you for your interest in CPA Australia
As one of the world’s largest accounting bodies, our goal is to lead the future of the global accounting profession and develop business professionals with tomorrow’s capabilities.
What is a CPA?
A Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) is a finance, accounting and business professional with a specific qualification that is highly respected by employers. In addition to obtaining an internationally-recognised qualification, CPA Australia members also have the opportunity to complete specialist training and continuing professional development (CPD).
How to become a CPA
In most cases, becoming a CPA involves completing a CPA Program. Here are the program requirements to attain a CPA designation:
- Hold a degree or a postgraduate degree recognised by CPA Australia.
- Cover the core competency requirements before commencing the CPA Program. If you have completed a recognised degree which falls under the competency requirements, you might be able to commence the CPA Program immediately. However, if your degree didn’t cover all the core competency requirements you may need to take the Foundation exams.
- Complete the CPA Program. The CPA Program requires the successful completion of four (4) compulsory subjects and two (2) elective subjects. Each subject is delivered over a single semester, with an exam at the end. You might be able to get your CPA designation within 18 months.
- Complete 36 months of professional experience in finance, accounting or business, and a minimum achievement of 10 skills across four (4) categories. This experience would be considered at any time, even before your CPA Journey.
There is also a range of established pathways with leading accounting bodies from all around the world. This can include successful completion of an exam with another organisation, even if you didn’t end up completing their full program.
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Join us for a Become a CPA information session
If you’d like to understand more about the process to become a member of CPA Australia, we encourage you to attend one of our live or on-demand Become a CPA information sessions.