South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)

Pathways to CPA Australia membership

The following steps demonstrate the pathways to CPA Australia membership for full members of SAICA.

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

Pathway 1 – for SAICA members with at least five consecutive years of full membership

You may be eligible to apply for CPA Australia membership under Pathway 1 if you:

• are a current member of good standing with SAICA and not under any investigation for professional conduct infringements
• did not gain entry to SAICA membership through another Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), any other similar pathway agreements or any special member pathway
• have successfully completed all SAICA exams
• have held the CA(SA) designation with SAICA for a minimum of five consecutive years.

Pathway 2 – for SAICA members with less than five consecutive years of full membership

You may be eligible to apply for CPA Australia membership under the MPA (Pathway 2) if you:

• are a current member of good standing with SAICA and not under any investigation for professional conduct infringements
• did not gain entry to SAICA membership through another Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), any other similar pathway agreements or any special member pathway
• have successfully completed the:
  • SAICA Professional Programme examinations and
  • practical work experience requirements
• hold a degree recognised by CPA Australia as being at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree level.

Step 2: Apply

Complete our online application and submit with the required documentation, including your application and membership fee.

In your application, nominate SAICA as the professional body with whom you studied and hold membership and also provide the date when you became full member of SAICA.

Start your application now

Step 3: Verification and outcome of your application

Your application will take approximately 10 to 15 working days to verify. We will send you an email advising you of your assessment outcome.

Step 4: Advance to CPA status

The advancement eligibility and requirements will depend on your verified entry pathway.

Pathway 1

Applicants with a successful outcome under Pathway 1 will be eligible for direct admission to CPA status. When you advance to CPA status, you will receive a CPA certificate and will then be able to use the letters CPA after your name.

Pathway 2

Applicants with a successful outcome under Pathway 2 must successfully complete the following CPA Program subjects:

• Ethics and Governance
• Global Strategy and Leadership 

When complete, you will advance to CPA status, receive a CPA certificate and will then be able to use the letters CPA after your name.

Step 5: Maintain your membership

A member of SAICA who gains membership of CPA Australia under the terms of the MPA must retain their membership with the original membership body.

Membership pathways FAQ

Have questions about membership pathways and arrangements? Find answers here.

Membership pathways FAQ