CPA Exam Registration Process? – A Step-by-Step Guide
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The Certified Public Accountant or CPA certification is one of the most prestigious and highly respected credentials in the field of Accountancy. The CPA certification has one of the highest standards of competence worldwide. The CPA certification you want to get depends upon the governing body.
Usually, each country has its own accounting body offering a CPA certification. For example, the accounting body for CPA India is the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPA). Similarly, in Australia, CPA Australia is the accounting body that accredits the certification of the same name – CPA. While CPA Australia can be a great career path, knowing CPA Australia Requirements is necessary.
In this article, we will focus on the CPA Australia certification and the different aspects of CPA Australia Requirements so that you can acquire the CPA Australia certification. Let’s get right into it.
Before we get to know the CPA Australia Requirements , it is imperative to know about the CPA Australia certification.
CPA Australia is a professional certification offered to individuals validating their credentials in the field of finance, accounting, and related business. CPA Australia is offered by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). This accounting body boasts of being one of the world’s largest accounting bodies. It has permanent prominence in over 120 countries in the world.
Being an internationally recognized credential, CPA Australia will help you become eligible for job roles in the field of Accountancy anywhere in the world. CPA job roles are among the highest demanding jobs across several industries. Most big-name Multinational Companies (MNCs) and organizations are looking for certified and skilled CPAs to fill some of the best job roles.
CPA Australia certification makes you eligible for such lucrative career opportunities by preparing you to tackle any challenging accounting, financial, or business-related job or situation you may face in your workplace.
But why should you pursue the CPA Australia certification? Is it only for getting a job in Australia, or is there something more? Let’s find out before we talk about CPA Australia Requirements .
A large field of career opportunities is not the only reason that should pique your interest in pursuing CPA Australia. Besides getting the highly coveted CPA License and exhibiting your knowledge and skills in the field of Accountancy, CPA Australia also provides a wide range of benefits.
Some advantages of CPA Australia have been listed below.
Looking at these benefits, you must be amped to get the CPA certification. So without any delay, let’s learn the CPA requirements in Australia so that you can make a plan for approaching the CPA Australia certification exam.
While talking about the CPA Australia Requirements , you will get to know the eligibility, syllabus, and exam format of the CPA Australia certification exam.
To apply for the CPA Australia certification exam, candidates must fulfill some eligibility requirements specified by the ASIC. These eligibility criteria are:
One of the most important aspects of CPA Australia Requirements is the syllabus for the Australia CPA Program and Australia CPA Foundation Program (for non-accounting and non-management students). Knowing the syllabus will help you make a study plan and prepare yourself for optimal results in the CPA exam. Candidates often ask how many papers in CPA Australia need to be completed. It depends upon the CPA Australia exam level they must first undergo.
Let us first take a look at the Australia CPA Foundation Program before we move on to the Australia CPA Program.
In the case of the CPA Australia Foundation Program, there are six papers or subjects for which candidates need to take the exam to qualify for the next round of exams under the Australia CPA Program.
The CPA Australia Foundation Program comprises six exams:
Candidates who either qualify or directly take the exams under the CPA Australia Program need to take exams for six papers or subjects, including two elective papers. Let’s take a deeper look at the CPA Australia Program exam papers.
In the CPA Australia Program, there are four main subjects:
There are some Electives subjects under the CPA Australia Program, out of which candidates can select any two. These Electives subjects are:
Please note that Advanced Taxation and/or Advanced Audit and Assurance papers must be chosen as electives by candidates who have not completed any prior recognized studies in taxation and/or auditing.
Knowing the CPA Australia exam format is important as this will help you to plan your course of study. The CPA Australia exam is held twice every year. The CPA Australia Program exams are divided into two semesters consisting of a maximum of 3 CPA papers per semester.
To get the CPA Australia certification, candidates must appear for and pass six papers consisting of 4 main subjects and 2 Elective papers.
The CPA Australia Program scoring scale ranges from 100 to 900. Candidates must score a scaled score of 540 to pass the CPA Australia Program.
While talking about the CPA Australia Requirements , it is important to know the duration within which you can complete the CPA Australia Program. In the case of the CPA Australia Foundation Program, candidates may require almost two years to complete the exams, while the CPA Australia Program may require one year.
Another important aspect of CPA Australia Requirements is the exam fees. The CPA Australia exam fees are divided into Membership, Enrolment, and Examination fees, which must be paid directly to CPA Australia. Let’s take a closer look at the fee breakup.
Membership Fee
There are certain divisions in the Membership fee of the CPA Australia Program. These divisions are provided below:
Examination Fee
The CPA Australia Examination Fee is divided according to “per paper” fees in Australian dollars (AUD). The Examination Fee has been summarized below.
| Description | Fees per paper (in AUD) |
| Subject Enrolment (Early Bird) | $1140 |
| Subject Enrolment | $1290 |
| Standard Exam Deferral | $330 |
| Late Exam Deferral | $450 |
| Subject Matter Reorder | $100 |
Enrolment Fee
For the CPA Australia Foundation Program, candidates must pay an Enrolment fee of AUD 345. However, candidates can apply for an extension in the Foundation Program exam for AUD 75 per month for up to 6 months. If candidates wish to change their exam appointment from 24 to 72 hours before the scheduled exam time, they must pay an AUD 40.
The Accounting body of India, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), has an existing Mutual Recognition Agreement with CPA Australia. Due to this, Indian CAs become eligible for the following benefits:
Under the MOU/MRA signed with CPA Australia, Indian CAs become eligible to complete the CPA Program subject “Global Strategy and Leadership” & Online study unit “Better Practice in Governance and Accountability” within two years of joining as an Associate Member.
All the CPA Australia Requirements have been summarized for you. Now it is time for you to decide how you would like to approach the CPA Australia exam in the future. To make your preparation easier, you can enroll in a CPA Australia coaching course where you can learn about the basics and detailed concepts of every paper that will help you prepare and pass the exam in one attempt.
In order to be eligible for applying to the CPA Australia exam and become a CPA in Australia, you need to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University or institution in an approved accounting or management specialization.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are also eligible to apply, but they have to clear the CPA Foundation Program before they can apply for the CPA Program.
In order to complete the CPA Australia Program and become a CPA in Australia, it requires one year for candidates in general. For candidates having to take the CPA Foundation Program first, it would take two years to complete the CPA Foundation Program and CPA Program to become a CPA in Australia.
You need to take part in the skill assessment, where you will be assessed based on the education level required for that job. If you want to get a job in the field of Accountancy in Australia, you need to acquire the CPA Australia certification by clearing the CPA Australia Program and gaining the required skills and knowledge for a job as a CPA.
The first Skilled Employment Assessment is currently included in the assessment fee in Australia
Opting for CPA Australia is a great career choice. Although, if you are someone who is looking for global opportunities, then CPA USA should be your preferred choice. Having the CPA USA certification listed on your Resume will make you a worthy candidate for the global accounting jobs at top MNCs. Whether you are a student or a working professional, you need to put ample effort and dedication into practicing the CPA USA certification exam. To aid you in your efforts, you can join a coaching institute, such as NorthStar Academy, for complete preparation.
Enroll yourself in the best CPA USA coaching institute – NorthStar Academy – for a well-rounded CPA USA preparation.
NSA provides a streamlined CPA USA certification course for candidates aspiring to make careers in Accountancy. The course will offer you expert guidance from India’s top accounting mentors like Mr. M.Irfat.
To aid in your preparation, NSA provides thoroughly researched and detailed study material to cover every corner of the syllabus. If you enroll at NSA, you can avail yourself of the Bundle discounts on the CPA Exam fee. You can also avail yourself of online classes and get the same benefits as classroom facilities.
So don’t wait; join NorthStar Academy today and start your preparation for making a successful career!
Contact us in case of any queries.
