Members have approved the new member category, ‘candidate member’. 
 
The by-law amendments for the ‘candidate member’ category will be submitted to the Governor-General for approval. On approval, the Institute’s by-laws will be changed and the member category will be introduced in early 2010.  
 
There are more than 12,000 candidates enrolled in the Chartered Accountants Program. To ensure this number continues to grow, and to build brand loyalty for the Institute, candidates will become a ‘candidate member’ while undertaking the Program.  
 
The candidate members will not have voting rights or any post nominal, and will not be permitted to use the designation ‘Chartered Accountant’.  
 
Currently candidates in the Chartered Accountants Program are formally described in the Charter and by-laws as ‘registered graduates’. The Charter will not be amended at this time. Instead, should the amendment be approved by the Governor-General, the new membership category will be introduced by inserting a new definition in the by-laws, making the necessary changes to create the new membership class and replacing the term ‘registered graduate’ wherever it appears. 
 
The amendments do not impose any new burden on candidates, or change their current obligation to comply with the relevant sections of the Charter, by-laws and other regulations. 
 
Members will be informed of the Governor-General’s approval and the introduction of the new member category on the Institute’s website and eBulletin. 
 
Background information: 
 
Letter to members > 
By-law amendments >