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Chartered Accountants Program Training & Development

Service requirements
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Pre-requisite service requirements 
Current service requirements  
Glossary 
 
Pre-requisite service requirements 
Note: All pre-requisite service requirements outlined in Section 6 of the Institute's R1 CA Program Regulations have been suspended for a 12 month trial period from May 2009 to June 2010. During this time, candidates are only required to meet current employment requirements outlined below to fulfil the service entry requirements of the Chartered Accountants Program. 
 
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Current service requirements 
 
While undertaking a module of the Chartered Accountants Program, you must be in approved practical experience; that is, you must: 

  • be obtaining relevant experience employed full time (or a minimum of 17.5hrs per week part-time) by an organisation that is approved by the Institute
    •  
  • be mentored by a Chartered Accountant from the module commencement date for the relevant module, up to and including the date of the module examination. Periods of leave (e.g. long service, sick, maternity, paternity) of less than eight weeks duration in which the employment is not terminated and annual holidays do not break your service. Other types of leave constitute a break in service as outlined below.
It is recognised that candidates sometimes have breaks in approved service for a variety of reasons. Provided your prerequisite service has been obtained you may be able to gain special approval if an Institute member agrees to act as mentor. Special approval may be considered where the candidate: 
  1. Was in approved service at the module commencement date for the first module but changes employment and is ‘out of service’ (i.e. either not employed within an approved organisation or unemployed). In this situation, Chartered Accountants Program candidates may accumulate a maximum of 2 modules (28 weeks) out of service. 
    or 
  2. Is employed in an organisation where there is no Institute member or is self-employed. 
    or 
  3. Has obtained three or more years of relevant mentored experience approved by the Institute. 
    or 
  4. Has exceptional circumstances that are approved by the National Education Board. 
    or 
  5. For 2, 3 and 4 the candidate and mentor agree to strict guidelines regarding mentorship and complete the Practical Experience Activity Logbook.
 
Formal approval to enrol in or continue a module under any of the above service arrangements must be sought from the Practical Experience Coordinator. Candidates are required to submit the Practical Experience Employment Details form to the Practical Experience Coordinator and agree to complete the Practical Experience Program. 
 
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Glossary 
 
Definitions of the terms used above in relation to service before (prerequisite service) and during modules of the Chartered Accountants Program are as follows: 
 
Relevant experience means a depth of experience in at least one major area such as financial accounting, auditing, general practice, management accounting, taxation, financial management, insolvencies, treasury, information systems consultancy and comparable sub-divisions of accounting.  
 
Mentor refers to the Chartered Accountant or member of an approved overseas body nominated by the candidate and employer to provide guidance and advice and to monitor a candidate’s performance and training within the employment environment. A mentor is expected to hold a position deemed to be at least equal to or more senior than the candidate.  
 
Mentored by a Chartered Accountant means mentored by a member of the Institute or from one of the other Global Accounting Alliance bodies as outlined below: 
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) 
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) 
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) 
  • Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) 
  • The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) 
  • College of Chartered Accountants of The New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) 
  • Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) (admitted through the HKICPA Qualification Program) 
  • A legally constituted State Authority in the United States of America (the person having CPA status).
 
An approved organisation is an entity that has been approved by the Institute for the purpose of providing mentored practical experience and training to students.  
 
One week shall be at least 35 hours. Overtime is not included. Where service is not full-time, it will be calculated as the full-time equivalent.  
 
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