These are the questions most students ask about becoming a Chartered Accountant.

Q. What is the difference between Chartered Accountants and other accountants?

A. The Institute is an accredited Higher Education provider. The Chartered Accountants Program is a Graduate Diploma.

Australian Chartered Accountants are recognised by the international accounting bodies of the leading financial centres of the world.

The Chartered Accountants Program develops more than number crunchers. It is the program of choice for the elite of Australian business including Macquarie Bank, Lend Lease, Woolworths, Qantas and the Big 4 accounting firms. 65% of employers agree that the Chartered Accountants Program attracts the best graduates.

• Financial accounting
• Commercial and corporations law
• Australian taxation law
• Auditing
• Management accounting
• Corporate finance

Q How does mentoring work?

A. The combination of Chartered Accountants Program training and at-work learning is what makes Chartered Accountants so employable. While studying the Chartered Accountants Program you must be working in an organisation approved by the Institute and you must be mentored by a Chartered Accountant.

Your mentor who is an experienced Chartered Accountant working in your organisation, will guide and support you during your journey through the Chartered Accountants Program and help you apply the concepts and theories you've learnt to real life business situations.

Q. How long does the GradDipCA take?

A. The GradDipCA can be completed in just under two years. You can commence your first module once you have fulfilled your 26 weeks work experience prerequisite. You can undertake the four technical modules in any order, however, you cannot undertake them concurrently.

Once you've completed your four technical modules, you're ready to do the final module, Ethics & Business Application. This module consolidates the learnings from the previous modules and draws heavily on your work experience. You'll focus on applying what you've learnt to solve real business problems.

Q. How much does the Chartered Accountants Program cost?

A. AUD $975 (no GST payable) per module in Australia or AUD $1,175 per module in Malaysia/Singapore. These fees are highly competitive for a quality postgraduate course. They cover all your text and web-based learning materials, assessments and the costs of face-to-face focus sessions.

Q. Which organisations are approved by the Institute to offer the Chartered Accountants Program?

A. A large number of individual accounting practices, businesses and public sector institutions in Australia and Asia are already approved to offer the Chartered Accountants Program as part of their graduate development program. An organisation that agrees to help a candidate through the Chartered Accountants Program can easily become approved.

Q. How do I enrol?

A. Online at Chartered Accountants Program.

Q. When do I need to enrol?

A.We would recommend that you pre-enrol in the Chartered Accountants Program as soon as you commence your mentored employment as this will allow you to commence tracking your practical experience.

You will need to keep an eye on the Chartered Accountants Program timetable for the GradDipCA enrolment periods.

Q. What happens in the first few weeks after I’ve enrolled in a GradDipCA module?

A. After you've enrolled, you'll receive an acknowledgement of enrolment, followed by a confirmation of enrolment into the module.

Approximately one week before the module starts, we'll send you a Candidate Learning Pack (CLP). The CLP is the key learning tool for you to read and work through for each module. It contains all the learning materials, including activities and worked examples for you to work through and to apply your learning. The CLP also contains information on the self-study programs, self-assessed learning activities and access to Internet resources.

During the first few weeks, you’ll work on projects (both print and online). You can also join small groups (either face-to-face or online) for additional support.

The online portal, myCA, is the main learning and communications channel for the Chartered Accountants Program. It is a portal that allows you to post questions and participate in discussions. It will give you additional study material and is your main communications link with your fellow candidates, your Focus Session Leaders and the Institute.

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The detail

Q. Do I have to be an Australian resident to enrol in the Chartered Accountants Program?

A. The Program is offered in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia with face-to-face focus sessions and exams held in all three countries. To do the Program you must live, and be eligible to work, in one of these countries.

You don't have to be an Australian citizen to do the Chartered Accountants Program in Australia, however, you do need to have a suitable visa which allows to you work for a minimum of 17.5 hours in an accounting-related role.

Q. I have a conceded pass on my academic record. Will this affect my eligibility to do the Chartered Accountants Program?

A. Conceded passes are not accepted. You must pass all key accounting subjects.

Q. Can I get exemptions for the Chartered Accountants Program if I have a postgraduate qualification?

A. If you have completed a Masters in Taxation program or are a member of CIMA, you may be able to apply for an exemption to either the Taxation or Management Accounting & Analysis module.

Q. I've read about the changes to the entry requirements for the Chartered Accountants Program for people who have a non-accounting degree. I didn't take accounting subjects as part of my degree. Can I enrol in the Chartered Accountants Program?

A. In 2007, graduates from non-accounting backgrounds will be able to enrol in the Program if they hold qualifications that are comparable to an Australian bachelor's degree, and as long as they pass a diagnostic exam.You might also be required to complete and pass some conversion subjects in prerequisite knowledge areas.

More information about broadening the entry requirements and the diagnostic test will be made available well before the change is introduced in 2007.

Q. How does the Institute assess overseas qualifications?

A. The Institute follows the guidelines of the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) - an Australian government body.

Q. I'm looking at studying part of my accounting degree overseas. How does that affect my eligibility to enrol in the Chartered Accountants Program?

A. While your university may grant exemptions, the Institute may not. We may need to look at the syllabus material for these subjects in order to grant any exemptions.

We are more than happy to assess the syllabus material prior to your study overseas.