ICAA

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) is a membership-based organization charged under legislative statute with enhancing “the value of the Chartered Accountant designation, the reputation of its members and the image of the profession itself”. 

The ICAA is governed by an elected Board of Directors and each Australian State has its own regional council which advises the Board on policy and related issues. Australian accountants seeking membership must have obtained a degree which is approved by the ICAA, have successfully passed the examination requirements of the CA program, and completed at least three years of full-time work with a Chartered Accountancy.

Requirements for Professional Membership
The ICAA has reciprocal agreements with accounting bodies in a number of countries including Canada, the United States (CPA status and licence to practice in a U.S. State), England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and Hong Kong (certain conditions apply).

Applicants from abroad are expected to have completed their CA/CPA designation and their required internship with a Chartered Accountancy firm. Applicants may also be asked to complete approved courses in Australian Corporations Law and Tax Law respectively. These courses can be taken individually, or as a combined subject, depending on the applicant’s professional needs/specialization, and are offered widely across the country as well as by distance education. Information on courses is available here http://www.icaa.org.au/ (pdf file).

The terms and conditions affecting membership in the ICAA are outlined at www.icaa.org.au 

The ICAA offers a skills assessment service for candidate from countries it does not recognize. ICAA is authorized by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) to assess skills needed for positions as Accountant, Finance Manager, Accountant-Corporate Treasurer, and Accountant-External Auditor for the purpose of migration to Australia. Details on the assessment process are available at www.icaa.org.au

CPA Australia

CPA Australia is also authorized to assess the qualifications of accountants from other countries. The Qualifications Assessment Unit evaluates qualifications for ASCO occupations including: Accountant (2211-11), External Auditor (2212-11), Corporate Treasurer (2213-11) and Finance Manager (1211-11). The assessments are done on a fee-for-service basis.

For the purposes of immigration, accountants can expect a successful assessment if they possess a Bachelor degree in any discipline and have completed the examinations or professional programs of:

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK (ACCA)

The Institute of Chartered Management Accountants, UK (CIMA) 

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, UK (CIPFA)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants India (ICAI)

Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants

The Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)

Le Conseil Supérieur de l'Ordre des Experts-Comptables (France)

Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (previously Hong Kong Society of Accountants)

American Institute of CPAs

Overseas accountants who hold ACCA and CIMA certification should apply to either the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (www.icaa.org.au), or the National Institute of Accountants (www.nia.org.au) to have their qualifications assessed.

Details on the CPA Australia qualifications process are available at www.cpaaustralia.com.au.