Today's CPA Program is more accessible to more people and offers a truly global accounting designation for strategic thinkers. CPAs are more than just accountants; they're business leaders with an array of highly valued skills that are used to make significant contributions to business success.
With a strategic focus on both domestic and global business issues, CPA Program provides the technical expertise today, to create the strategic business leaders of tomorrow. Offering exceptionally high standards and quality - recognised by the ISO 9001 International Accreditation - today's CPA Program is a rigorous and integrated education and experience program.
CPA Program comprises of 14 education segments and a fully integrated Practical Experience Requirement. The educational component of CPA Program has two parts: the foundation level and the professional level.
The foundation level represents the first eight segments and provides you with the stable base of knowledge of accounting principles and practice that underpin the financial dimension of an organisation - measurement and recording of financial transactions, financial decision making, financial reporting, controls and assurance. The completion of an accredited or recognised degree, such as an accounting degree, will often meet all the requirements of the foundation level and allow you to commence at the professional level.
From 2010 a series of foundation level exams will also be available through CPA Australia. These exams are designed to assess technical knowledge gained through work experience or study, for example:
- graduates of non-accounting disciplines, who have one or more gaps in their coverage of core knowledge requirements
- candidates with significant work experience in accounting, with no formal qualifications
Once a candidate has achieved, or can demonstrate competence against, the core knowledge requirements of the foundation level they can join CPA Australia as an Associate member and commence the professional level.
The professional level is made up of six post-graduate education segments and builds on this strong foundation with higher level analysis, judgment, decision making and reporting and focuses on areas that ensure a CPA is valued by any employer - ethics, governance, leadership and strategy. The syllabus for professional level education segments has been developed in response to employer feedback and the content is globally relevant with international case studies.
The Practical Experience Requirement, undertaken concurrently with the education component of the professional level, actively develops your technical, business, personal effectiveness and leadership skills to make sure that you are a well-rounded, work ready professional business professional.
The professional level, including the Practical Experience Requirement, must be completed within a six-year period. In order to advance to CPA status Associate members must hold a degree or other eligible higher education award.
Your actual entry point into CPA Program will be determined by an individual assessment of your prior education and experience. To find your entry pathway view the CPA Program pathways diagram.
Distance learning and independent study
CPA Program is offered by distance learning mode. Distance education provides a flexible and accessible approach for those who wish to pursue continuing professional development.
Candidates involved in this mode of education must accept greater responsibility for the planning and assessment of their own learning compared with the more traditional methods of teaching. The need for greater self-discipline and self-reliance is in keeping with a professional accountant's responsibility for ongoing self-development.
CPA Program candidates are required to study the course materials thoroughly and rigorously as independent distance learners. Each module in the segment study guides must be worked through systematically, and the associated readings and in-text questions should be carefully reviewed in preparation for the segment examinations.
While study in CPA Program is self-directed, a timetable is included in the materials to assist candidates to plan a suitable schedule for the semester.
Each segment offered is the equivalent of a one-semester postgraduate unit of study. The total hours of study required depend on a candidate's capabilities and individual study technique.
As a general guideline, a minimum of 10 to 15 hours per week over a 12-week period is required for each segment. Consequently, it is strongly recommended that candidates who undertake CPA Program in conjunction with other fulltime commitments enrol in only one segment at a time.
Assessment
Each segment contains self-assessment questions that assist candidates to understand and review the topics covered. In-text reflective questions and numbered exercises with answers provided are also included.
Some segments include case studies to be worked through with answers provided for reference. Some segments incorporate computer-based testing on CD-ROM to assist candidates to review the study topics.
Formal assessment for each segment is by three-hour open-book examination. Panels of professional specialists moderate the examination papers through approval of the questions selected for inclusion and monitoring the marking procedures and pass standard.
All of the segment study material is examinable, as are relevant aspects of the CPA AustraliaMembers' Handbook and legislation where advised.
Examinations for compulsory segments include assessment of candidates' written skills known as constructed response testing, in combination with multiple choice test items.
Formal assessment for each of the elective segment examinations comprises multiple-choice test items. This objective assessment method is recognised as the best means to test technical skills and it ensures that results are made available in a timely manner.
Candidates should attempt all constructed response and / or multiple-choice examination questions; marks are not deducted for incorrect answers.
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