Certified Practising Accountants of Australia (CPA)
Services offered to the members of CPA includes: providing educational and training services, technical support and advocacy. Similar to other accounting bodies, members of CPA can communicate through a mutual forum to exchange ideas and knowledge. Hence, by networking the national and international members have the opportunity to represent their views and interests of the profession to governmental bodies and the general public. The professional qualification issued by CPA is internationally recognised and widely regarded by the employers and members of this profession. Members who wish to be certified must meet the necessary requirements set by the body.
Practitioners, who wish to migrate to Australia and practice their profession, are required to have their skills and qualifications assessed. CPA evaluates and measures the skills and documents of the overseas applicants to be in accordance with the predetermined criteria of the nominated occupation.
Besides the above mentioned activities, CPA provides other services that are listed below.
CPA roles and responsibilities:
· Advocacy on behalf of its members to represent their interests in the community;
· Assessing qualifications for practitioners applying for Skilled Migration program;
· Communicating and networking with national and international bodies in the profession;
· Advising and providing information to government bodies;
· Conducting events and courses to benefit the professionals.
The list of occupations assessed by ACPSEM can be found below:
| Number | Occupations Name | ANZSCO Code | Assessing Authority |
| 1 | Accountant (General) | 221111 | CPA |
| 2 | Management Accountant | 221112 | CPA |
| 3 | Taxation Accountant | 221113 | CPA |
| 4 | External Auditor | 221213 | CPA |
| 5 | Corporate Treasure | 221212 | CPA |
| 6 | Finance Manager | 132211 | CPA |
Skill Assessment Procedure for migration:
Overseas professionals that choose to pursue their career in Australia and migrate are needed to have their qualification and skills assessed with Australian standards. Applicants must meet the requirements and provide the required documents.
|
| YES | NO |
| Are you a registered professional in Australia? | You are qualified to practice in Australia. | You are not qualified to practice in Australia. |
| Have you received your qualification from an accredited University/College in Australia or New Zealand? | You are not required to be assessed. | You are required to have your qualification and skills assessed by the relevant authority. |
| Are you required to be submitted for assessment? | Documents required:
· Certificate or a degree, in original language and a certified copy of an official English translation, if applicable. · Certified copy of your identification. · Official transcript, in original language and a certified copy of an official English translation, if applicable. · Evidence of supervised teaching practice. · Evidence of membership, in the relevant association, if applicable. · Evidence of employment, from graduation to presernt. · Evidence of registration/ license, if applicable. · Assessment form, and · Evidence of English proficiency**. |
|
** English proficiency, applicant who has acquired his/her qualification from a non-English speaking country, is required to sit for IELTS examination. It is essential to achieve a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
The English proficiency test required for assessment is IELTs, however, other English examinations like TOFEL iBT may also be accepted by the relevant authoritiy.
Below is the table of score comparison between English Proficiency examinations:
| Listening | Speaking | Reading | Writing | Total Score | |||||
| IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT |
| 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 118-120 |
| 8.5 | 29 | 8.5 | 28-29 | 8.5 | 29 | 8.5 | 30 | 8.5 | 115-117 |
| 8.0 | 28 | 8.0 | 26-27 | 8.0 | 29 | 8.0 | 30 | 8.0 | 110-114 |
| 7.5 | 27 | 7.5 | 24-25 | 7.5 | 27-28 | 7.5 | 29 | 7.5 | 102-109 |
| 7.0 | 24-26 | 7.0 | 23 | 7.0 | 24-26 | 7.0 | 27-28 | 7.0 | 94-101 |
| 6.5 | 20-23 | 6.5 | 20-22 | 6.5 | 19-23 | 6.5 | 24-26 | 6.5 | 79-93 |
| 6.0 | 12-19 | 6.0 | 18-19 | 6.0 | 13-18 | 6.0 | 21-23 | 6.0 | 60-78 |
| 5.5 | 7-11 | 5.5 | 16-17 | 5.5 | 8-12 | 5.5 | 18-20 | 5.5 | 46-59 |
| 5.0 | 4-6 | 5.0 | 14-15 | 5.0 | 4-7 | 5.0 | 14-17 | 5.0 | 35-45 |
| 4.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 12-13 | 4.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 12-13 | 4.5 | 32-34 |
| <=4 | 0-2 | <=4 | 0-11 | <=4 | 0-2 | <=4 | 0-11 | <=4 | 0-31 |
Assessment of overseas qualification is a complex and time consuming procedure. It may take up to 8 weeks for the process to take place. After completion of the assessment a Letter of Assessment is received by the applicant. The received qualification is useful to assist:
· Migration officers to determine the suitability of the applicant for migration under the General Skilled Migration Categories;
· Registration as an Accountant with CPA; and
· Eligibility for relevant jobs.
For further information as to fees and assessments please contact us.
Here is the list of links that may be useful:
Immigration