English language proficiency

Recognised programs and tests

For assessing the English language proficiency requirement, with your skills assessment application you will need to provide one of the following:

1. Accounting Professional Year Program

If you have completed the Accounting Professional Year Program, please provide a high-resolution colour scan of your program completion certificate and transcript.

Learn more about the Accounting Professional Year Program

2. Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

For verification purposes, you'll need to authorise us to access your results through the Cambridge Candidate website.

The minimum acceptable scores are:

Learn more about the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test

3. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Only the Academic IELTS test is acceptable for full skills assessments. 

We accept the IELTS Academic One Skill Retake (OSR) result for full skills assessment. For visa purposes however, the OSR result may not be accepted for some visa subclasses. Please check the English language visa requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs.

The minimum acceptable scores are:

Learn more about IELTS

4. PTE Academic

For verification purposes, please ensure that your score report contains both your Score Report Code and Registration ID. We're unable to verify your scores without your score report code.

The minimum acceptable scores are:

Learn about PTE Academic

5. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT

We only accept valid TOEFL iBT scores from tests taken prior to 26 July 2023 and after 5 May 2024. TOEFL iBT tests taken in the period between these two dates cannot be accepted for skills assessment, as the TOEFL iBT offered during this time was not an approved test.

The minimum acceptable scores are:

Learn about TOEFL iBT

Note: Provisional skills assessment services are no longer provided by CPA Australia, starting from 15 June 2024. This is due to  the Australian Government’s recent changes to the Temporary Graduate visa programs. For more information about these changes, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.

Validity of English language test results

English language test results are valid for three years from the test date. The test report form must be within this three-year validity period at the time when the skills assessment outcome is issued. This includes any update, appeal or skills assessment (for additional ANZSCO code) request.

For skills assessment purposes, no validity applies for the Accounting Professional Year Program. PYP certificate and transcripts do not list an expiry date. When you apply to the Department of Home Affairs, we recommend that you visit the Department of Home Affairs website for information regarding to the Department’s requirements.

Important Information:
The English language proficiency is a requirement for all applicants. There are no exemptions to this requirement.

‘At-home’ or ‘online’ tests cannot be accepted.