Professional accreditation guidelines
A shared vision
Section 1: Principles underlying accreditation
The professional bodies are committed to ensuring excellence in accounting education through effective cooperation with higher education providers via the process of professional accreditation
Section 2: Accreditation standards
The professional bodies have jointly developed the accreditation standards against which the quality of higher education accounting programs and their providers will be assessed
Section 3: Technical and professional competency areas and learning outcomes
A professionally accredited degree program must not only produce graduates with a foundation of technical knowledge, but also with the professional skills necessary to effectively apply such knowledge when they enter the profession and further their development via membership of either Professional Body.
Section 4: Accreditation process
We encourage higher education providers to use the following information to complete an initial assessment of the accounting program they would like accredited, and to check their eligibility and process before applying.
Section 5: Frequently asked questions
Learn more by reading our FAQs relating to the requirements, process and changing a professional accreditation.
Section 6: Accreditation submission templates
The following section provides the templates that need to be completed for accreditation submissions and the ongoing requirements of accredited programs.
Appendix 1: Glossary
Appendix 2: Technical competency areas and learning outcomes
Appendix 3: Professional competency areas and learning outcomes
Appendix 4: Twinning arrangements – additional requirements
Appendix 5: Threshold learning outcomes
Purpose of accreditation guidelines
The primary purpose of professional accreditation of higher education accounting programs is to assure the quality of educational programs, their providers and to promote improvements in accounting education quality.
- Inform new higher education providers in Australia and New Zealand of the professional standards to be met for professional accreditation of their new accounting program. Refer to Section 6: Accreditation submission templates - Template 1: New provider
- Inform existing higher education providers in Australia and New Zealand of the professional standards to be met for professional accreditation of any new or revised accounting program they may be planning. Refer to Section 6: Accreditation submission templates - Template 2: Existing provider (including details)
- Inform all higher education providers of the annual reporting and five-yearly review requirements to maintain professional accreditation of their accounting program. Refer to Section 6: Accreditation submission templates - Template 3: Annual report and Template 4: Program reaccreditation
Privacy
By applying for accreditation to CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, you acknowledge that you have understood and agree to accept and be bound by these guidelines and the respective professional bodies privacy policies.
Contact CPA Australia
Level 20, 28 Freshwater Place, Southbank GPO Box 2820 Melbourne VIC 3001 P: +61 3 9606 9606 | W: cpaaustralia.com.au
Contact Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
33 Erskine Street, Sydney GPO Box 9985 Sydney NSW 2001 P: +61 2 9290 5660 | W: charteredaccountantsanz.com