Exam scheduling and delivery policy

• All CPA Program exams are delivered during the Exam Delivery Period with a semester at the conclusion of the study period.
• You must be available to sit your exam at any time within the exam delivery period for the respective semester.
• Once enrolled in a CPA Program subject, you are required to schedule your exam appointment via My CPA Program prior to the exam scheduling close date.
• Failure to schedule your exam prior to the exam scheduling close date will result in CPA Australia scheduling your exam appointment on your behalf, to the earliest available appointment within the exam delivery period. 
• Computer-based Exams delivered in a test centre are the primary mode of delivery for CPA Program Exams.
• Online proctored exams are only available to you if there is no test centre within a reasonable distance of your recorded residential address or where there are mitigating factors evidenced to and approved by CPA Australia which prevent you from attending a test centre.
• After the exam scheduling close date, an exam can only be rescheduled based on extenuating circumstances evidenced to and approved by CPA Australia and are subject to availability.
• You are solely responsible for ensuring you meet any/all requirements for your exam delivery as documented in this Policy, your exam confirmation email and any other communications sent to you prior to your exam.   
• Any changes to your exam appointment and/or requirements after you have scheduled your exam will be communicated to you via email and/or phone. It is your responsibility to ensure your contact details are up to date, and that you are monitoring any communications prior to your exam.

Scope

This exam scheduling and delivery policy applies to all members and non-members enrolled in a CPA Program subject.

Related Policies and Documents

The following information should be read and considered in conjunction with this policy:

• CPA Program Rules and Regulations; including:
  • Academic misconduct policy
  • Reasonable adjustment policy
  • Special consideration policy
  • Subject cancellations and deferrals policy
• CPA Program Exams and Assessment information.

Candidate: Any member or non-member who is enrolled in a CPA Program subject.

Computer-based exam: Exams delivered via computer in an authorised test centre, which requires the candidate to answer questions using a keyboard and mouse. Computer-based exams are CPA Australia’s primary mode for exam delivery.  

Exam delivery period: The period within a semester that CPA Australia allocates delivery of exams at the conclusion of the study period as published on the Important dates and fees page of the CPA Australia website. 

Exam modality: The modes of delivery for CPA Program exams: Computer-based exams, paper-based exams and online proctored exams. 

Exam rescheduling:  Changing the date, time or location of a scheduled exam appointment in the semester that a Candidate is enrolled.

Extenuating circumstances: Exceptional, serious and unforeseen circumstances beyond the Candidate's control that adversely impact a Candidate’s ability to attend the scheduled exam appointment, as determined by CPA Australia in its sole discretion. 

Mitigating factors: Circumstances that are beyond the Candidate’s control that prevent a Candidate from being able sit a Test Centre-based Exam, as determined by CPA Australia in its sole discretion.

My CPA Program: The web portal the Candidate will use to schedule/ manage their exam appointments. This is also where a Candidate will commence check-in for an Online proctored exam.

Online-Proctored exam: Exams conducted online to allow you to undertake an exam from your home or office using your own device and while being monitored by a remote proctor. All communication with the proctor is to be completed in English.

Paper-based exam: Exams delivered via paper in an authorised test centre, which requires the candidate to answer questions in an exam booklet using either pencil or pen.

Other modalities such as paper-based exams or online proctored exams may be available where a specific test centre is not set up to deliver computer-based exams, there is no test centre within a reasonable distance of your recorded residential address or there are other mitigating factors approved by CPA Australia which prevent you from attending a test centre. 

CPA Australia has the sole discretion to determine the modality, location, time and date of exam appointments. CPA Australia cannot guarantee your preferred test centre, appointment date/time or exam modality will be available.

It is expected that you must be available to sit your exam at any time within the exam delivery period for the respective semester.

CPA Australia cannot deliver exams in any modality in the following territories: Quebec and OFAC-sanctioned countries (together, Excluded Territory).

4.1 Exam scheduling 

Once enrolled in a CPA Program subject, you are required to schedule your exam appointment via My CPA Program prior to the exam scheduling close date.

It is your responsibility to schedule your own exam appointment after enrolling and before the exam scheduling close date to secure an appointment that best matches your preferences.

When you attempt to book your exam via My CPA Program, if there is no test centre available within a reasonable distance (250 km) of your recorded residential address or there are other mitigating factors which prevent you from attending a test centre approved by CPA Australia you should contact CPA Australia to discuss any options which may be available based on your circumstance.

Further information about requesting to sit an online proctored exam due to mitigating factors which prevent you from attending a test centre can be found in section 4.1.1 Online proctored exams and mitigating factors.

If you have an approved reasonable adjustment for your exam, you will not be able to schedule your exam appointment via My CPA Program and your exam will be scheduled in line with the process outlined in the Reasonable adjustment policy.

For all subjects, excluding Singapore Tax, you can reschedule your exam appointment at any time until the exam scheduling close date, provided an alternate appointment is available. If you cancel your exam appointment at any time, you will be forfeit that appointment and you are not guaranteed access to the same appointment. 

Failure to schedule your exam prior to the exam scheduling close date will result in CPA Australia scheduling your exam appointment on your behalf. Your exam will be scheduled to the closest available test centre to your recorded residential address, for the earliest available appointment in the exam delivery period. 

Where CPA Australia has scheduled your exam on your behalf, as you did not schedule your exam prior to the exam scheduling close date, you will not be able to request an alternate exam appointment if the time/date, location or modality are not preferrable to you.

4.1.1 Online proctored exams and mitigating factors

Online proctored exam appointments are only available there are mitigating factors recognised and accepted by CPA Australia which prevent you from attending a test centre. 

All requests to sit an online proctored exam due to mitigating factors are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and assessed at the sole discretion of CPA Australia.

To request approval to sit an online proctored exam, you must contact CPA Australia between the exam scheduling open date and exam scheduling close date and be able to provide independent, supporting documentation to evidence your mitigating circumstances.

Prior to submitting a request to be approved to sit an online proctored exam, it is your responsibility to ensure that you can meet all online proctored exam requirements (refer to section 4.5 Online proctored exam requirements).

If your request is approved by CPA Australia, your exam will be scheduled to an available online proctored exam appointment. 

Please note, online proctored exam appointments are only available on limited days during the exam delivery period, by requesting an online proctored exam, you agree to CPA Australia scheduling your exam time and venue and will need to be prepared to sit the scheduled exam at any available date and time during the exam period.

Mitigating factors may include, but are not limited to:

• No authorised test centre within a 250 km distance of your recorded residential address. 
• Inability to travel to a test centre due to:
  • Severe or sudden illness or injury (e.g. hospital admission, serious injury or illness).
  • Hardship/trauma (e.g. victim of crime, domestic or family violence).
  • Military service.
  • Civil unrest, protests, war or terrorism, including any official warnings issued by government or relevant authorities.
  • Natural disasters or severe weather, including any official warnings issued by government or relevant authorities.

It is important to note:

• All supporting documents must be in English or a certified translation must be provided.
• All documents submitted to evidence a Mitigating Factors Claim will be treated in accordance with CPA Australia’s Privacy Policy.
• CPA Australia reserves the right to request additional information or supporting evidence, and to make changes to this policy without prior notice. 
• CPA Australia will not obtain documents on your behalf from a third party, but may verify the supporting documentation provided with your Mitigating Factors Claim with the issuing authority/individual. 
• Knowingly making false or misleading claims, altering or falsifying any supporting documentation may be considered an act of misconduct and referred to the CPA Australia Professional Conduct team.

4.2 Change in ability to deliver your scheduled exam

In some situations, CPA Australia’s exam delivery partner may be required to change and/or reschedule your exam appointment due to an unforeseen circumstances and/or/event which prevent your exam from being delivered as originally scheduled. 

While CPA Australia and CPA Australia’s exam delivery partner work closely to reduce the likelihood of this occurring, an unforeseen circumstance and/or event may include, but is not limited to:

• natural disasters
• extreme weather events
• power outages, test centre closures or technical or system issues
• global pandemics
• health and safety requirements or local Government restrictions, and
• any other circumstances beyond the control of CPA Australia and/or CPA Australia’s exam delivery partner.

CPA Australia reserves the right at its sole discretion to reschedule your exam.

In the event we are unable to deliver your exam as originally scheduled, CPA Australia will work to provide an alternative appointment to reschedule your exam to within the exam delivery period, subject to availability. Noting that the rescheduled appointment may be on a different date, time and/or location to your originally scheduled exam. 

CPA Australia will make best efforts to accommodate any requests for changes to a rescheduled exam appointment in this circumstance, however this will be subject to availability and it at the discretion of CPA Australia. You can contact CPA Australia to discuss your options. 

Any changes to your exam appointment will be notified to you by CPA Australia (or its exam delivery partner) via email and/or phone. It is your responsibility to ensure your contact details are up to date, and that you are monitoring any communications prior to your exam. 

In the event CPA Australia’s exam delivery partner is unable to deliver your exam and an alternate appointment is not able to be provided, this may result in your enrolment and exam being deferred to the next semester. 

4.3 Exam rescheduling after exam scheduling close date

After the exam scheduling close date, an exam can only be rescheduled based on extenuating circumstances evidenced to and approved by CPA Australia, and are subject to availability.

All requests to reschedule an exam due to extenuating circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and assessed at the sole discretion of CPA Australia. 

Further details about extenuating circumstances and supporting documentation requirements can be found in section 4.3.1 Extenuating circumstances and supporting documentation.

To request a reschedule of your exam due in the event of exceptional circumstances, you must contact CPA Australia prior to or within one (1) business day after your scheduled exam appointment and be able to provide independent, supporting documentation to evidence your extenuating circumstances.

If your request is received by CPA Australia more than one (1) business day after your scheduled exam it will NOT be considered. 

If your request is approved, CPA Australia will reschedule your exam appointment to an alternate appointment within the exam delivery period subject to availability. 

Please note, as exam appointments are limited, CPA Australia cannot guarantee the availability of an alternate appointment. In submitting a request to reschedule your exam appointment you agree to your exam being rescheduled any alternate date and time within the exam delivery period and at any location within a reasonable distance of your recorded residential address.

If your request to reschedule your exam is rejected, and you fail to attend your scheduled exam a result of ‘Did Not Sit’ will be recorded.

4.3.1 Extenuating circumstances and supporting documentation

An extenuating circumstance is an exceptional unforeseen circumstance beyond the control of a candidate that adversely impacts their ability to attend their scheduled exam appointment. 

Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

• severe or sudden illness or injury at the time of the scheduled exam (e.g. hospital admission, serious injury or illness) 
• caring responsibilities for an immediate family member that experiences severe or sudden illness or injury, excludes minor illnesses or injuries. The family member must be in your care at the time of the scheduled exam
• sudden loss or bereavement of an immediate family member or close friend
• direct hardship/trauma (e.g. victim of crime, domestic or family violence, involvement in traffic accident)
• civil unrest, protests, war or terrorism, including any official warnings issued by government or relevant authorities
• natural disasters or severe weather, including any official warnings issued by government or relevant authorities.
• military service
• visa issues, cancellations, and grants.

Extenuating circumstances do NOT include:

• work commitments – including business trips, meetings, workload, promotions, new employment
• citation of “personal reasons” with no explanation or supporting documentation
• citation of “medical circumstances” without supporting medical documentation or evidence, or which do not relate to the assessment period in question
• transport issues including heavy traffic, public transport delays/cancellations, roadworks, parking 
• moving or accommodation issues
• misreading or mixing up the exam date and time, location or modality
• bringing the wrong reference materials to the exam
• exam venue scheduled in the wrong location or country if you failed to notify CPA Australia or update contact information before the advised deadlines
• failure to meet exam admission requirements (e.g. not meeting the identification requirements, late arrival)
• auto scheduled or self-scheduled to an exam venue that is more than 250km from your home, but within the same country and region or state
• multiple exams scheduled on the same day, consecutive days or within any time period considered close together
• exam venue scheduled in the wrong location or country if you failed to notify CPA Australia or update contact information before the advised deadlines
• carer duties or childcare difficulties
• other travel or holidays arrangements
• family or personal functions or festivities, including, weddings, engagements, christenings, or festivals.

Examples of accepted supporting documentation may include, but are not limited to:

• a medical certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner verifying the illness and its period
• a death certificate or letter from a registered medical practitioner confirming the bereavement or the impact the bereavement has had on you
• a police or crime report (a crime number on its own is not acceptable)
• official correspondence from a court or tribunal confirming attendance, or a solicitor’s letter detailing the nature and dates of the legal proceedings and the requirement for you to attend court.

Please note: 

• All supporting documents must be in English or a certified translation must be provided. 
• All documents submitted to evidence extenuating circumstance will be treated in accordance with CPA Australia’s Privacy Policy.
• CPA Australia reserves the right to request additional information or supporting evidence.
• CPA Australia will not obtain documents on behalf of a candidate but reserves the right to verify the supporting documentation provided by a candidate with the issuing individual/authority.
• Knowingly making false or misleading claims as part of a reschedule request, altering or falsifying any supporting documentation may be considered an act of misconduct and may result in referral to the CPA Australia Professional Conduct team for investigation.

4.4 Test-centre based exam requirements

The following section applies to candidates that are sitting an exam at a test centre exam (computer-based or paper-based). 

On receipt of your exam confirmation letter, it is your responsibility to review the details of your exam appointment and ensure you can meet all requirements: 

• Appointment date and time (including relevant time zone)
• Exam duration 
• Test-centre details 
• Entry requirements including specific identification (ID) requirements
• Permissible items and exam conditions.

If you are sitting a test centre computer based exam, we also recommend that you review and familiarise yourself with the Test centre computer-based exam page of the CPA Australia website.

Entry requirements, including health and safety requirements may vary test centre to test centre. You are responsible for ensuring you can meet the entry requirements specific to your test centre. In most circumstances, the Pearson VUE confirmation letter and reminder letter will identify any entry requirements. In the event of a change to the entry requirements after the Pearson Vue reminder letter, which is issued seven (7) days prior to your scheduled exam, you will be notified by CPA Australia or Pearson VUE via email or text message. 

If you are unable to meet the test centre entry requirements, you will not be able to sit your exam and a result of ‘Did Not Sit’ will be recorded. 

4.5 Online proctored exam requirements

The following section applies to candidates who have been approved to sit an online proctored exam due to mitigating factors. 

On receipt of your exam confirmation letter, it is your responsibility to review the details of your exam appointment and ensure you can meet all requirements: 

• Appointment date and time (including relevant time zone)
• Exam duration
• Pre-exam requirements i.e. systems tests
• Entry requirements including specific identification (ID) requirements
• Permissible items and exam conditions.

We also recommend that you review and familiarise yourself with the Online proctored exam page of the CPA Australia website.

Online proctored exams cannot be delivered in the following territories: Mainland China, Slovenia, Japan, South Korea, Quebec and OFAC-sanctioned countries (together, Excluded Territory). 

The onus is on you to ensure your residential address and details are current and correct at the time of scheduling and sitting your online proctored exam. 

If you attempt to sit your online proctored exam from an Excluded Territory or with identification issued by an Excluded Territory, you will be ineligible to sit your exam and CPA Australia will not be liable or accountable. 

The following policies, which together make up the Online Proctored Exam Policies, will also apply to an online exam:

• Pearson VUE Privacy Policies
• Pearson VUE Policies and Procedures
• Pearson VUE Online Proctored Exam Policies.

By electing to sit an Online proctored exam, you have:

• Agreed to the Online proctored exam Policies
• Confirmed you are not sitting their exam from an Excluded Territory
• Confirmed you meet the online proctored exam requirements to sit the exam.

A Pearson VUE proctor, acting in their sole discretion, may terminate an exam if they are of the opinion that you have engaged in inappropriate behaviour, lack of adherence to exam rules despite a prior warning, or suspected misconduct and/or breached any of the Online proctored exam Policies. 

In the event there is an exam incident (whether technical or an alleged breach of exam rules), you must cooperate and fully assist with CPA Australia when undertaking the investigation, including providing any requested information within a specified timeframe.

CPA Australia will not accommodate deferrals or cancellations if you are unable to comply with the Online proctored exam Policies, Online Proctored Requirements, Identification Requirements or is sitting the exam from a region considered an Excluded Territory. In the event you are unable to meet any of the aforementioned requirements – which may or may not result in the termination/revocation of an exam – it is at the sole discretion of CPA Australia to determine if you are eligible for a re-sit (subject to availability). In no event will CPA Australia provide a refund of the enrolment or membership fee.

4.5.2 Technical requirements

If you are sitting an Online Proctored Exam, it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the OnVUE Technical Requirements (technical requirements) and have suitable equipment to sit an Online Proctored Exam. 

Failure to meet the technical requirements will result in the inability to launch and/or complete an Online proctored exam.

As technical requirements change regularly, you are responsible for ensuring you continually review the technical requirements to ensure the nominated device and network connection continue to meet the requirements for the day of your exam.

A full check of the technical requirements should include the following:

• Comprehensive review of the technical requirements
• Update any settings that don’t align with the recommendations of the Checklist including lock screen or hibernation settings, speaker volume and webcam settings.
• Complete the mandatory systems test on the device you intend to sit your exam 30 days prior to the scheduled exam appointment. The system test will check download speeds, and microphone and webcam functionality to ensure the device meets the minimum requirements.
• Switch off all other applications (except OnVUE) running in the background, sign out of any cloud-based applications, and ensure no updates (e.g. Windows, antivirus, ISO updates) are scheduled to run during the exam.

4.5.3 Room Requirements 

It is your responsibility to prepare your exam room in accordance with the Online proctored exam policies including:

• ensuring the room is enclosed and private, and free from any disruptions.
• any additional monitors, printers or other technological devices must all be unplugged.
• it is a well-lit room so you will be clearly visible to the proctor.
• ensuring a clear workstation within arm’s reach, and removing all material from the workstation, with the exception of the permitted materials.
• ensuring no other person can see your computer screen, can enter the room or speak to you throughout the duration of the entire exam.

For the avoidance of doubt, to satisfy the room requirements, this would include an enclosed bedroom or an enclosed office. A lavatory or washroom is not considered a suitable exam environment and would not satisfy the room requirement for an Online proctored exam. 

It is at the sole discretion of the exam greeter and/or proctor to determine if your exam environment is suitable. In the event the greeter does not deem an exam environment suitable, the exam may be terminated.

4.5.4 Technical Incident

A technical incident may occur during the check-in, greet and/or the delivery of an Online proctored exam. 

A technical incident may include, but is not limited to, the following: 

• Your technology not meeting the minimum technical requirements, meaning you are unable to pass the diagnostic test during the check-in process.
• Your internet connectivity does not meet the minimum technical requirements, meaning the greeter is unable to launch your exam.
• You are unable to sustain consistent connectivity to your exam resulting in a technical revocation of your exam.
• Third-party applications are running on your device resulting in repeated disruption of the exam, and or a technical revocation.

In the event of a technical issue, it is your responsibility to follow the instructions of the greeter and/or proctor to resolve the issue. 
If a technical issue is unable to be resolved, and results in a failure to launch of your exam or technical revocation, it is at the sole discretion of CPA Australia to determine if you are eligible to re-sit your exam. 

In the event you are deemed eligible for a re-sit you will be rescheduled to another appointment, subject to availability.

Please note, as exam appointments are limited, CPA Australia cannot guarantee the availability of an alternate appointment. In the event an alternate appointment is available it may be at any date and time remaining in the exam delivery period. Additionally, if an alternate online proctored exam appointment is not available you may be required to sit a test centre-based exam. 

CPA Australia will not be held liable for technical issues during your exam and will not refund enrolment fees or offer financial compensation.