In the
• the
• the
• the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) (which is a UK body as it operates in Northern Ireland, designatory letters ACA or FCA);
Each of these bodies admit members, who become Chartered Accountants, only after passing examinations and undergoing a period of relevant work experience. The ICAEW requires that students complete 15 examinations as well as 450 days of relevant work experience. Once admitted, members are expected to comply with ethical guidelines and gain appropriate continuing professional development. Fully qualified members of the ICAEW earn the designation ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant). After 10 years membership, members are invited to apply for fellowship of the Institute and earn the designation FCA (Fellow Chartered Accountant).
Chartered Accountants who engage in public practice work (i.e. providing services to the public rather than acting as an employee) must gain a "practising certificate" by meeting further requirements such as purchasing adequate insurance and undergoing regular inspections.
Chartered Accountants holding practising certificates may also become "Registered Auditors", providing they can demonstrate the necessary professional ability in that area. A Registered Auditor is able to perform statutory financial audits in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
Further restrictions apply to accountants who work as insolvency practitioners
In the
EU accountants
Under the Mutual Recognition Directive, EEA and Swiss nationals holding a professional qualification can become members of the equivalent bodies in another member state. They must, however, pass an aptitude test in understanding local conditions (which for accountants will include local tax and company law variations).
The local title is however not available for use if the professional does not choose to join the local professional body. For example a holder of the French 'expert comptable' qualification could practise as an accountant in England without taking a local test but could only describe him/herself as "Expert Comptable (France)" not "Chartered Accountant". Within the EEA, only the
Chartered Accountants in
In
There is also a mid-tier qualification called Associate Chartered Accountant with the designatory letters ACA. Associate Chartered Accountants are not eligible to hold a Certificate of Public Practice and therefore cannot offer services to the public.
In
Auditing rights are regulated by provincial governments. In
Historically
In August 2005, the Agreement of Internal Trade (AIT) panel issued a report recommending
The size of the accounting bodies varies across
Canadian Chartered Accountants use the designatory letters CA. Some senior members may be elected Fellows and use the letters FCA. However, a Canadian CA who is a member of a different institute/ordre to that of the province or territory in which he or she resides may face a restriction on using designatory letters in that province or territory. It is however normally straightforward to transfer membership from one provincial institute to another.
The Canadian CA is one of the accounting designations that can be transferred to an American CPA via a reciprocity exam, although with several complications. A significant minority of US states do not offer reciprocity and the ones that do often require additional education or experience before granting a CPA license to a Canadian CA.
Qualification to become a CA requires an undergraduate degree plus articling experience and, depending on the province, additional education. Candidates in all provinces (and
In
People seeking to qualify as a CA(SA) normally begin with a bachelor's degree in accounting. They then complete a CTA (Certificate for Theory in Accounting), followed by part one (QE) and part two (PPE) of the qualifying exams. They must also complete three years of practical experience, working for a registered training office. Articled clerks who switch employers during this period are required to extend their training by six months.
A separate registration is needed for Chartered Accountants wishing to act as auditors in public practice, namely the RA (Registered Auditor). The RA designation is conferred by IRBA (Independent Regulatory Board For Auditors), (previously known as PAAB (Public Accountants and Auditors Board)) in terms of the Auditing Profession Act (AP Act)
Chartered Accountants who are not registered auditors may not act as or hold out to be auditors in public practice. However, the AP Act does not prohibit non-RAs from using the descripttttion 'internal auditor' or accountant' or from auditing a not-for-profit club, institution or association if he or she receives no fee for such audit[9] The Training Outside Public Practice (TOPP) programme has a financial management focus; TOPP trainees can thus become chartered accountants with a more limited knowledge and experience of auditing than those who undergo the TIPP programme (Training In Public Practice),but with a more extensive financial management and business experience than the TIPP learners.
In
In
The ICAI is responsible for examinations and licensing of its members. ICAI is the second largest body of professional accountants in the world, with more than 160,000 registered members. Inorder to qualify as a CA students are expected to pass 3 levels of examinations as well as under go 36 or 42 months of training under a practicing CA. Students may opt for industrial training in the last year of their training period.Prior to being enrolled as members the students have to attend a programme on 'General Management and Communication Skills (15 days - 3 months).
Members are awarded the "CA." designation, to be placed just before their names, e.g. CA. John Doe. They are also authorised to use the descripttttive words "Chartered Accountant".
Statutory Audit under the Companies Act, 1956 and Tax Audit under the Income-Tax Act, 1961 can be carried out only by Chartered Accountants holding a Certificate of Practice. Further, there are many Acts which require a Certificate issued by a Chartered Accountant.
The ICAI has entered into Mutual Recognition Agreements with overseas accounting bodies including the
The
As of January 2010, around 5,500 persons were registered with the Institute as Chartered Accountants.
Chartered Accountants in
List of institutes of Chartered Accountants
- Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ghana
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sierra Leone
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe
- New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants
- South African Institute of Chartered Accountants