Six Steps for Becoming a Chartered Accountant in South Africa





Sure, here are six steps to become a Chartered Accountant (CA) in South Africa:

Certainly, I can provide you with six steps to achieve the title of Chartered Accountant (CA) in South Africa:


First Step: Acquire an Appropriate Bachelor's Degree

It is crucial to obtain a University Entrance Matric with high scores in Mathematics and Accounting, as these subjects serve as the foundation of your knowledge. While the specific content may not be significantly useful, the critical thinking and reasoning skills gained from these courses are essential.


Second Step: Earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA)

Upon completion of your undergraduate studies, it is necessary to register for a PGDA program that is approved by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). This program typically has a duration of one year and provides the essential academic foundation for the CA qualification. To take the CTA (Certificate in the Theory of Accounting) and complete your Honours year, you must be enrolled in a SAICA-recognized university program. A comprehensive list of SAICA-accredited universities can be found on their website here.


Step 3. Enroll as a Trainee Accountant

After being accepted into a SAICA-approved training program, you will enroll as a trainee accountant with a registered training office or employer. This usually involves a three-year training agreement during which you will acquire hands-on experience in accounting and auditing under the guidance of certified CAs. Upon finishing your degree and achieving satisfactory grades, you can then pursue CTA and successfully complete it.

Certain training offices allow you to complete your learnership (Step 4) and pursue your degree and CTA simultaneously. If you opt for this option, you can enroll in a part-time degree program at UNISA while completing your Learnership.

You can either work part-time with UNISA or enroll for after-hours classes with Monash University as your CTA. If you decide to go with UNISA, you can access classes from different institutions like Graduate Achievers and Edge Business School.

Both the degree and CTA may pose some difficulty, therefore it is important to carefully assess if you can handle them while working part-time. Nevertheless, with determination and dedication, it is achievable.


Step 4. Complete the Initial Assessment Exams:

Throughout your training contract, you are required to successfully complete two sets of Initial Test of Competence (ITC) examinations. These assessments will evaluate your comprehension and proficiency in areas such as accounting, auditing, taxation, and related subjects.

To fulfill the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), you must first finish your training contract and successfully pass the ITC exams. This ultimate evaluation assesses your competence and preparedness to obtain the title of a Chartered Accountant.

Enroll with SAICA and Earn the CA (SA) Title: Upon successful completion of all academic requirements, training, and assessments, you are eligible to apply for SAICA membership and obtain the designation of Chartered Accountant (South Africa) (CA (SA)). This title demonstrates that you have met the strict criteria set by SAICA and are acknowledged as a qualified Chartered Accountant in South Africa. Join a Training Office like RSM to begin your Apprenticeship. If you start your Apprenticeship at the beginning or after completion of CTA, you are required to fulfill a 3-year fixed-term Training Contract. This employment agreement is in conjunction with your SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants) Apprenticeship.


Fifth Step.

Two main examinations must be taken in order to become a certified professional. The first is the Initial Test of Competence (ITC), which can be taken one year after successfully passing the CTA. Universities offer courses to prepare students for the ITC as part of their CTA program. The second exam is called the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), which is available to those who have completed 18 months of training under a contract.


Sixth Step

Upon successful completion of your Learnership program and passing both sections of the board exams, you will be eligible to become a registered Chartered Accountant in South Africa, holding the designation of CA(SA).


Helpful Terminology


  • A CA, or Chartered Accountant, is a professional designation.

  • SAICA, or the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, is the governing body for CAs in South Africa.

  • IRBA, or the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors, was formerly known as PAAB.

  • A Trainee is an individual who has signed a training contract and is working towards becoming a CA.

  • A Training Contract is an employment agreement that is paired with a SAICA Learnership.

  • A Training Office, or registered training office, can provide a learnership to prepare individuals to become a CA.

The text needs to be rephrased in order to eliminate any instances of plagiarism. This can be done by altering the structure of the text without altering the overall meaning and context. It is important to maintain the markdown formatting while paraphrasing the text. The final version should still convey the same semantic message as the original text.


The following English text has been restructured to avoid plagiarism while preserving its original meaning.


The following is a guide to paraphrasing text without plagiarizing. This involves changing the structure of the text while maintaining the original context and meaning. It is important to preserve the markdown formatting when doing so.

Post a Comment

0 Comments