Figuring out what all the different professional certification abbreviations stand for can sometimes be as difficult as studying for one of them! If you’re still at high school and looking at getting into the world of professional accounting, it helps to know exactly what each qualification means and involves.

If you’re interested in becoming an accountant, you may come across the following institutions: The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), CPA Australia (Certified Practising Accountant Australia) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

These are the three professional accounting bodies in Australia that Kaplan offers a pathway to joining these bodies. As the term ‘Chartered Certified Accountant’ is a legally protected term, those who describe themselves as such must be members of the ACCA. There are several stages to this. CPA is a little less challenging – to become a member of CPA Australia, the minimum qualification is an undergraduate degree accredited by CPA Australia with a subject completed in accounting, finance or business.

The ICAA is like the ACCA but for chartered accountants in Australia. To become a member you must complete the Chartered Accountants Program, which includes study of the Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA) and three years of practical experience.

As one of the world’s largest accountancy and business training organisations, the benefits of the Kaplan Business School are globally renowned. The courses on offer range from diplomas to masters degrees and are aimed at those still in high school who want to excel to the level of professional certification. We make the pathway easier as our qualifications are accredited by the ICAA and CPA and our Masters programs are accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

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Authored by Kaplan Business School Australia.