ICAA or CPA? (1 Viewer)

[Acid]

For those that have made this decision already or are in the know, what are the tangible differences between ICAA or CPA? Furthermore, which is better to join for someone majoring in accounting and finance?

 

[Jiga]

Im doing a B Business (Accounting) @ UWS and I think I will be going for the ICAA. It takes like 12 months more and you need 2 years full time experience, so Im guessing they are the better of the two.

 

[Grizzly]

i thought cpa was better of the two. :s

 

[redruM]

ca is more prestigious and "better"

 

[Grizzly]

oh really, ill keep that in mind

 

[Korn]

What the hell is a ICAA and how do you qualify. Isn't it just some shithouse 3rd rate association

 

[absolution*]

CA is better, hence me doing the bludgy thing and doing CPA

 

[Korn]

As far as i know in order of prestigue it goes: CA then CPA, but what is ICAA considered

 

[elizabethy]

ICAA is the Institute of Chartered Accountants , Australia

 

[mr_shittles]

Just to clear up any confusion, there are two major Accounting qualifications issued in Australia by two separate organsations to students with university degrees. Most accountants choose to be a member of one or the other, not both (but you caould still be a member of both if you really wanted to).

The Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (or CPA Australia) issues the qualification of CPA. It is the largest accounting body in Australia with more than 100,000 members. Most of their members are in industry or private practice. Their website is www.cpaaustralia.com.au.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants (or ICAA) issues the qualification of Chartered Accountant (or CA). CAs are employed in big4 and mid-tier accounting firms, as well as industry and private practice. They have areount 25,000 members in Australia.

The CA qualification is regarded as by far the most prestigious qualification in Accounting in Australia, simply because their exams set a very high standard and are harder to pass than CPA. It is preferred by all the Big 4 firms in most service lines, particularly audit. Their website for students is www.flyhigher.com

An overwhelming majority of UNSW students tend to prefer CA over CPA, however in Macquarie and University of Western Sydney the trend is exactly the opposite.

Its just a case of Coca-Cola versus Pepsi really! Take your pick.

 

[hatty]

thanks for that mr shittles. cool name by the way.

 

[Korn]

Just to clear up any confusion, there are two major Accounting qualifications issued in Australia by two separate organsations to students with university degrees. Most accountants choose to be a member of one or the other, not both (but you caould still be a member of both if you really wanted to).

The Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (or CPA Australia) issues the qualification of CPA. It is the largest accounting body in Australia with more than 100,000 members. Most of their members are in industry or private practice. Their website is www.cpaaustralia.com.au.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants (or ICAA) issues the qualification of Chartered Accountant (or CA). CAs are employed in big4 and mid-tier accounting firms, as well as industry and private practice. They have areount 25,000 members in Australia.

The CA qualification is regarded as by far the most prestigious qualification in Accounting in Australia, simply because their exams set a very high standard and are harder to pass than CPA. It is preferred by all the Big 4 firms in most service lines, particularly audit. Their website for students is www.flyhigher.com

An overwhelming majority of UNSW students tend to prefer CA over CPA, however in Macquarie and University of Western Sydney the trend is exactly the opposite.

Its just a case of Coca-Cola versus Pepsi really! Take your pick.

Thing is but that when you graduate from your degree you can be a qualified Associate of CPA, but there is more work to do to get CA and CPA. Does the ICAA have a equilevant to associate CPA, if so which is better

 

[mr_shittles]

Thing is but that when you graduate from your degree you can be a qualified Associate of CPA, but there is more work to do to get CA and CPA. Does the ICAA have a equilevant to associate CPA, if so which is better

For both CA and CPA you need accounting major and a qualifying sequence of 5 or 6 subjects (3 of which are business law, 1 taxation, 1 finance and for CPA, 1 InfoSys). When you graduate with these subjects, you the become and "associate" which is a "wannabe member."

To get full membership, you then need to sit for more exams, as set by the relevant body. It usually takes around three years to become CA. Two if you're a gun, 4 if you're a tad slow and fail a couple of modules. There are five modules in total and each lasts a semester.

Btw, glad you like the name, Hatty (thats a pretty cool name too).

 

[Grizzly]

For both CA and CPA you need accounting major and a qualifying sequence of 5 or 6 subjects (3 of which are business law, 1 taxation, 1 finance and for CPA, 1 InfoSys). When you graduate with these subjects, you the become and "associate" which is a "wannabe member."

To get full membership, you then need to sit for more exams, as set by the relevant body. It usually takes around three years to become CA. Two if you're a gun, 4 if you're a tad slow and fail a couple of modules. There are five modules in total and each lasts a semester.

Btw, glad you like the name, Hatty (thats a pretty cool name too).

on unsw's accting website, it only lists CPA and ICAA as professional bodies...
not CA ? what are the details in regards to CA...

 

[hatty]

ICAA is CA my friend. just abreviated.

 

[mr_shittles]

Just to clear up any confusion, there are two major Accounting qualifications issued in Australia by two separate organsations to students with university degrees. Most accountants choose to be a member of one or the other, not both (but you caould still be a member of both if you really wanted to).

The Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (or CPA Australia) issues the qualification of CPA. It is the largest accounting body in Australia with more than 100,000 members. Most of their members are in industry or private practice. Their website is www.cpaaustralia.com.au.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants (or ICAA) issues the qualification of Chartered Accountant (or CA). CAs are employed in big4 and mid-tier accounting firms, as well as industry and private practice. They have areount 25,000 members in Australia.

The CA qualification is regarded as by far the most prestigious qualification in Accounting in Australia, simply because their exams set a very high standard and are harder to pass than CPA. It is preferred by all the Big 4 firms in most service lines, particularly audit. Their website for students is www.flyhigher.com

An overwhelming majority of UNSW students tend to prefer CA over CPA, however in Macquarie and University of Western Sydney the trend is exactly the opposite.

Its just a case of Coca-Cola versus Pepsi really! Take your pick.

Hi Grizzly,


I may not have explained it well enough, but the ICAA is the institution, or professional body, that issues the CA qualification. Likewise CPA Australia is the institution, or professional body, that issues the CPA qualification.

 

[Grizzly]

Hey, thanks for that..

Can i be an independant (my own company), practicing acctant wif a icaa not cpa...

 

[Korn]

What is better for Financial and corporate Accounting

 

[Grizzly]

What is better for Financial and corporate Accounting

Since it was said that the majority of acct'ants in the big 4 are CA's, and that ICAA is more commerical related - i would say get a CA

 

[Korn]

Year cause ive heard the Actual Accounting like taxation and auditing called Charter (or something) and CA is Chartered Accountant