CPA Australia Skills Assessment

CPA Australia is authorized to evaluate whether your skills and experience align with the Department of Home Affairs standards for visa and migration requirements pertaining to Accountants, Auditors, and Finance Managers.

Certified Practising Accountants of Australia Skills Assessment Authority

CPA Australia offers the following migration assessment services:

• Full skills assessment
• Provisional assessment for Temporary Graduate visa
• Skilled employment assessment

CPA Australia Skills Assessment Occupations

As a designated assessing authority, CPA Australia determines if you meet the educational standards for the following occupations:

• Accountant (General) – ANZSCO Code: 221111
• Corporate Treasurer – ANZSCO Code: 221212
• External Auditor – ANZSCO Code: 221213
• Finance Manager – ANZSCO Code: 132211
• Management Accountant – ANZSCO Code: 221112
• Taxation Accountant – ANZSCO Code: 221113

CPA Skills Assessment Fees

Fees vary based on whether applicants are onshore or offshore:

Processing Time

Applications are typically processed within 15 to 20 business days once all necessary documents are received. Please note that processing times may vary based on application volume. If your application requires additional supporting documentation, processing will be delayed until the required information is provided.

CPA Australia provides migration assessment services, including:

• Full skills assessment for Points Tested and Employer Sponsored visas
• Provisional assessment for Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Graduate Work stream
• Skilled employment assessment

Supplementary Services Offered by CPA Australia

CPA Australia offers the following supplementary services:

• Update an existing application with additional details
• Request assessment under an additional ANZSCO code
• Request for skilled employment assessment
• Appeal an assessment outcome

Qualifications and Knowledge for CPA Australia Skills Assessment

Candidates must possess qualifications assessed as equivalent to at least an Australian bachelor’s degree. CPA Australia adheres to the guidelines established by the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Skills, and Employment when evaluating overseas qualifications.

For provisional assessments for the subclass 485 visa, candidates must hold an Australian bachelor’s degree or a minimum 12-unit master’s degree in accounting, business, commerce, or economics. Qualifications deemed comparable to the required degree will be assessed for relevance to the chosen occupation, utilizing the mandatory competencies outlined for each ANZSCO code:

For Accountant (General) – 221111, Corporate Treasurer – 221212, Finance Manager – 132211, and Management Accountant – 221112:

• Accounting Systems and Processes
• Business Law
• Economics
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Finance and Financial Management
• Management Accounting
• Quantitative Methods

For Taxation Accountant – 221113:

• Accounting Systems and Processes
• Australian Taxation Law (study must cover Australian Taxation Law)
• Business Law
• Economics
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Finance and Financial Management
• Management Accounting
• Quantitative Methods

For External Auditor – 221213:

• Accounting Systems and Processes
• Audit and Assurance
• Business Law
• Economics
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Finance and Financial Management
• Management Accounting
• Quantitative Methods

English Language Proficiency for CPA Skills Assessment

Demonstrating English language proficiency is a mandatory requirement for the migration skills assessment. Your English Language Proficiency test report must be valid at the time of assessment.

Accepted English Language Tests

1. Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
   • Minimum acceptable scores:
     • General Skills Assessment: 185 (Listening), 185 (Reading), 185 (Writing), 185 (Speaking)
     • Provisional Skills Assessment: 169 (Listening), 169 (Reading), 169 (Writing), 169 (Speaking)
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
   • Only the Academic IELTS test is accepted for General Skills Assessments; either Academic or General IELTS is accepted for Provisional Skills Assessments.
   • Minimum acceptable scores:
     • General Skills Assessment (Academic IELTS): 7.0 (Listening), 7.0 (Reading), 7.0 (Writing), 7.0 (Speaking)
     • Provisional Skills Assessment (Academic or General IELTS): 6.0 (Listening), 6.0 (Reading), 6.0 (Writing), 6.0 (Speaking)
3. PTE Academic
   • Ensure your score report includes both the Score Report Code and Registration ID.
   • Minimum acceptable scores:
     • General Skills Assessment: 65 (Listening), 65 (Reading), 65 (Writing), 65 (Speaking)
     • Provisional Skills Assessment: 50 (Listening), 50 (Reading), 50 (Writing), 50 (Speaking)
4. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT
   • Minimum acceptable scores:
     • General Skills Assessment: 24 (Listening), 24 (Reading), 27 (Writing), 23 (Speaking)
     • Provisional Skills Assessment: 12 (Listening), 13 (Reading), 21 (Writing), 18 (Speaking)

CPA Australia Skilled Employment Assessment

Candidates may be eligible for additional points under the Points Test to support their Skilled Migration visa application, depending on relevant professional experience. CPA Australia will evaluate your employment history to determine its alignment with your selected ANZSCO occupation and whether it meets Australian employers’ expectations.

To mitigate fraud or document manipulation, CPA Australia will not accept additional information or altered references after a decision has been rendered.

Criteria for Employment Assessment

Work experience and claims of employment are considered only after a full skills assessment has been completed for the nominated occupation. Note that volunteering or work experience required as part of your education is not recognized as skilled employment.

CPA Australia will only assess employment that:

• Is closely related to the ANZSCO occupation for which a suitable skills assessment outcome has been obtained.
• Occurred within 10 years prior to your CPA Australia skills assessment application date.
• Followed the completion of a formal qualification or combination of qualifications deemed equivalent to at least an Australian bachelor’s degree.
• Was paid and continuous for a minimum of 20 hours per week.
• Consists of at least one year of accumulated employment, with a minimum of three months in each role.

Employer Testimonials

To have your employment claims recognized as skilled employment, you must provide:

• A signed testimonial from your employer on official letterhead, including the full address, telephone number, email, and website of the business.
• The name and position of the authorized signatory, including their signature.
• Contact details of the individual writing the reference, including a direct work email and phone number (personal contacts are not acceptable).
• Complete start and end dates of your employment history, formatted as DD/MM/YYYY. Each role within the same organization must be listed separately with specific dates.
• A detailed account of duties and responsibilities for each role, articulated in the employer’s own words, relevant to your tasks.
• Employment terms, specifying whether the position was permanent or temporary, as well as your weekly work hours and salary.

CPA Australia reserves the right to request further documentation to complete your skilled employment assessment. If you are unable to obtain a testimonial on business letterhead, a statutory declaration may be considered, detailing the reasons for the inability to secure a reference.

Employment Contract and Pay Slips

These documents substantiate your employment claims. If you have multiple roles, please provide contracts and pay slips for each position. A minimum of three pay slips (from the beginning, middle, and end of each role) is required.

Self-Written Employment History Summary

This summary should outline the employment claims you wish to have assessed but should not include duties or responsibilities (which must be provided in the employer testimonial). It should include:

• Current and past employers’ business names
• Roles/position titles
• Specific start and end dates (DD/MM/YYYY) for each role
• Weekly working hours and salary

Self-Employment Documentation

Self-employed applicants must provide a testimonial on official letterhead, including the full address, telephone number, email, and website of the business, accompanied by a Statutory Declaration affirming its accuracy. The testimonial must detail:

• Specific start and end dates
• Weekly working hours
• Duties or responsibilities for each position
• Salary

For self-employment outside Australia, substitutes for the aforementioned documents are acceptable, provided they convey the same information.

Required Documents for CPA Australia Skills Assessment

• Passport (photo page) or national ID card
• Proof of name change (if applicable)
• Official academic awards (My eQuals preferred for relevant Australian studies)
• Official academic transcripts, including those from prior studies if exemptions were granted (My eQuals preferred)
• Detailed syllabus for qualifications not accredited by CPA Australia
• Professional body qualifications (if applicable) – exam results, membership certificates
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Third-party authorization (if applicable)

Disclaimer

Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For customized migration advice based on your specific circumstances, please contact one of our Immigration Consultants or register your interest with our Associates.

Frequently Asked Questions:

FAQ 1: What is the purpose of the CPA Australia Skills Assessment?

Answer: The CPA Australia Skills Assessment evaluates whether your skills and qualifications meet the Department of Home Affairs standards for visa and migration purposes related to occupations such as Accountants, Auditors, and Finance Managers. Successful assessment can facilitate your application for various visa types.

FAQ 2: What are the fees associated with the CPA Australia Skills Assessment?

Answer: Fees for the CPA Australia Skills Assessment vary based on your location (onshore or offshore) and the specific service you require. For example, the skills assessment fee is AUD 540 for onshore applicants and AUD 490 for offshore applicants. Additional services, such as updating an application or appealing an assessment outcome, incur separate fees.

FAQ 3: What qualifications are needed for a successful skills assessment?

Answer: Candidates must hold qualifications equivalent to at least an Australian bachelor’s degree. CPA Australia follows the guidelines of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment when evaluating overseas qualifications. For specific occupations, additional criteria regarding relevant competencies may apply.

FAQ 4: What English language proficiency tests does CPA Australia accept?

Answer: CPA Australia accepts several English language proficiency tests, including the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), PTE Academic, and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT. Each test has specific minimum score requirements that applicants must meet for their skills assessment.

FAQ 5: How long does it take to process a CPA Australia Skills Assessment application?

Answer: The processing time for CPA Australia Skills Assessment applications typically ranges from 15 to 20 business days after all necessary documents have been submitted. However, this time frame may vary depending on the volume of applications. If additional supporting information is required, the assessment will be put on hold until the information is received.