Becoming a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) can provide a recognised professional pathway for people pursuing careers in accounting, finance, business and related fields. In New Zealand, the CPA designation is administered by CPA Australia, rather than the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA).
The pathway generally involves obtaining a recognised degree, meeting the required foundation competencies, completing the CPA Program subjects and gaining relevant practical experience. Members must also meet ongoing professional development requirements after achieving CPA status.
If you are considering the CPA pathway in New Zealand, understanding the current requirements is important because the process is more specific than simply completing an accounting degree and working for three years.
What Is a CPA in New Zealand?
A Certified Practising Accountant is a professional designation awarded through CPA Australia. CPA Australia describes the CPA designation as demonstrating professional competence in accounting and related areas.
To advance to CPA status, candidates must satisfy three main requirements:
- Hold a degree recognised by CPA Australia.
- Successfully complete the required CPA Program subjects.
- Complete the required practical experience and demonstrate the required skills.
CPA Australia states that candidates generally have six years from becoming an Associate member to complete the CPA Program requirements and advance to CPA status.
It is important to distinguish this pathway from the Chartered Accountant pathway through CA ANZ/NZICA. CPA and CA are different professional designations with different membership and qualification requirements.
Step 1: Obtain a Recognised Degree
The first step is to have a degree that meets CPA Australia’s education requirements.
You do not necessarily need a specific Bachelor of Commerce degree. CPA Australia states that a candidate must hold a degree comparable to an Australian bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent postgraduate qualification meeting its requirements. CPA Australia assesses an applicant’s previous education to determine whether the required knowledge areas have been covered.
An accounting degree may cover many of the required foundation competencies, but applicants whose previous studies do not cover all the required areas may need to complete Foundation exams before progressing through the CPA pathway.
Therefore, rather than assuming that every accounting degree automatically qualifies, prospective candidates should check their education against the current CPA Australia eligibility requirements.
Education Checklist
Before applying, consider whether you:
- Hold a degree recognised by CPA Australia.
- Have completed the accounting and business knowledge areas required for entry.
- Need any Foundation exams to fill knowledge gaps.
- Have supporting academic documentation available for assessment.
Step 2: Become an Associate Member of CPA Australia
Once your eligibility has been assessed, you can apply for membership with CPA Australia.
Candidates generally enter the CPA Program as Associate members. CPA Australia states that Associate members can then enrol in the CPA Program and work towards completing the education and experience requirements.
The application process involves providing supporting documentation so CPA Australia can assess your eligibility and determine your starting point in the program.
You can review the current CPA Australia application requirements before submitting an application.
Step 3: Complete the CPA Program
The CPA Program combines professional accounting education with practical experience.
For most candidates, the program consists of six subjects: four compulsory subjects and two electives. Each subject is delivered over a semester and includes an examination.
The four compulsory subjects are:
- Ethics and Governance
- Strategic Management Accounting
- Financial Reporting
- Global Strategy and Leadership
The remaining two subjects are selected as electives according to the candidate’s previous education and professional requirements.
For example, candidates who have not completed recognised taxation studies may need to complete Australia Taxation or an available local taxation variant. CPA Australia currently lists a New Zealand taxation variant among the local options. Candidates without recognised audit studies may also need to complete Advanced Audit and Assurance.
The exact subjects required can therefore differ between candidates. Your CPA Australia assessment determines the subjects you need to complete.
Step 4: Gain Relevant Practical Experience
Practical experience is an important component of becoming a CPA.
CPA Australia currently requires candidates to complete 36 months of relevant experience, either full-time or the part-time equivalent. This experience does not necessarily have to be completed after finishing the CPA Program. Relevant experience can be accumulated before, during or after the CPA Program subjects.
The experience requirement is more detailed than simply working for three years in an accounting office.
Candidates must demonstrate 10 skills across four categories:
- Four technical skills
- Two personal effectiveness skills
- Two business skills
- Two leadership skills
Each role claimed towards the experience requirement must include at least one relevant technical skill. The technical skills can cover areas such as financial accounting, auditing, management accounting, taxation and financial risk management.
The experience must also be appropriately verified. CPA Australia requires the experience claim to be signed off by a CPA, FCPA or an equivalent member of an IFAC member body.
Practical Experience Checklist
When building your experience, consider whether your role provides opportunities to develop:
- Accounting and financial reporting skills
- Auditing or assurance skills
- Management accounting skills
- Taxation knowledge
- Business and commercial skills
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Leadership and professional skills
Keeping accurate records of your responsibilities and achievements can make the experience-claim process easier later.
Step 5: Meet the Requirements for CPA Status
Completing the CPA Program subjects alone does not make someone a CPA.
CPA Australia states that three requirements must be satisfied before advancing to CPA status:
- Hold a recognised degree.
- Complete the required CPA Program subjects.
- Satisfy the 36-month experience requirement and demonstrate the required skills.
Once the final requirement has been completed, CPA Australia reviews the member’s eligibility and notifies the member when CPA status has been granted.
Step 6: Continue Your Professional Development
Becoming a CPA is not the end of the professional requirements.
CPA Australia members must undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The current requirement is at least 120 hours over a three-year period, with a minimum of 20 hours in each year. This includes at least 10 hours of ethics-related CPD over the three-year period, with at least two hours each year.
CPD can include activities such as professional courses, webinars, seminars, conferences, technical reading and other recognised learning activities.
Keeping records of completed CPD activities is important because CPA Australia may review members’ CPD records.
Can a CPA Provide Public Accounting Services in New Zealand?
Obtaining CPA status and being able to provide public accounting services are not necessarily the same thing.
CPA Australia states that CPAs who want to offer public accounting services must also meet the relevant public practice requirements, including holding the appropriate Public Practice Certificate where required.
There are additional requirements for public practice, including relevant practical experience and professional indemnity insurance. The requirements can depend on the type of public practice and the member’s circumstances.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to state that simply becoming a CPA automatically gives someone unrestricted authority to provide every type of accounting or audit service.
CPA vs Chartered Accountant in New Zealand
People considering an accounting career in New Zealand may come across both CPA and Chartered Accountant pathways.
The CPA designation is administered by CPA Australia, while the Chartered Accountant pathway is associated with CA ANZ and its professional requirements.
The two designations should not be treated as interchangeable. The appropriate pathway depends on factors such as your education, career plans, intended area of practice and professional requirements.
For someone specifically interested in becoming a CPA, the best starting point is to check their eligibility directly with CPA Australia.
How Aurora Financials Can Support Businesses in New Zealand
Businesses do not necessarily need an in-house accounting team to manage their accounting and financial requirements.
Aurora Financials provides remote accounting and financial support to businesses across New Zealand. Through online systems and cloud-based processes, businesses can work with an accounting team without being limited to a particular physical location.
Depending on the business’s requirements, professional accounting support may include areas such as bookkeeping, financial reporting, tax-related support, management accounting and other financial services.
For businesses looking for ongoing accounting support, you can learn more about Aurora Financials’ accounting services.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is CPA Australia recognised in New Zealand?
CPA Australia operates internationally and has members in New Zealand. The CPA designation is awarded by CPA Australia and has its own education, examination, experience and membership requirements.
2. Do I need an accounting degree to become a CPA?
Not necessarily. CPA Australia requires a recognised degree, but it does not state that every candidate must hold a specific accounting degree. Your previous education is assessed against the required competency areas, and additional Foundation studies may be required where there are gaps.
3. How much work experience is required to become a CPA?
CPA Australia currently requires 36 months of relevant experience, together with evidence of the required skills. Experience can be accumulated before, during or after completing CPA Program subjects.
4. How many subjects are in the CPA Program?
For most candidates, the CPA Program consists of six subjects: four compulsory subjects and two electives. However, the subjects a particular candidate needs to complete can depend on their previous education and assessment outcome.
5. Can I complete the CPA Program while working?
Yes. CPA Australia delivers the CPA Program as a semester-based program, and candidates can accumulate relevant experience while studying. CPA Australia recommends allowing approximately 10–15 hours of study per subject per week.
6. How long do I have to complete the CPA Program?
Associate members have six years to complete the CPA Program requirements and advance to CPA status. This period is intended to allow candidates to complete both the six subjects and the required practical experience.
7. Do CPAs need to complete continuing professional development?
Yes. CPA Australia members must meet ongoing CPD requirements. The current requirement is at least 120 hours over three years, including a minimum of 20 hours in each year and the specified ethics CPD requirements.
Final Takeaway
The pathway to becoming a CPA in New Zealand involves more than completing an accounting degree. Candidates need to meet CPA Australia’s education requirements, complete the required CPA Program subjects, gain 36 months of relevant experience and demonstrate the required professional skills.
It is also important to distinguish the CPA pathway from the Chartered Accountant pathway in New Zealand. Anyone considering professional accounting should check the current requirements of the relevant professional body before making decisions about education or career planning.
For businesses that need accounting support rather than an in-house finance team, a remote accounting firm can provide access to professional financial services through online systems. Aurora Financials provides remote accounting and financial support to businesses across New Zealand.
Content Overview
About the Author: Jonathan Maharaj
Join The Financial Freedom Newsletter
Join Jonathan Maharaj’s Financial Freedom Newsletter and receive practical insights on wealth building, tax strategy, retirement planning, and long-term financial success. Designed for professionals, business owners, and investors who want to make smarter financial decisions.
