CPA PROGRAM GUIDE

Semester 2 2015

2991884_v3_2015.08.11

CPA PROGRAM GUIDE

Semester 2 2015
Version 3, revised 11/08/15

CPA Australia 2015

Contents
General information

Contacts
Important dates - 2015/16

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defined.
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CPA Program education component

Overview
Objectives
Distance learning and independent study
Content and materials
Internet access
Assessment
Additional learning resources
CPA Program structure from Semester 2
2009
Structure
Admission policy
Exemptions

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Deadline to complete CPA Program and

advance to CPA status
Candidates admitted from 1 July 2007
onwards
Candidates admitted from
1 January 2004 up to and including 30
June 2007
Enrolment
Enrolment regulations
Enrolment procedure
CPD enrolment
Enrolment fee
CPA Australia scholarships
Confirmation of enrolment
Exam scheduling
Changing enrolment to an alternative subject

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Cancellation of subject enrolment

Refund of enrolment fee upon cancellation
of subject enrolment

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Delivery of study guides

Reasonable adjustments study guides
Replacement guides

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Exams

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Exam scheduling
Reasonable adjustments - exam
arrangements

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Exam structure
Past exam papers
Exam deferral
Deferral fees
Applying for an exam deferral
Special consideration for exams
Applying for special consideration
Exam results
Release dates and access

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Grades
Results and queries
CPA Program
practical experience requirement

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General information
Since 1986, the CPA Program has undergone many changes to maintain its relevance to the
business world and to ensure CPAs are equipped to be strategic business leaders. The CPA
Program continues to be recognised as a leading professional program and receives strong
endorsement by employers.
The CPA Program is offered globally and last year there were more than 60 000 CPA Program
exams across 69 countries and overseas territories. CPA Australia has over 150,000 members
across 120 countries. Collectively, around 17 per cent of our members hold senior leadership roles,
including more than 25,000 members at CEO or CFO level or in business ownership roles.
The CPA Program will ensure you develop the appropriate skills, knowledge and values of a CPA
through your exposure to a combination of accounting knowledge with strategic thinking and
practical experience. Once you complete the CPA Program, you will be joining one of the most
globally recognised accountancy designations.
The CPA Program Guide (the Guide) contains information you need about the structure of the CPA
Program, its administrative arrangements, contact details and other important features.
The Guide has been divided into sections to make it easier to find information relevant to you.
Please use the bookmarks and the links included throughout the Guide to click through to the
relevant section of information.
As a CPA Program candidate, it is essential that you familiarise yourself with the contents of this
Guide and keep it handy at all times.
Best wishes with your studies.

Contacts
Use the links below to access information about each point in the relevant section of the Guide. If
you have any questions after reading this information, please contact CPA Australia as detailed
below.

Types of queries

Contact

For queries about:

Confirmation of enrolment
Delivery or replacement of study guides
Exam scheduling and rescheduling
Reasonable adjustments study guides
and exam arrangements
Cancellation of enrolment
Exam deferral
Special consideration
Accessing exam results
Practical experience requirement
All other matters

Your nearest CPA Australia office

Mail applications for:

Enrolment
Exam deferral

Member Administration
CPA Australia
GPO Box 2820
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Scan and email, fax, or mail applications for:

Cancellation of enrolment
Special consideration

Email: MA.Comms@cpaaustralia.com.au
Application forms for Enrolment, Cancellation of
enrolment, exam deferral and Special
consideration can be found on the CPA Australia
website. Links to these forms are also provided
in the relevant sections of this Guide.

Facsimile: 1300 78 76 73 (within Australia) or

+61 3 9606 9844 (outside Australia)

Email applications for:

Reasonable adjustments (formerly
special arrangements)

Email:
reasonable.adjustments@cpaaustralia.com.au

For queries about My Online Learning

Your nearest CPA Australia office

Email: myonlinelearning@cpaaustralia.com.au

Important dates2015/16
These dates are correct at the time of publication (July 2015) but are subject to change. Please refer
to the website for current dates.
Semester 2 2015
Enrolment opens for Semester 2, 2015

8 June 2015

Exam scheduling opens for Semester 2, 2015

8 June 2015

Early bird enrolment closing date

7 July 2014

Reasonable adjustments study guides application closing date

7 July 2015

First cancellation date (cancellations made after this date will not
receive a refund).

7 July 2015

Last day to vary enrolment and update postal address.

7 July 2015

Reasonable Adjustments - exam arrangements application closing date

20 July 2015

Semester begins
(Study guides should be received by mail)

27 July 2015

My Online Learning access available

27 July 2015

Deferral closing date

17 August 2015

Final cancellation date (last day to cancel enrolment)

17 August 2015

Exam scheduling and rescheduling closing date

27 July 2015

Global Strategy and Leadership exam pre-seen information available on

My Online Learning

25 September 2015

Exam week (except Singapore Taxation)

10-18 October 2015

Singapore Taxation exam (paper-based only)

15 October 2015

Special consideration application closing date

16 October 2015

Exam results available online via the CPA Australia website

27 November 2015

Enrolment opens for Semester 1, 2016

30 November 2015

Exam scheduling opens for Semester 1, 2016

30 November 2015

Practical experience requirement enrolment

Available all year

*AEST/AEDT refers to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) or Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). Please note
that all closing dates end at midnight AEST or AEDT on the specified day.

CPA Program - Education Component

Overview
Objectives
The CPA Program is a world class, internationally recognised program. The content of the CPA
Program focuses on strategy, leadership and international business. Content is globally relevant,
with a focus on providing flexible learning and delivery modes.
Along with a focus on the latest technical issues and developments in the profession, the program
is positioned within the broader context of contemporary business, including:

corporate governance, ethics and integrity

development and implementation of business strategy
decision-making and leadership.

The CPA Program equips you with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities designed to
add real value to your career.

Distance learning and independent study

The CPA Program is offered via distance learning mode. Distance education provides:

a flexible and accessible approach

an opportunity for you to demonstrate greater self-discipline and responsibility for the
planning and assessment of your own learning which is in keeping with a professional
accountants responsibility for ongoing self-development.

To be prepared for your exam you are recommended to:

study at least 1015 hours per week (as a general guide)

study the subject materials thoroughly and rigorously, and work systematically through each
module in the study guide including any associated readings
complete the in-text questions
use the Semester Study Planner in your study guide and the calendar on My Online
Learning to assist you to plan a suitable study schedule.

It is strongly recommended that you undertake only one subject per semester if you are employed
full time.

Content and materials

The CPA Program education component incorporates advanced content and each subject has a
strong practical orientation. Authors for each subject are drawn from industry, commerce, the
public sector and tertiary education. The authored materials are reviewed by panels of
professional members employed in relevant accounting and finance fields. All subjects are
regularly updated to reflect current practice, standards and legislation.

Each subject includes:

a printed study guide. Interactive pdfs of the complete study guides will be available on
MYOL at the start of the semester (except Singapore Taxation).

in-text reflective questions and numbered exercises with answers provided. Some subjects
include case studies to be worked through with answers provided for reference.
interactive computer-based learning material on My Online Learning for most subjects,
including self-assessment questions that assist you to understand and review the topics
covered. Some subjects include reference items that assist candidates to understand and
apply concepts to practical situations.
references to relevant standards and legislation which may be accessed through the
standard setters or legislation websites or purchased from sources such as CCH,
Butterworths, Pearson or Australian Tax Practice. Alternatively, the CPA Library holds a
range of legislation to which members can refer.

You must have access to relevant accounting and auditing standards and professional
statements. Access is available via the standard setters or legislation websites. You may need to
print out portions for exam purposes if relevant to the subject you are studying.
Any additional material required is listed in the introductory section of each study guide. This
section may also list materials that are recommended for further reading. These are intended to
provide a broader background to the study topic.
A summary of each subjects aims, objectives and content is available on the CPA Australia
website.
To ensure you have continued access to important online resources and tools, including the
ability to access your exam results online, you need to ensure your membership remains current
and financial. Failure to renew your membership will result in loss of access to member-only
information and resources.

Internet access
You are required to have access to the Internet and a current email address. During the semester
you will receive important information via My Online Learning and email.
These provide a quick method of contact if there are important changes or updates.
As our main method of communication is via email, we ask that you check and update your
personal details and provide us with a valid email address. Please note that without a valid email
address you will experience a delay in receiving important correspondence relating to your CPA
Program enrolment.
You can update your profile via our website. This will automatically update your details on the
study group listing and in CPA Australias membership database.
It is your responsibility to keep up to date with relevant changes or updates.

Assessment
CPA Program exams are conducted at the end of the semester. Each subject exam is three hours
and 15 minutes (195 minutes). With the exception of Singapore Taxation, CPA Program exams
are open-book.
Note: For Singapore Taxation, the exam is closed-book, but candidates may bring unmarked
copies of the Income Tax and GST Acts into the exam.
For further information regarding the exams, see the Exams section in this guide.

Additional learning resources

In addition to your interactive study guide PDF, My Online Learning provides access to a range of
important study resources including announcements, any content updates for the subject,
discussion forums and study groups.
My Online Learning is available to all candidates as part of the fee paid at the time of enrolment.
You are encouraged to make the most of the opportunities provided by these resources to
discuss technical issues arising out of the study materials and to network with other candidates.
A range of optional fee-based supplementary learning resources are also available. Please see
the Additional learning support page on the CPA Australia website for more information.

Current CPA Program structure from Semester 2,

2009

The CPA Programconsists of six postgraduate level subjects plus the three-year
practical experience requirement.
The required knowledge areas to begin the CPA Program can be fulfilled through CPA
Australias series of eight foundation exams or through an accredited or recognised
higher-education degree program.

Structure
To successfully complete the CPA Program, candidates commencing from Semester 2 2009*
onwards need to complete four compulsory subjects and two elective subjects, chosen from a list
of six, within six years of becoming an Associate member, and also complete the practical
experience requirement.
*Note: If you commenced the CPA Program before Semester 2 2009, see the rules and
regulations on CPA Australias website for the completion requirements.
Enrolment guidelines:

It is recommended that you enrol in Ethics and Governance first.

You will not be able to enrol in Global Strategy and Leadership until all other
compulsory subjects have been successfully completed.
If you are working full-time, you are strongly advised to enrol in only one subject per
semester.

Admission policy
It is possible to be admitted to Associate membership of CPA Australia without having completed
undergraduate studies in auditing and/or taxation. In this case, you must complete auditing and/
or taxation as your CPA Program elective subjects. You must complete these subjects in order to
advance to CPA status.
Your membership assessment outcome will provide you with your requirements.
As part of the admission process, you will be asked for information about the subjects you
completed as part of your previous studies and whether you have completed studies in auditing
and taxation. Your letter advising you of the outcome of your membership application will tell you
what you must do to successfully complete the CPA Program.

Exemptions
Exemptions in the CPA Program may be granted on the basis of prior learning which is assessed
as being of equivalent content and depth. Prior learning must be postgraduate tertiary education
and/or professional qualifications.
Exemptions are not available for Global Strategy and Leadership.
Please refer to Exemptions on the website for further information.

Deadline to complete the CPA Program and advance to CPA status

Candidates admitted from 1 July 2007 onwards
All new members admitted from 1 July 2007 onwards must complete the CPA Program, including
the practical experience requirement, and advance to CPA status within six years of admission
to Associate membership. All candidates must also hold a degree or a postgraduate award
recognised by CPA Australia before they can advance to CPA status.
Associate members admitted from 1 July 2007 onwards who do not fulfil these requirements and
fail to advance to CPA status within six years of admission will be required to relinquish
membership.
Note: If you are unable to complete your CPA Program subjects or advance to CPA status within
the relevant timeframe, extensions may be available. Please contact your nearest office to
discuss your options.
Candidates admitted from 1 January 2004 up to and including 30 June 2007
All new members admitted from 1 January 2004 up to and including 30 June 2007 must complete
the CPA Program, including the practical experience requirement, and advance to CPA status
within eight years of admission to Associate membership.
Candidates admitted from 1 January 2007 up to and including 30 June 2007 have six years to
complete the CPA Program provided the CPA Program is completed within the eight-year
advancement limit. Candidates admitted from 1 January 2004 up to and including 31 December
2006 have five years to complete the CPA Program provided the CPA Program is completed
within the eight year advancement limit.
All candidates must also hold a degree or a postgraduate award recognised by CPA Australia
before they can advance to CPA status.
Associate members who do not fulfil these requirements and fail to advance to CPA status within
eight years of admission will be required to relinquish membership.
Note: If you are unable to complete your CPA Program subjects or advance to CPA status within
the relevant timeframe, extensions may be available. Please contact your nearest office to
discuss your options.

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Enrolment
All members of CPA Australia are eligible to enrol in CPA Program subjects, including the
exams. In addition, members may purchase subject study guides for reference purposes only.
Refer to CPA Program fees.
For information on how to enrol in the practical experience requirement, refer to the
practical experience requirement section.

Enrolment regulations
All candidates are bound by the rules and regulations as detailed on the CPA Australia
website.

Enrolment procedure
CPA Australia has introduced a number of changes to its enrolment procedures that provide
greater flexibility for candidates. Please see the CPA Australia website for more information.

CPD enrolment
If you have completed the CPA Program and wish to enrol in an individual subject or subjects
for the purpose of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), please download an enrolment
form from the website and send it with your fee payment to the appropriate address prior to the
enrolment closing date for the semester in which you wish to enrol.
Members who have completed the CPA Program and wish to purchase study guides for
reference purposes can do so at any time during the enrolment period up to the enrolment
closing dates. Members will need to download the enrolment form from the website and submit
it as indicated on the form.

Enrolment fee
A fee is payable for each new enrolment in a subject. A discount is applied for enrolments
received by the early bird closing date. Please check the website for important dates and fees.
Subject enrolment fees are not subject to the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST) because
the CPA Program is a GST-free education course.
Information regarding reimbursement of the enrolment fee following the cancellation of an
enrolment can be found in the Refund of enrolment fee upon cancellation of enrolment
section.

CPA Australia scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available to assist with fees for CPA Program subjects.
For more information about scholarships, go to the CPA Australia website.

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Confirmation of enrolment
If you enrol online via My CPA Program, you will receive immediate confirmation of your
enrolment via email. If you enrol offline using the enrolment form, you will receive emailed
confirmation of your enrolment after your form is processed.
Please contact your nearest CPA Australia office if you have any queries relating to the status
of your enrolment.

Exam scheduling
With the exception of enrolments for reference purposes, all candidates must schedule their exams
online via My CPA Program. Further information regarding exams is provided under Exams

Changing enrolment to an alternative subject

You may change a subject nominated at the time of enrolment to an alternative subject online via
My CPA Program, or by submitting a written request to Member Administration, or to your
nearest office if you are based in Greater China, Malaysia or Singapore.
Requests must be submitted no later than the advertised early bird enrolment closing date shown
in the important dates.
Requests received after the early bird enrolment closing date cannot be accommodated and no
refund will be available should you subsequently decide to cancel your enrolment.

Cancellation of enrolment
If you have enrolled in a subject and do not wish to continue or are unable to continue in the
subject, you can cancel your enrolment in an individual subject up until the advertised final
closing date each semester. Following cancellation, all record of the subject enrolment will be
deleted from your printed results transcript.
If you wish to postpone a subject exam, rather than cancel your enrolment, you may be eligible to
apply for an exam deferral.
You cannot sit a subjects exam and then apply for a subject cancellation in the same semester.
If you sit the exam, the result stands and no cancellation is allowed.
When you cancel your enrolment, any existing exam appointments will be automatically
cancelled with the exam administrator. If you inadvertently cancel your enrolment and wish to
reinstate it, your original exam appointment, including format, date and/or venue, may no longer
be available.
You may cancel a current subject enrolment online via My CPA Program, and receive an
automatic confirmation.

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To apply offline, please:

complete the Cancellation of subject enrolment application form, available on the CPA
Australia website.
sign the printed form and send it to Member Administration.

All applications must be received by CPA Australia no later than the advertised final closing date
shown in the important dates. Applications received after the final closing date will not be
considered.

Refund of enrolment fee upon cancellation of subject enrolment

A full reimbursement of the subject enrolment fee can be provided if a request to cancel a
new subject enrolment (see previous section) is submitted online or received by Member
Administration no later than the first cancellation closing date shown in the important dates
at the front of this Guide or the CPA Australia website.
No refund of the enrolment fee can be provided if an application to cancel a subject enrolment is
received after the first cancellation closing date. Also, it is not possible to reimburse or credit fees
for subject enrolments cancelled or deferred from previous semesters.

Delivery of study guides

Confirmation of your study guide dispatch can be found on My CPA Program, including the
expected delivery date. If you have not received your study guide after this date, please
contact your nearest office.
In addition to a printed study guide, all CPA Program study guides will be available online via
My Online Learning, except Singapore Taxation.

Reasonable Adjustments - study guides

CPA Australia endeavours to provide necessary modifications to study guides for candidates
with a disability or learning impairment (Reasonable Adjustment).
For comprehensive information on the application requirements we encourage you to visit
Reasonable Adjustments on our website.
Applications received after the Reasonable Adjustments study guides closing date may
not be processed.

Replacement study guides

If you have received your study guide/s but have misplaced them or require a replacement for
another reason, please contact Member Administration. In Australia, a fee of $100 per study
guide is required for replacement study guides. Refer to our website for more information.

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Exams
The semester 2 2015 exam period is between Saturday 10 October to Sunday 18 October
2015. Candidates must be available to sit their exam at any time within this period with the
exception of Singapore Taxation, which is on a specified date. Please refer to the important
dates at the front of this Guide or our website.

Exam scheduling
Please refer to CPA Australias website or the important dates at the front of this Guide for the
current semesters exam period. You can now schedule a paper-based or computer-based exam
at any available date and time during this period. Paper-based exams are no longer restricted to a
single day (except Singapore Taxation).
Once you have enrolled, you must schedule your exam via My CPA Program. You must schedule
your exam before the advertised scheduling close date. Please contact us if you require any
assistance.
Paper-based or computer-based preferences are not guaranteed as it is CPA Australias priority
to offer exams in a safe and suitable environment. Should you require one format over another
due to exceptional circumstances, a Reasonable Adjustments request will need to be submitted
with supplementary evidence (such as medical documentation).
Your choice of a particular exam venue, date or time is subject to availability. CPA Australia
cannot guarantee that your preference will be accommodated. If the available dates are
unsuitable:

you may delay your enrolment to a future semester (application must be made before
the deferral closing date)
if your personal circumstances alter following enrolment in a subject due to a medical
condition, heavy workload, or misreading exam information supplied, you may be
eligible to defer your exam or cancel your enrolment in the subject
if you miss the exam due to circumstances beyond your control, you should contact
your nearest CPA Australia office.

CPA Australia has ensured that as far as possible an exam venue is available to most candidates
within 120km of their residential location. If an exam venue is not available within this distance,
you must contact us before the scheduling close date.
If an exam venue is available within 120km of your location, you must schedule your exam there
even if it is not available in your preferred exam format.
If you fail to schedule your own exam before the scheduling closing date, you acknowledge that
CPA Australia will schedule an exam appointment on your behalf. CPA Australia will schedule
you to the closest available venue to your residential address. This means that the appointment
could be either paper-based or computerbased, and held on any day during the exam period
and at a venue greater than 120km from your location.

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Reasonable Adjustments exam arrangements

Reasonable Adjustments - exam arrangements are provided by exception for candidates who
have specific exam requirements due to a medical condition. For comprehensive information on
the application requirements we encourage you to visit Reasonable Adjustments on our website.
All requests should be submitted before the Reasonable Adjustments exam arrangements
application closing date shown in Important dates.
Requests must be supported by a medical certificate from a medical practitioner. The certificate
must include the name and description of the condition suffered and the arrangement/s required
to support your exam/s.
Note: Food and drinks are not permitted in computer-based exams. If you are sitting a
computer-based exam and require food or drink because of a medical condition please apply to
reasonable.adjustments@cpaaustralia.com.au prior to the Reasonable Adjustments exam
arrangements application closing date.
IMPORTANT:
If you apply for Reasonable Adjustments for a medical condition, you are not automatically
granted special consideration for your exam. The Reasonable Adjustment will take into
account the impact of the medical condition on exam performance. However, you must apply
separately for special consideration each semester if this condition has impacted on your
studies leading up to the exam, or if any of the other reasons for special consideration have
impacted on your studies or exam.

Exam structure
Each subjects exam is three hours and 15 minutes duration (195 minutes). All exams are open
book, except Singapore Taxation, and are based on the whole subjectthat is, the subject
study guide, supplementary materials, prescribed texts and readings. Candidates will be
examined on all materials unless otherwise stated.
For Singapore Taxation, the exam is closed book, with candidates able to bring only unmarked
copies of the Income Tax and GST Acts into the exam.
Exams for Ethics and Governance, Financial Reporting, Malaysia Taxation, Singapore Taxation,
Strategic Management Accounting and Global Strategy and Leadership include assessment of
higher order conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills through constructed response
exam questions. All subjects except Singapore Taxation also contain a multiple choice
component.
Exams for all elective subjects, except Malaysia Taxation and Singapore Taxation, comprise
100% multiple choice questions.
For more information about the structure of the exams you should review the Structure and
Requirements section of the CPA Australia website and the subject outlines in the study guides.
CPA Australia sends all candidates further information in the General Guidelines for Exam
Preparation, including the specific mark allocations, approximately three weeks prior to the
commencement of the exam period. This information is available via My Online Learning.

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Past exam papers

Questions and answers from current and past exams are not released or made available for
viewing after the exams, due to the secure nature of the exams and the process adopted
by CPA Australia in establishing passing standards.
Practice questions and answers are available on My Online Learning for most subjects. These
questions provide an opportunity to review the subject content, and are of a similar format,
presentation and style to the types of questions that are posed in the exams.

Exam deferral
An exam deferral allows you to postpone the exam for a subject to the following semester.
Deferrals into a later semester are not available.
Once granted:

a result of Deferred will be recorded on your printed results transcript against the
semester of enrolment

you will be automatically re-enrolled in the subject in the following semester

any existing exam appointments for the current semester will be automatically
cancelled with the exam administrator. You will need to schedule your exam
appointment for the following semester after enrolments open for that semester. If
you inadvertently defer your enrolment and wish to reinstate it, your original exam
appointment, including format, date and/or venue, may no longer be available

you must retain your study guide. If a new study guide is published in the following
semester, you will automatically be sent this before the semester commencement;
otherwise you must use your study guide from the deferred semester. (Fees are
applicable for replacement study guides)

Please refer to your exam deferral confirmation email.

The exam deferral provision is available to assist candidates who may be unable to prepare for
or attend an exam due to reasons, such as a medical condition or personal hardship. If you
experience such difficulties and can still attend the exam in the semester of enrolment, you may
wish to sit the exam and apply for special consideration.
If you sit an exam, the result stands and no deferral is allowed.
If you sit the exam and your exam preparation and/or performance was adversely
affected by exceptional circumstances beyond your control, you are able to apply for
special consideration up to the closing date in each semester.
If you are not able to attend the exam in the following semester, you may defer the exam a
second time in the following semester, or cancel your enrolment in the subject.
You are only allowed up to two consecutive deferrals in the same subject. If an additional
deferral is required due to extenuating circumstances, please contact us.

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Deferral fees
There is a fee for exam deferral. Please check the website for important dates and fees.
The deferral fee includes automatic re-enrolment in the subject for the following semester,
including new study guides, if applicable.
Other important information is as follows:

you cannot transfer your deferral into another subject

exams cannot be deferred beyond the following semester
a semester in which a deferral is granted is included in your time-frame to
complete the CPA Program

if an exam deferral is requested in the final semester of the enrolment period, contact
your nearest office to apply for an extension of time

once an exam has been deferred, no refund of the deferral fee will be
provided if enrolment in the exam is reinstated

if enrolment in a subject is subsequently cancelled, fees will not be reimbursed.

Applying for an exam deferral

You can defer online via My CPA Program and receive automatic confirmation of your request.
To apply offline, please:

complete the exam deferral application form electronically or by hand, available on the
CPA Australia website
sign the printed form
send the form with the deferral fee to Member Administration.

All applications must be received by the relevant closing date shown in the Important
dates.
If you are prevented from attending your exam due to exceptional circumstances that
arise after the deferral closing date, please contact your nearest office as soon as
possible. You will be asked to provide documentation to support your request, and your
circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis.
An exam result of Did Not Sit will be recorded if you do not attend the exam and your exceptional
application for deferral is denied.

Special consideration for exams

If you sit the exam and your exam preparation and/or performance was adversely
affected by exceptional circumstances beyond your control, you are able to apply for
special consideration up to the closing date in each semester.
Valid reasons for special consideration applications are:

medical condition
personal hardship is identified as a situation or circumstance that has had a significant
impact on exam preparation and/or performance and is out of your control.
Where you can control the situation it is not considered hardship. Hardship can include
family issues, personal issues or financial issues.
(Workload is not considered a reason for hardship and applications for workloadrelated reasons, such as increased working hours, will not be accepted.)
an exam incident

As study guides are now made available online via My Online Learning, late receipt of study guide
is no longer a valid reason for special consideration (except Singapore Taxation).

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You should not apply for special consideration if you are unable to attend an exam. In this case,
you can either:

cancel your enrolment in the subject, up to the advertised closing date, or

apply for an exam deferral up to the advertised closing date (or contact your local
divisional office if exceptional circumstances arise after the closing date that prevents
you from attending the exam).

It is the candidates responsibility to ensure that all criteria and requirements have been met
before they lodge their application for special consideration. Only applications where all criteria
and requirements have been met will be processed for consideration by the Committee.
Following the special consideration application closing date and before the exam results are
officially released, the Special Consideration Committee reviews the personal circumstances of
each candidate, whose application has been accepted and whose exam result has fallen within
a specific range below the passing scaled score (540). The candidates performance is
evaluated in light of the disadvantage suffered and similar cases are taken into consideration in
order to ensure equity to all candidates. In considering an application for special consideration,
the Committee may take into account a candidates past performance in the CPA Program and
any past applications for special consideration.
Following this review process, the Committee may upgrade a Fail result to a Pass. The Special
Consideration Committee does not review applications that have been received where the
candidates exam result is a clear Fail, nor does it review applications received where the
candidate has passed their exam. Applying for special consideration does not guarantee
that a Fail result will be upgraded to a Pass.
The findings of the Special Consideration Committee are confidential and disclosure of
decisions made by the Committee cannot be provided. All special consideration applicants final
results will be announced as part of the official release of exam results. Refer to important
dates.

Applying for special consideration

You can download the CPA Program and Public Practice Program special consideration
application form from our website. When applying for special consideration, you must fully list on
the application form your situation and how it has impacted on your studies leading up to the
exam and/or your performance in the exam.
Applications need to be supported by current documentation from an independent person such
as a medical practitioner. A table of required supporting documentation can be found on the
following page. It is expected that all documentation supplied will be in English. Where
documents are translated into English, the translated documents must be certified.
It is your responsibility to provide sufficiently detailed information to support your application.
To apply for special consideration:

please ensure you intend to sit or have sat the exam and meet the criteria for special
consideration
complete the CPA Program and Public Practice Program special consideration
application form on the CPA Australia website, electronically or by hand
(please do not use the deferral form)
sign the printed form
send the form to Member Administration with all supporting documentation,
remembering to check that the documentation is complete, current and certified where
required.
All applications will be treated confidentially and must be received by the advertised closing
date. If the application and supporting documentation is not received by CPA Australia by the
application closing date, the application will not be processed. All applications received by the
closing date will be acknowledged in writing before the official release of results.

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Category

Application documentation required

Medical
condition

Complete the special consideration application form, including Section E, available on

the CPA Australia website. Section E will need to be taken to an appointment and
completed by the medical practitioner at the time of consultation. If this is not possible, a
medical certificate in other formats from a medical practitioner will be accepted if it
contains:

information detailing the condition

an indication of whether the condition is mild, moderate or severe
the dates that you have been or will be affected
information about how the condition has, or would, affect your studies or exam
performance.

Illness, medical condition or not fit for work may not be sufficient explanations and
may make it difficult to fully assess by the Special Consideration Committee.
Your medical and supporting documentation must include information on how the
medical condition has impacted on your studies and/or exam performance. Applications
that do not contain this information may not be assessed by the Special Consideration
Committee.
Personal
hardship

Personal hardship can include family issues, personal issues or financial issues.
Examples include, but are not limited to:

divorce
death in the family
ill relative requiring your care
forced home moves
redundancy
attending court cases during the exam period.

A heavy workload, including increased working hours and work travel

commitments, is not a reason for hardship.
You must establish in your documentation that it is a circumstance or situation that is out
of your control. The currency of the situation and the currency of the documentation you
supply will also be considered.
You must supply a letter of personal hardship from someone not related to you by birth or
marriage, including de facto relationship, or a letter from the doctor of the relative you
care for that contains:

a detailed explanation of your personal hardship and the way in which it has, or would,
affect your studies or exam performance
relevant dates of the impact of the hardship
information about how the author of the letter knows you (e.g. manager, work
colleague or friend) and how long they have known you
contact details for the author of the letter.

Your supporting documentation must include information on how the hardship has
impacted on your studies and/or exam performance. Applications that do not contain this
information may not be assessed by the Special Consideration Committee.
Exam
incident

Late
receipt of
study
guide/s

If a disruptive incident occurs during an exam, you must supply documentation such as
a statement describing the incident detailing the effect it had on your exam performance.
Following receipt of an application, CPA Australia may seek verification of the exam
incident.
As study guides are now made available online via My Online Learning, late receipt of
subject study guides is no longer a valid reason for special consideration application
(except Singapore Taxation).

19

Exam results
Release dates and access
Exam results will be released on the dates listed in the Important dates. Results will be
available online at results.cpaaustralia.com.au.

Grades
Official exam results indicate the grade awarded. The grades that are currently in use for CPA
Program exams include Pass, Credit, Distinction and High Distinction, Fail, Did Not Sit, Results
Withheld, Deferred or Exempt.
Printed result transcripts include all results listed on your academic record and cannot be reproduced to exclude Fail, Did Not Sit, Results Withheld and Deferred grades.
The passing scaled score for all CPA Program exams* is 540. In accordance with the policy of
CPA Australias Professional Qualifications Advisory Committee, the mark ranges for each
grade are not disclosed.
* Note that results for Singapore Taxation do not use scaled scoring. Candidates will receive a
grade only.

Results and queries

All candidates who sit an exam will have access to an individualised exam feedback report,
available at results.cpaaustralia.com.au or via My CPA Program. The exams are designed to
test your understanding of the materials, and the exam feedback report reviews your exam
results by module. This may assist you in knowing where to focus your studies if you attempt
any subject again.
If you have failed an exam and have specific questions about the information in your exam
feedback report, please contact your nearest office or email your questions to:
mais.advisory@cpaaustralia.com.au.
The email request must include:

your full name

member ID
contact details
subject name, semester and year
a clear list of queries.

Refer to the CPA Australia website for more information. Please note that all results are final
and requests for re-marks will not be accepted. It is CPA Australias policy not to re-mark exams
or provide access to the exams. The quality and care taken throughout the process of
assessment ensures the integrity of every exam result. Results are cross checked to ensure
accuracy and consistency.
Every exam with a constructed response component has been reviewed by several CPA
Australia members who are experts in the relevant field. All exams are marked anonymously. All
markers undertake significant training and must pass a qualification test prior to commencing
marking. Markers are monitored throughout the marking process to ensure the marking meets
the required quality standards. A system of audits and exception reports support this process.

20

CPA Program
Practical Experience Requirement
The practical experience requirement is a structured program for developing and
demonstrating professional skills. An integrated part of the CPA Program, it is a requirement
for advancing to CPA status.
The practical experience requirement complies with the International Federation of
Accountants (IFAC) International Educational Standards.
As part of your practical experience requirement, you will need to demonstrate competence in
four skill areas highly valued by employers.

Technical
Business

Personal
Effectiveness
Leadership

21

There are three ways to demonstrate practical experience. Choose the method that best suits you
and remember that you can change the way you demonstrate your requirements if your work
circumstances change.
Do you have six months or
more professional work
experience?

Are you currently

employed in a relevant
role?

Do you work for a

Recognised Employer
Partner?

.
You can apply for Recognition
of Professional Experience to
satisfy all, or part, of the
practical experience
requirement depending on
your work experience. Your
work experience needs to be in
a relevant role and from the
last eight years. Full members
of an IFAC member body can
also apply.

You can enrol with a

Recognised Employer Partner
and you will satisfy the
practical experience
requirements while taking part
in your employers professional
development program. A full
list of Recognised Employer
Partners is available on our
website.

You can enrol any time, but there

are many advantages to enrolling
as soon as possible. The
combination of skills and time
spent in a mentored relationship
will help you realise your potential
as a leader in your profession

Next steps

Next steps

Next steps

1. Follow the instructions

on the form on our website

1. Follow the instructions

on the form on our website

2. If you have any

remaining time or skill
requirements left to
complete, we recommend
that you enrol in the
practical experience
requirement.

2. Participate in the
professional development
program provided by your
employer.

1. Find a CPA, FCPA or

equivalent full member of
an IFAC member body to
be your mentor.

3. Inform CPA Australia if

you change employers or
if you complete your time
requirement by submitting
an Update/Complete form.

22

2. Follow the instructions

on the form on our
website.
3. Download the logbook
from our website .
4. Inform CPA Australia if
you change employers,
mentors or if you complete
the requirements by
submitting the
Update/Complete form