NZICA is the membership body of choice for more than 32,000 accounting and business professionals who work across New Zealand and around the globe. A dynamic organisation, we are focused on championing the accounting profession and nurturing the next generation of business leaders. Overseen by a Council, Board and Executive Management Team, our services are delivered by a skilled team of over 150 people across 16 offices in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

Recognition of overseas study

If you have completed academic study overseas, we may be able to recognise your study towards the academic requirements for membership. For all three of our membership designations (Chartered Accountant, Associate Chartered Accountant, and Accounting Technician) you'll need to complete:

academic study
a practical experience programme
a professional competence programme.

You should consider the requirements of each of the designations before submitting your application for recognition of overseas study. These are outlined in the following membership diagrams. It is important to note that we are not able to give recognition for advanced accounting topics.

How to apply

To apply, you'll need to submit an application and supporting documentation. Ensure you read the information notes before completing the application and include all required supporting documentation.

What we evaluate

We evaluate the following against the academic requirements for membership:

academic qualifications (whole or part), provided the appropriate level of study can be determined
individual courses provided you've received a mark of 50% or more
individual courses completed towards an academic qualification that is unfinished, provided the level of study can be determined from the information provided.

We'll assess your application and supporting information to determine the suitability of your overseas study in relation to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) framework. To meet our academic requirements, you'll need to obtain NZQA Level 7 for CA and ACA and Level 6 for AT. We'll review the theoretical and technical content and level of understanding developed in each paper you’ve studied to ensure it meets our requirements. Papers for which you've received a mark less than 50% will not be considered.

Results and next steps

Evaluation takes at least six weeks from the date we receive all relevant information. We'll notify you in writing of the topics you need to complete at an Accredited Tertiary Institution (ATI). The tertiary institution where you choose to study may require you to complete prerequisite courses before allowing you to enrol in the required topics.

Evaluations are valid for three years following completion. If you're unable to complete the academic requirements within three years, you'll need to reapply.

For more information, please contact one of our offices

Last Updated: 01 February 2012

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