Each application for membership through the Pathways to Membership scheme must be supported by one sponsor.
The role of the sponsor is to verify that the information provided by the applicant in the application form and in the answers to the Examination of Experience are accurate and a true representation of the work of that applicant.
The sponsor must complete the sponsor form in Section 5 of the application pack
- Who can be a sponsor?
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There are several criteria that apply to sponsors.
If the applicant (who has asked you to be their Pathways sponsor) works for an organisation that is not an ICAEW authorised training employer (ATE), then the sponsor must be an ICAEW Chartered Accountant who:
- has been an ICAEW Chartered Accountant for at least five years;
- has known the applicant for at least three years and have detailed knowledge of their work, by having worked closely with the applicant for at least three of the past five years;
- has a good disciplinary record; and
- complies with ICAEW continuing professional development (CPD) regulations.
If the applicant works for an ATE, then the sponsor can be either:
1) an ICAEW Chartered Accountant who has been a member of ICAEW for at least five years; and who
- has known the applicant for at least three years and has detailed knowledge of the applicant’s work, by having worked closely with that applicant for at least three of the past five years;
- has a good disciplinary record; and
- complies with ICAEW continuing professional development (CPD) regulations.
Or
2) the qualified person responsible for training (QPRT) who is responsible for the office where the applicant works. If, as sponsor, you are the QPRT at the organisation where the applicant works, you do not need to know or have known the applicant directly. The QPRT must complete sufficient due diligence to be assured that the information provided by the applicant in the application form and the answers to the Examination of Experience are accurate and are a true representation of the applicant’s work. This due diligence will include discussing the application with any or all line managers that the applicant may have.
If you are a QPRT acting as a sponsor to an applicant, you should have been in post as a QPRT for a period of 12 months.
- Penalties
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Anyone acting as a sponsor and found to have testified in an inappropriate manner, for example failure to conduct sufficient due diligence to verify that the evidence provided by the applicant is accurate, will be liable to investigation and possible disciplinary or regulatory action.
- Can a family member or partner be a sponsor?
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A family member is not necessarily disqualified from acting as a sponsor – as long as they meet all of the sponsor criteria (see above). The relationship must be declared on the sponsor form (Section 5 of the application pack).
- Some of the examples my applicant is using fall outside of when I worked with that applicant, can they still be included?
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Yes, however as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, we would expect you in your role as sponsor to complete sufficient due diligence to be assured that the information the applicant has provided is a true and accurate representation of the work of that applicant. Due diligence should include discussing the applicant’s application and examples with any or all line manager(s) for any period of time that is covered in the example submitted.
More information
For more information about sponsors please see the FAQs.
Email us at pathways@icaew.com or call us on +44 (0)1908 248 070
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