Join another accountancy body

Find out more about the reciprocal membership arrangements we have with other accountancy bodies around the world.

As an ICAEW member you can apply for membership of a body we have a reciprocal agreement with provided you meet the eligibility criteria. Membership does not necessarily give practising or audit rights so you are advised to check this.

Confirmation of membership and other details

If you apply to join another professional body you will probably be asked to provide
confirmation of your ICAEW membership. We will provide factual information to confirm your current membership status, your examination results, and that you have not been subject to any disciplinary hearings.

A standard confirmation of membership letter is available from the Member Records team at members.registration@icaew.com. There is a charge of £23.50 to cover administration costs.

Confirmation of membership with syllabus and exam detail is available from the Member Records team at members.registration@icaew.com. There is a charge of £35.25 to cover administration costs.

We do not produce 'letters of good standing' because this term is inexact. We will provide a statement about whether you have been the subject of any disciplinary action. This is available free of charge from the Professional Conduct department by applying to pso3stat@icaew.com.

Additional information requested by another institute may be confirmed with your prior
consent.

Reciprocal membership in Australia

We have a reciprocal membership agreement with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA) which allows ICAEW members to apply for membership without sitting and passing an aptitude test. Please note that practice and audit rights may involve a test.


Tax agents


The registration of tax agents is administered by the Tax Agent Board.

Financial Services regulation


The Australian Securities and Investment Commission is the registration body for:

Reciprocal membership in Canada

General accountancy services are not regulated in Canada. However, anyone wishing to practise audit is required to be a member of the relevant provincial institute of chartered accountants and to fulfil any other local requirements relating to the issue of an Audit Practising Certificate.

Some provinces also recognise members of the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA Canada) and Certified Management Accountants of Canada (CMA Canada) for audit.

We have a reciprocal membership understanding with the International Qualifications Appraisal Board (IQAB) of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA).

This means ICAEW members may apply for reciprocal membership of a provincial institute subject to fulfilling local law and practice requirements. Successful candidates are automatically granted the right to the CA designation plus audit rights.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities have produced an Occupational Career Path that provides detailed, step-by-step information on the assessment process, the experience and examination requirements, the costs involved, and a summary of labour market conditions. It also includes the relevant mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail and Web site address.

Please note that CICA itself is not a membership body and that it is essential that you seek advice from the institute in the Canadian province where you intend to work.

Reciprocal membership in the European Economic Area (EEA)

The EU Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications or the EU Directive on Statutory Audit supports EU and European Economic Area citizens who possess a recognised professional accountancy qualification and want to access a regulated profession in another member state.

As such, the ACA or FCA should be recognised by other EU member states (subject to a local aptitude test or equivalent adaptation requirements) where the accountancy profession in the host state is regulated within the meaning of the Directive.

Details on requirements to practise in any particular member state should be available from the local institute or other competent authority.

Reciprocal membership in Hong Kong

We have a joint membership agreement with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA). ICAEW members are eligible to apply for membership of the HKICPA without the need to pass an aptitude test.

For full information, visit the registration requirements section of the HKICPA website

Reciprocal membership in New Zealand

We have a reciprocal membership agreement with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA). This allows ICAEW members to apply for membership without sitting and passing an aptitude test. Please note that practice and audit rights may involve a test.

Reciprocal membership in South Africa

We have a reciprocal membership agreement with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). ICAEW members are eligible to apply for membership of SAICA and no longer need to pass an aptitude test to demonstrate knowledge of South African Company Law and Tax.

Full details can be found on the SAICA website. You will need to click the drop down menu under ‘Membership’, and go to ‘How to Register’ then ‘Reciprocity and foreign qualifiers’.

Reciprocal membership in the USA

There is no reciprocal recognition of the ICAEW’s ACA or FCA by the individual state boards regulating accountancy in the United States of America (USA).

Members who want to work as accountants in the USA need to sit the CPA examination of the state board where they will work. In certain instances, where public accountancy is not being practised, it may not be necessary to become a CPA.

There are 54 state boards, each with their own procedure. You should apply directly to the state board for details. The umbrella organisation of CPAs in the USA is the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Its website gives the outline for the Uniform CPA exam and all the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy contact details for each state.

The Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States (ACAUS) can provide specific guidance for ICAEW members on the application process, the American accountancy profession and work practices.

Reciprocal membership in other countries

For countries where we do not have a reciprocal membership agreement with the local institute, you should contact the local institute in the country of choice and the local embassy for immigration/work conditions.