Membership
If you want to gain ICAEW membership, you’ll need to pass the ACA exams and complete a training agreement with an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer (ATE). You may be eligible for credit for prior learning or credit for work experience.
Practising certificate
If you intend to practise in the UK or EEA once you are an ICAEW member, you must apply for an ICAEW practising certificate and you can do this when completing the online membership application form. You can also cite your membership time with CPA Australia towards the 2-year membership requirement for a practising certificate.
Audit rights
If you wish to obtain audit signing rights in the UK, you will need to hold the Audit Qualification (AQ) and be nominated for responsible individual (RI) status by a firm of registered auditors.
Your route to the AQ will depend on how you gained CPA Australia membership and your audit status in Australia or New Zealand. This is because the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), who is responsible for audit recognition in the UK, has assessed the requirements on a country-by-country basis. You do not need to hold ICAEW membership or an ICAEW practising certificate in order to obtain the AQ under these routes.
New Zealand
If you currently hold Licensed Auditor status in New Zealand, you can apply for the AQ under the Aptitude Test Route (New Zealand).
If you do not hold Licensed Auditor status in New Zealand, but gained CPA Australia membership by passing New Zealand variant exams, you can apply for the AQ under the Experience Route (New Zealand).
Australia
If you are currently a Registered Company Auditor with ASIC, you can apply for the AQ under the Aptitude Test Route (Australia).
If you are not a Registered Company Auditor with ASIC but gained CPA Australia membership by passing the Australian variant CPA exams, you can apply for the AQ under the Experience Route (Australia).