CPA Australia, CPA Program 2022/23

_{^{Image: CPA Program previous recipients (L to R) Sharon Dick, Dungog & District Neighbourcare; Chanh Tieu, St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra Goulburn; Annie Harris, Brisbane Youth Service; Emma Russoniello, The Grey Space Organisation}}

CPA Australia and the Australian Scholarships Foundation offer up to five 100% scholarships annually. This scholarship enables managers and financial officers of registered charitable organisations to enhance their knowledge and skills to further contribute to the management and accountability of charitable not-for-profit organisations.

Program overview

You can never know what’s around the corner, but with the right preparation, you can be ready for it. The CPA Program allows you to safeguard your career with the backing of a world-renowned designation and a network of industry experts. The CPA Program combines internationally relevant subject content with cutting-edge resources, to ensure you are equipped to succeed – both in your current role and into the future.

The CPA Program scholarship entitles recipients to an exemption from the CPA Program subject fees. The award covers subject enrolment fees starting from the date awarded.

To complete the CPA Program, you’ll need to complete six subjects: four compulsory and two elective subjects*. The four compulsory subjects are Ethics and Governance, Strategic Management Accounting, Financial Reporting, Global Strategy and Leadership.

* If you’ve already completed recognised studies in tax and auditing, you’re free to choose any elective. However, if you haven’t completed recognised studies in tax and audit this will be a compulsory subject in your CPA program and you must sit Australia Taxation, and/or Advanced Audit and Assurance. 

The CPA Program subject is delivered over a single semester – or half a year – with an exam at the end.

Semester dates

Successful applicants in this scholarship round will be given the choice of beginning their studies in either Semester 1 or Semester 2 in 2023.

• Semester 1: Starts late January 2023 (date TBC)
• Semester 2: Starts August 2023 (date TBC)

Exact start dates to be announced by CPA Australia in November 2022. Click here to see important CPA Program related dates on their website.

Study mode

The CPA Program was designed to support those who prefer the freedom of studying whenever and wherever you like at your own pace, to make juggling your work, life and study commitments more manageable by studying via distance learning.

The CPA Australia Guided learning supports our Associate members to achieve great results in their CPA Program exams. We know everyone has a different approach to learning, and many students excel through structured study, Guided learning offers a range of tools and resources for all subjects

Program duration

Once you have been accepted into the CPA Program*, you’ll have six years to complete the CPA Program which includes the Your Experience requirement to advance to CPA status.

When you complete the CPA Program and achieve CPA status, you’ll be equipped with the technical and leadership skills required of today’s accounting professionals.

*See Eligibility requirements below for details on how to gain entry into the program.

Scholarship inclusions

There are five 100% scholarships available, which will entitle recipients to enrolment into the six CPA Program subjects, valued at approximately $7,740. The scholarship award does not cover completed subject fees prior to receiving the scholarship, Foundation subjects, deferral fees or CPA Australia membership fees.

The scholarships will be awarded each November. They are effective from the date awarded and will be tenable for six years, subject to the satisfactory progress by the recipients towards the completion of the CPA Program.

The scholarship does not require the recipient to render any service to the donors.

Scholarship timeline

Date	Timeline
22 August 2022	Applications open
25 September 2022 at 11.59pm AEST	Applications close
25 October 2022	Additional documentation requested from shortlisted applicants
28 October 2022	Additional documentation due from shortlisted applicants
4 November 2022	All scholarship applicants are notified of the selection outcomes
9 November 2022	Scholarship acceptance due from successful applicants
January 2023	Semester 1 begins

Who should apply

Managers and finance / accounting professionals of a registered charitable not-for-profit organisations Australia-wide.

Eligibility requirements

Scholarship applicants must:

• be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident
• provide evidence that they are currently employed as managers or financial officers at ACNC registered charitable not-for-profit organisations (volunteers, including volunteer board directors, are not eligible for this scholarship)
• have at least 12 months full-time (or part-time equivalent) accounting work experience 
• be currently employed at least 17.5 hours per week
• hold a recognised degree assessed by CPA Australia as comparable to an Australian bachelor’s degree level or at least 8 standard units (one year full-time) of the Australian postgraduate degree level
• be assessed as eligible to join CPA Australia at Associate level or is a current Associate member. To be eligible to join as Associate member, you must have completed an accredited degree or be assessed as meeting all of the Foundation competency requirements.
• fulfil the Australian Scholarships Foundation’s general eligibility requirements available on our FAQs page

Scholarship applications will be assessed for entry into the CPA Program through their scholarship application. Please ensure you have supplied the correct documentation to support your application.

Supporting documentation 

As part of the application process, you are required to upload a copy of your up-to-date resume.

You are also required to provide an endorsement letter written by your organisation, i.e., the CEO (or member of the Board if you are the CEO of your organisation). Please see #12 of our FAQ’s for some tips on what to include in the endorsement letter. 

If you are not yet a current Associate member of CPA Australia, you will be assessed for entry into the CPA Program through your scholarship application. To enable this, you must also submit the following documents:

• A high-quality, coloured scan or photo* of your original degree award certificate and official itemised transcript, showing subjects passed by year and grades awarded
• A high-quality, coloured scan or photo* of your original professional body documents (if held), including your membership certificate and official exam results.

*Please ensure you adhere to CPA Australia’s requirements for this supporting documentation HERE.

Application process

To apply for a scholarship, please complete the following steps:

1. Click ‘APPLY NOW’ above and follow the prompts
2. Complete an online Australian Scholarships Foundation scholarship application form, upload a resume and an endorsement letter from your NFP organisation (see #12 of our FAQs for guidance)
3. Upload additional supporting documentation: If you are not yet a current Associate member of CPA Australia, you will be assessed for entry into the CPA Program through your scholarship application. To enable this, you must also submit the following documents:
   • A high-quality, coloured scan or photo* of your original degree award certificate and official itemised transcript, showing subjects passed by year and grades awarded
   • A high-quality, coloured scan or photo* of your original professional body documents (if held), including your membership certificate and official exam results

*Please ensure you adhere to CPA Australia’s requirements for this supporting documentation HERE.

If you have any adjustment requests or accessibility requirements to complete this application form, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] or call 1300 248 675.

Selection process

The scholarships are awarded jointly by the Australian Scholarships Foundation and CPA Australia to applicants who are Australian citizens or permanent residents employed by a charitable not-for-profit organisation and whose completion of the program would, in the Australian Scholarships Foundation’s view, benefit their employing NFP organisation. Selection is based on the applicant meeting the CPA Program’s entry requirements for the nominated program and written reference from the respective charitable organisation. 

Scholarships will be awarded by the selection panel solely based on the applications received. Decisions of the selection panel will be final.

No correspondence or discussion will be entered into concerning any aspect of the award. The panel is not obliged to award any scholarships.

More information

For more information about the CPA Program, please visit CPA Australia’s website or attend an upcoming information session. For any queries regarding the CPA Program or eligibility requirements, contact CPA Australia via [email protected].

Check out CPA Australia’s INTHEBLACK magazine and website for previous stories on past Scholarship recipients.

Have questions? Check our FAQs page for answers to the most common questions. If you need assistance with the scholarship application process, please contact Australian Scholarships Foundation via [email protected].

Applications for the 2023 CPA Australia – CPA Program scholarships close Sunday 25 September 2022 at 11.59pm AEST