How to become a CA(SA)

The minimum requirements for university admission are a Level 5 pass in Mathematics, together with a National Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption. You need to take pure Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy) as a subject. A good grounding in English is essential, as it will help you to understand the concepts you will study. Having Accounting as a school subject could help you in your studies towards your degree, but at most universities this is not compulsory.

Ensure that the education provider you are applying to offers qualification/programmes that are accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). A full list of the SAICA-accredited undergraduate degrees, bridging programmes and postgraduate/honours degree programmes are available here.

In order to be eligible to write the first qualifying examination of SAICA’s board examinations, the Initial Test of Competence (ITC), you must have passed and completed a SAICA-accredited postgraduate or honours degree.

Please note that there are certain requirements set out by each education provider which determines your eligibility to sit for the SAICA ITC.

If you hold a matric certificate with pure Maths and will be studying on a part-time basis towards a SAICA-accredited qualification, you could immediately enter into a training contract with a registered training office. The duration of the contract will be five years and you will be expected to study for (and pass) the qualification.

Proof of your registration for a SAICA-accredited undergraduate degree will be required upon registering your SAICA training contract.

Another option is to complete your SAICA-accredited undergraduate qualification or bridging programme on a full-time basis and enter into a three-year training contract with a registered training office, once you have successfully completed your SAICA-accredited undergraduate degree or bridging programme.

The second part of your path towards becoming a CA(SA) entails completing a learnership programme. This is known as a training contract, and one which a trainee accountant enters into with a registered training office. Click here to find a training office.

The final two steps on your pathway to becoming a CA(SA) involve passing two qualifying examinations, namely the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). Both of these exams are set and administered by SAICA.

To qualify for entry to the ITC, you must have passed the CTA or equivalent CA(SA) exam. This generally means that candidates enter for the ITC during their first year of their training contracts if they studied full time or the fourth year if they have been studying part-time. A CTA is valid for three years. This means candidates will be eligible to sit for the ITC exam for a period of three consecutive years, starting the year after obtaining a CTA or equivalent qualification. There are two examination opportunities per year for the ITC, namely in January and June of each year. This means candidates have a maximum of six attempts at the ITC.

To qualify for entry to the APC, a candidate must have:

1. Passed the ITC.
2. Completed a minimum of 20 months of a registered training contract with an accredited training office, by the beginning of the month in which the assessment is written.
3. Successfully completed a professional programme with a registered provider.

The professional programme remains valid for a period of three consecutive years, which means that the APC must be passed within those three years; otherwise, you will have to complete a professional programme again.

After completing your learnership and the qualifying exams, only one step remains: registering as a member with SAICA.

You will then be allowed to use the CA(SA) designation and be recognised as having fulfilled all the conditions to be acknowledged as a chartered accountant.

If you are a qualified member of another professional accountancy body, you may be eligible to register with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) as a chartered accountant (SA) (CA(SA)). We offer various routes to membership.