How to Become a Chartered Accountant in South Africa

Chartered Accountants (CAs) are among the most respected professionals in the business world. In South Africa, they are accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). Becoming a CA is a rigorous process, requiring dedication and a clear understanding of the pathway. This article outlines the essential steps to achieve this prestigious qualification.

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What Is a Chartered Accountant?

A Chartered Accountant is not just a financial expert—they are trained business leaders capable of managing corporate finances, making strategic decisions, and even launching and running successful businesses. In South Africa, CAs often go on to become CEOs or executives in major organizations. Their expertise spans financial reporting, decision-making, auditing, and taxation, making them indispensable in any industry.

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The Path to Becoming a Chartered Accountant

Step 1: High School Preparation

Your journey starts in high school with subject selection:

• Pure Mathematics: Essential for university admission, with top universities like UP requiring at least 70%.
• English: A minimum score of 50-60% is generally needed.
• Academic Excellence: Aim for a strong APS score (e.g., 34 for UP) to maximize your chances of getting into leading universities.

Step 2: University Education

1. Choose an Accredited Program: Ensure your degree program is accredited by SAICA. A full list of accredited institutions is available on SAICA’s website.
2. Undergraduate Degree: Complete a three-year bachelor’s degree focusing on finance and business subjects.
3. Postgraduate CTA Year: After your undergraduate studies, pursue a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA). This one-year program includes:
   • Financial Accounting
   • Financial Management
   • Auditing
   • Taxation

CTA equips students with the specialized knowledge needed for board exams and professional practice.

Step 3: Training Contract (Articles)

Once your academic studies are complete, you will enter a three-year training contract, known as articles. During this time:

1. Choose Your Training Environment:
   • Audit firms (e.g., Deloitte, PwC)
   • Commercial companies (e.g., Shoprite, banks)
   • Government institutions (e.g., Auditor-General)
2. Board Exams: Pass two critical exams:
   • Initial Test of Competence (ITC): Tests foundational knowledge.
   • Assessment of Professional Competence (APC): Evaluates advanced professional judgment.
3. Practical Experience: Accumulate 3,600 hours of core work experience, demonstrating mastery of SAICA’s required competencies.

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More Ways to Becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA))

Becoming a Chartered Accountant South Africa (CA(SA)) is a prestigious and challenging journey, but it offers significant career rewards. In this guide, we’ll explore how you can achieve this professional designation through various academic pathways, including SAICA-accredited degrees, non-CA degrees, diplomas, and higher certificates. To bring clarity, we’ll include relevant insights and quotes from Zintle Ntanjana’s detailed video on how to become a CA in South Africa:

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How to Become a CA(SA) with a Non-CA Degree

If your undergraduate degree is in accounting but not specifically CA-aligned, you’ll need to pursue a bridging programme to get on track.

What to Do

• Enrol in a SAICA-endorsed bridging programme like the Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences (CTA stream), often available through institutions like UNISA.
• Zintle explains:
  “If you don’t have a SAICA-accredited degree but it’s accounting-related, then you would apply for the 98230 Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences.”

Steps After the Bridging Programme

1. Postgraduate Qualification: Progress to a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Accounting Sciences (e.g., CTA 2).
2. Follow the Standard Route: Take the ITC, complete articles, and eventually pass the APC.

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How to Become a CA(SA) with a Non-Accounting Degree

Even if your degree is unrelated to accounting, you can still pursue the CA(SA) designation with some additional steps.

What to Do

• Start with the Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences, which is designed for students from non-accounting backgrounds.
• Zintle notes:
  “If you did an engineering or science degree, you first need to do an Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences (code 90017 at UNISA).”

Steps After the Certificate

1. Progress to the Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences (CTA stream).
2. Follow the same route as non-CA degree holders: complete a postgraduate diploma, pass the ITC, and continue with articles.

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How to Become a CA(SA) with a Diploma

If you have a diploma, you’ll need to ensure it aligns with SAICA’s requirements.

Specific Diploma

• Zintle emphasises:
  “The diploma that you need is the 98200 Diploma in Accounting Sciences. Other diplomas, like internal auditing, won’t work for this path.”

Steps to Progress

1. After completing your diploma, move on to the Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences (CTA stream).
2. Then, enrol in a postgraduate diploma (e.g., PGDA or CTA).
3. Follow the standard route with board exams and articles.

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How to Become a CA(SA) with a Higher Certificate

For students who didn’t achieve the required marks in matric, a higher certificate offers a starting point.

What to Study

• Begin with the Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences (code 98201 at UNISA).
• Zintle explains:
  “If you passed matric with an H, you can start with the Higher Certificate. After this, you have two choices: move to the Diploma in Accounting Sciences or a SAICA-accredited bachelor’s degree.”

Steps After the Higher Certificate

1. Option 1: Enrol in the Diploma in Accounting Sciences, followed by the bridging programme, postgraduate diploma, and board exams.
2. Option 2: Gain admission to a SAICA-accredited bachelor’s degree, allowing you to take a more direct route to the postgraduate stage.

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Important Considerations for All Pathways

1. Accreditation: Always ensure your programmes and training firms are SAICA-accredited. Zintle stresses:
   “The worst thing that can happen is serving three years of articles, only to find out it’s not accredited by SAICA.”
2. Board Exam Costs: Budget for the ITC (~R6,000 per attempt) and APC (~R7,500), along with preparatory courses.
3. Articles: Choose between TIP (Training in Public Practice) for auditing roles or TOPP (Training Outside Public Practice) for corporate roles.

Why Pursue Chartered Accountancy?

• Diverse Opportunities: CAs can work in South Africa or abroad, in industries ranging from finance to entrepreneurship.
• Lucrative Salaries: The qualification opens doors to high-paying roles.
• Business Leadership: Gain skills to lead organizations or start your own venture.

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Tips for Aspiring Chartered Accountants

1. Choose the Right University: Institutions with strong board exam pass rates improve your chances of success.
2. Stay Persistent: The journey is challenging but rewarding. Many successful CAs needed more than one attempt to pass exams or complete coursework.
3. Leverage Support Networks: Seek guidance from mentors, peers, and professional organizations like SAICA.

Becoming a Chartered Accountant in South Africa requires dedication, focus, and hard work. By understanding the steps and preparing strategically, you can join the ranks of professionals who shape the financial and business landscape. Whether you aim to lead a corporation or start your own business, the CA designation equips you for success.