NZICA ATOs
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Approved Training Organisations

An Approved Training Organisation (ATO) is an organisation that meets NZICA's standards for offering the type of work experience that fulfils the practical experience requirements for Chartered Accountant and Associate Chartered Accountant membership.

ATOs provide an appropriate environment for candidates to develop the skills and attributes to become competent Chartered Accountants or Associate Chartered Accountants. The approval process ensures that practical experience is planned, supervised and gained in a quality environment.

Why become an Approved Training Organisation?

In today's competitive job market it's important to attract and retain the best staff. Becoming an NZICA Approved Training Organisation will help you to become the employer of choice for high-quality graduates. This will attract graduates who are motivated to develop their skills and abilities within your organisation.

If you register your organisation as an Approved Training Organisation, we'll help you develop your training and development systems. We're here to guide you through the implementation of training plans, mentoring relationships and performance appraisal systems. This will allow your organisation to support your employees and offer them multiple options in terms of career progression.

How to become an Approved Training Organisation

Organisations of all sizes can become Approved Training Organisations. It's not difficult to apply, but you'll need to show how your organisation can deliver a suitable programme of practical experience for trainees.

Organisations of all sizes and sectors can become an ATO, provided they:

  • offer practical experience in technical and non-technical areas of accounting
  • have processes to plan, monitor and review a trainee's progress
  • provide resources to assist staff development
  • provide suitable people to act as mentors to trainees
  • support a trainee through our professional competence programme.

As an ATO, your organisation will enjoy:

  • the ability to attract high-quality graduates
  • being an employer of choice for future CAs or ACAs
  • the loyalty of existing staff who aim to become a CA or ACA.

Complete the application for ATO status (PDF, 523 KB)

Document your practical experience (DOC, 153 KB)

Read the CA and ACA training log (PDF, 999 KB)

Read the training guidelines for employers (PDF, 387 KB)

ATO Report

ATOs are periodically asked to confirm information about their organisation and demonstrate that an appropriate environment exists. ATOs face the possibility of a review of their status if they are unable to meet the required standards or fail to provide an ATO Report.

Complete the ATO Report (PDF, 71 KB)

For more information, contact customer@nzica.com.