Student FAQs
Provisional membership
Q: When can I apply for provisional membership?
A: Once you have completed the academic requirements for the College you intend to become a member of, you may apply for provisional membership.
Q: What do I need to do to apply for provisional membership?
A: You need to:
• Download and complete an application for provisional membership
• Submit your application, application fee, official academic transcript and supporting documentation to NZICA.
Q: How long will it take to assess my application for provisional membership?
A: Approximately four weeks.
General Practical Experience
Q: Can part-time accounting experience be considered towards the general practical experience requirement?
A: Yes.
Q: How do I covert part-time experience to the full-time equivalent?
A: The following formula will assist you:
number of months x 4.3 = number of weeks
number of weeks x number of hours per week = total hours
total hours / 37.5 = number of weeks
number of weeks / 4.3 = total months worked
Q: Can I gain my general practical experience with more than one employer?
A: Yes. General practical experience may be gained with a maximum of three employers, but must be completed within 48-months of commencement. NZICA will only assess general practical experience if it constitutes a minimum period of six weeks (full-time equivalent).
Q: Can I submit any accounting experience gained in the past?
A: Yes. NZICA accepts general practical experience gained within the last 10 years, from the date of submission of the certificate.
Q: How should my employment details be submitted?
A: Details of your general practical accounting experience should be submitted on a Certificate of General Practical Experience
A separate certificate should be completed for each role you wish to have assessed. Please ensure that each additional page submitted with your certificate is signed and dated by your signatory.
Q: Who can verify my experience?
Your certificate of General Practical Experience should be completed by:
• A full and current member of NZICA, or
• A full and current member of an accounting body affiliated with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
What if I can’t get my certificate signed by an NZICA member of IFAC affiliated body member?
In circumstances where an organisation does not have a NZICA or IFAC affiliated member, the accounting work and assessment of skills can be signed off by a senior member of the organisation, providing staff are satisfied that the work performed is acceptable and it has been performed in a business environment. In these circumstances you should attach a copy of your job description signed by your signatory.
Can my immediate family act as a signatory?
No, immediate family members cannot act as a signatory. If you are in doubt of the suitability of the signatory, please contact the customer service centre on customer@nzica.com.
What if my signatory is unable to determine if the work duties performed are acceptable for General Practical Experience purposes?
The certificate of General Practical Experience, details of the work performed and supporting documentation can be referred to NZICA’s Practical Experience Manager for consideration.
Q: Can I submit a Certificate of General Practical Experience for experience gained overseas?
A: Yes, as long as the Certificate has been completed bay an appropriate signatory (as outlined above).
Q: When should I submit my Certificate(s) of General Practical Experience?
A: Your accounting experience will only be assessed when you have been approved as a provisional member of the Institute.
However, you may submit your Certificate of General Practical Experience with your application for provisional membership if you choose.
Providing you meet the requirements of provisional membership, your Certificate of General Practical Experience will be assessed at the same time.
Q: Can I still enrol in PCE1?
A: No.
PCE1 has been replaced by the Foundations Programme. For full details of the Foundations programme refer to the Foundations Programme information booklet
Q: What is the enrolment process for the Foundations Programme?
A: You need to:
1. Submit Certificate of General Practical Experience (and a provisional membership application form if not already a provisional member) to the NZICA . Receive email confirmation of your eligibility to enrol in Foundations from the Institute
3. Enrol in the Foundations Programme by completing the On-line Enrolment Application form.