Public Practice Program - eLearning

This new on-demand eLearning program focuses on the technical and ethical requirements to become a CPA Australia Public Practitioner.

There are five modules to complete as follows:

1. Offering a Public Accounting Service (PAS)
2. Public Practice Certificate
3. Ethical standards
4. Quality management (APES 320)
5. Risk management (APES 325)

Each eLearning module has a corresponding multiple-choice question assessment which requires a 75% pass mark to succeed.

Please note, ASA members are able to enrol and complete the eLearning course however you must be a fully qualified CPA member to enrol in the Public Practice program workshop and subsequently apply for your Public Practice Certificate. The Public Practice Program workshop is only available in Australia and New Zealand. Refer to the website for more information. 

Offering a PAS (45 minutes)

• List the general CPA Australia By-Law requirements for the provision of PAS
• List the requirements of a specific PAS
• List the requirements of the APES 210 Conformity with Auditing and Assurance Standards
• List the requirements of the APES 215 Forensic Accounting Services
• List the requirements of the APES 220 Taxation Services
• List the requirements of the APES 225 Valuation Services
• List the requirements of the APES 230 Financial Planning Services
• List the requirements of the APES 330 Insolvency Services

Public Practice Certificate (60 minutes)

• Define Public Accounting Services (PAS)
• List the requirements to hold a Public Practice Certificate (PPC)
• List the features and requirements of Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) to meet the obligations for PPC holders
• List the requirements of branding as a CPA Australia practice
• Detail the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements of professional accountants
• Describe the Professional Standards Scheme and its benefits for accountants
• Describe CPA Australia’s complaints and disciplinary process

Ethical standards (45 minutes)

• Explain why ethical behavior is important to a profession
• Define the five fundamental principles of ethics
• List the three steps in the conceptual framework
• State the reporting requirements for Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations (NOCLAR)
• Apply the conceptual framework to identify, evaluate and address threats
• Describe the scope, application and requirements of five further ethical standards

Quality management (APES 320) (1 hour 45 minutes)

• List the requirements of APES 320 Quality Control for Firms
• Describe the nature and scope of CPA Australia’s Quality Review Program
• Identify common breaches of professional standards, legislative or regulatory requirements identified by the Quality Review Program

Risk management (APES 325) (30 minutes)

• List the requirements of APES 325 Risk Management for Firms
• List the steps in the risk management process
• Describe how managing client expectations reduces risk
• Describe how terms of engagement can manage risk