CPA Skill Assessment
CPA Skill Assessment Guidance for Accounting Professionals
Professional guidance for preparing and submitting your CPA skill assessment application with clarity, accuracy, and confidence.
We provide structured guidance and documentation support for CPA skill assessment applications.
What is CPA Australia Skill Assessment?
CPA Australia is an Australian assessing authority responsible for evaluating accounting qualifications for migration purposes. A CPA skill assessment determines whether your academic qualifications meet the educational requirements for your nominated accounting occupation under skilled migration pathways.
The assessment primarily focuses on:
- Academic qualification equivalency
- Core accounting knowledge areas
- English language requirements (if applicable)
A positive accounting skill assessment is generally required for migration occupations such as Accountant (General), Management Accountant, Taxation Accountant, and related roles.
We provide structured guidance to help you prepare a clear, well-documented, and properly aligned CPA skill assessment application.
A Brief Introduction to CPA Australia
Structured Guidance to Navigate Your CPA Skill Assessment Successfully
CPA Australia qualification assessment and core knowledge areas
CPA looks at the level of your degree, then at what it actually taught you.
Bachelor-level equivalence
Your qualification must be assessed as equivalent to at least an Australian bachelor's degree, using guidance from the federal employment and education departments.
Relevance to your occupation
CPA then judges how relevant your studies are to the occupation you nominated. If your course appears on CPA's accredited course list, you do not need to supply a syllabus.
The seven core knowledge areas
Taxation Accountant
Your studies must also cover Australian taxation law, on top of the seven core areas.
External Auditor
Your studies must also cover audit and assurance, on top of the seven core areas.
Occupations assessed by CPA Australia, with ANZSCO codes
Pick the ANZSCO occupation that truly matches your studies and work. A wrong choice can affect your visa pathway and your outcome.
| Occupation | ANZSCO code | Knowledge areas CPA checks |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant (General) | 221111 | Seven core areas |
| Management Accountant | 221112 | Seven core areas |
| Taxation Accountant | 221113 | Seven core areas plus Australian taxation law |
| External Auditor | 221213 | Seven core areas plus Audit and assurance |
| Corporate Treasurer | 221212 | Seven core areas |
| Finance Manager | 132211 | Seven core areas |
Make Sure Your CPA Application is Prepared the Right Way
Accurate academic documentation and proper occupation selection are critical in a CPA Australia assessment. Structured preparation reduces delays and rework.
CPA Australia Application Format & Requirements
The CPA Australia assessment process generally involves reviewing:
Eligibility Checklist
- Correct ANZSCO occupation selection
- Recognized academic qualification
- Completion of required core knowledge areas
- English language proficiency (if applicable)
- Proper document formatting
Key Documents Typically Required
- Academic qualification certificates
- Official academic transcripts
- Detailed syllabus (if required)
- English test results (if required)
- Passport / identity documents
- Updated Resume/CV
CPA Australia English language requirements
Minimum scores for IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and other accepted tests taken on or after 7 August 2025.
| English test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 |
| TOEFL iBT | 22 | 22 | 26 | 24 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 175 | 179 | 193 | 194 |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 61 | 63 | 74 | 59 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 67 | 71 | 78 | 82 |
| CELPIP General | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
Exempt passports
Holders of a valid passport from Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the USA are exempt, for applications submitted after 7 May 2026.
Validity
A test result is valid for three years from the test date, and it must still be in date when your outcome is issued. The Accounting Professional Year Program has no expiry for assessment purposes.
Not accepted
At-home or online tests, and TOEFL iBT results from 26 July 2023 to 5 May 2024. Your PTE report must show both the Score Report Code and Registration ID.
Things to Consider While Preparing CPA Australia Application
CPA Australia skills assessment fee for onshore and offshore applicants
Fees are in Australian dollars and depend on where you apply from.
| Application type | Onshore | Offshore | Singapore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualification assessment | $565 | $514 | $560 |
| Fast Track qualification assessment | $675 | $614 | $669 |
| Combined assessment (qualification and skilled employment) | $620 | $564 | $615 |
| Qualification assessment, additional ANZSCO code | $260 | $236 | $257 |
| Fast Track qualification assessment, additional ANZSCO code | $310 | $282 | $307 |
| Skilled employment assessment | $260 | $236 | $257 |
| Combined assessment, additional ANZSCO code | $350 | $318 | $347 |
| Qualification assessment update | $185 | $168 | $183 |
| Skilled employment assessment update | $185 | $168 | $183 |
| Review | $185 | $168 | $183 |
| Administration fee (on withdrawal) | $85 | $77 | $84 |
Who you pay
The assessment fee is paid to CPA Australia, the assessing authority, through its online application portal using an account in the applicant's own name. A migration agent can manage the application from their own CPA account, but the assessment fee still goes to CPA. Any fee from a consultancy for preparing your documents is separate.
Withdrawals and refunds
If you withdraw before any work begins, an administration fee applies ($85 onshore, $77 offshore, $84 Singapore). Once preliminary work has started, the assessment fee is not refunded.
CPA Australia processing time: standard and Fast Track assessment
Times are indicative and can change with application volumes.
The clock starts only when CPA holds your complete set of documents. Weekends, public holidays and the end-of-year office closure do not count. If CPA asks for more information, your application goes on hold and the clock restarts when the information arrives. Fast Track applies to qualification assessments only, including additional ANZSCO qualification assessments, and not to skilled employment.
Mistakes that delay or sink a CPA Australia skills assessment
Most problems come from the paperwork, not from the applicant's skills. Check these six before you submit.
Poor-quality scans
Cropped, blurred or pixelated scans are a common reason documents are rejected.
Certified copies
CPA wants high-resolution colour scans of originals, not certified copies.
My eQuals without the ribbon
Electronic transcripts and awards must be the signed PDFs that show the blue ribbon.
At-home English tests
Only tests taken at authorised test centres are accepted, and results must be verifiable.
Generic job duties
Duties copied from ANZSCO or written in generic terms are rejected. Use the employer's own words.
The wrong signatory
A testimonial signed by a colleague at the same level or below, or a CV in its place, does not meet the standard.
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CPA Australia Skill Assessment FAQs
We have similar questions come our way all the time. Therefore, such frequently asked topic and questions are clearly answered below.
What does CPA Australia assess?
Which occupations does CPA Australia assess?
How long does a CPA Australia skills assessment take?
Does CPA Australia assess work experience?
How much does a CPA Australia skills assessment cost?
What are core knowledge areas?
Is English language required?
Can incorrect occupation selection affect my application?
How long is a CPA Australia skills assessment valid?
What if my outcome says I need further study?
Can I apply for a provisional skills assessment?
Can a migration agent lodge my CPA application?
Can I ask for a review of my CPA outcome?
Feeling Unsure About Your CPA Australia Application?
Get structured guidance before you submit.
