Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Accounting
Complete the CA Program with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) before you enter the workforce with this new fast-track, part-time qualification. The first intake is in January 2025.
Why study the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Accounting?
If you're an accounting masters graduate looking for a fast-track route to complete the CA Program and pass all your exams before entering the workforce, we have the perfect course for you!
Our Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (CA Program) will allow you to achieve the professional requirements of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) in just 9 months of part-time study at university.
This process normally takes up to 3 years while juggling study and exams around a busy full-time job as an accountant.
The PGCertPA (CA Program) is delivered by the University of Waikato in partnership with CAANZ. It's ideal for anyone who has already graduated from our Master of Professional Accounting or our Bachelor of Business in Professional Accounting. Please see 'Entry requirements' below for more details.
The part-time course starts in January each year and finishes in September. Each eight-week module is taught face-to-face in Hamilton by our acounting lecturers at Waikato Management School through a mix of lectures and tutorials.
Exams will be held at the end of each module and externally assessed by CAANZ for quality assurance purposes.
This qualification is accredited by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, so graduates will receive full membership status of CAANZ once they have gained three years' work experience in an accounting role.
Degree information
-
Plan your study -
Entry Requirements To be eligible to enrol for the PGCertPA, you must have completed one of the following qualifications at the University of Waikato:
- either the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting pathway) with at least a B-minus grade average across the 300-level accounting papers; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (220 points) at the University of Waikato prior to 2024; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (180 points) at the University of Waikato (2024 onwards). You don't need to complete the ethics module, as this is already covered in the new MPAcct programme.
- or an equivalent qualification recognised by CAANZ.
* This two-week ethics module is offered four times a year in January, March, June, and September. Enrolments close two weeks before the start date. You can study the module online through CAANZ, once you have applied to gain provisional membership of CAANZ.
Note: This is a part-time programme taught over 9 months, so international students may not be eligible for a visa. We also offer a full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (120 points).
To enrol for the PGCertPA, you must have completed one of the following qualifications at the University of Waikato:
- either the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting pathway) with at least a B-minus grade average across the 300-level accounting papers; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (220 points) at the University of Waikato prior to 2024; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (180 points) at the University of Waikato (2024 onwards). You don't need to complete the ethics module, as this is already covered in the new MPAcct programme.
- or an equivalent recognised qualification.
* This two-week ethics module is offered four times a year in January, March, June, and September. Enrolments close two weeks before the start date. You can study the module online through CAANZ, once you have applied to gain provisional membership of CAANZ.
-
Fees and scholarships -
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
-
To be eligible to enrol for the PGCertPA, you must have completed one of the following qualifications at the University of Waikato:
- either the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting pathway) with at least a B-minus grade average across the 300-level accounting papers; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (220 points) at the University of Waikato prior to 2024; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (180 points) at the University of Waikato (2024 onwards). You don't need to complete the ethics module, as this is already covered in the new MPAcct programme.
- or an equivalent qualification recognised by CAANZ.
* This two-week ethics module is offered four times a year in January, March, June, and September. Enrolments close two weeks before the start date. You can study the module online through CAANZ, once you have applied to gain provisional membership of CAANZ.
Note: This is a part-time programme taught over 9 months, so international students may not be eligible for a visa. We also offer a full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting (120 points).
To enrol for the PGCertPA, you must have completed one of the following qualifications at the University of Waikato:
- either the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting pathway) with at least a B-minus grade average across the 300-level accounting papers; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (220 points) at the University of Waikato prior to 2024; PLUS you must also have completed the Ethics and Business* CA module from CAANZ;
- or a Master of Professional Accounting (180 points) at the University of Waikato (2024 onwards). You don't need to complete the ethics module, as this is already covered in the new MPAcct programme.
- or an equivalent recognised qualification.
* This two-week ethics module is offered four times a year in January, March, June, and September. Enrolments close two weeks before the start date. You can study the module online through CAANZ, once you have applied to gain provisional membership of CAANZ.
-
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 13 February 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
Qualification regulations
Please refer above to the online degree planner for the PGCertPA (CA Program).
You can read the full Regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (CA Program) in the University of Waikato Calendar.
Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting
If you are looking for full-time study to complete your CA, take a look at out new Postgraduate Diploma In Professional Accounting (CA Programme).