CPA-BC Professional Certification
Get Certified Today
Enrol as a candidate today to start your journey to gaining the CPA-BC Professional Certification in Public Practice Accountancy.
How to Enrol And What to Expect
Prospective candidates must enrol during the official registration window, which is announced in advance. During this period, an online registration form will be made available. To complete the registration, candidates will need to provide basic personal information along with a valid government-issued ID.
Upon successful enrolment, candidates gain access to CPA-BC Learn — a structured learning platform that offers all essential materials needed to prepare for the exam. This includes interactive content, live support sessions, and guidance on completing the required self-reflective piece.
Candidates are given the opportunity to sit for the exam twice during the same certification cycle. If both attempts are made and the candidate does not pass, there may be an option to re-enrol in the next available intake under certain conditions to support further exam preparation.
After completing the certification, individuals can choose to apply for CPA-BC membership. Early membership applications after receiving exam results may come with added benefits.
Have questions or comments?
Committed to raising and maintaining professional standards, the CPA provides an outstanding and extensive CPD programme, which is continually updated and enhanced.
The certification encompasses three core areas: Financial Reporting and Analysis, Advanced Taxation for Accountancy Practitioners, and Advanced Ethics and Compliance for Accountancy Practitioners. Each area focuses on the practical application of technical knowledge in a professional setting. To obtain the certification, candidates must complete a self-reflective piece, exploring their experiences within accountancy, and pass a three-hour, closed-book examination covering all three areas under invigilation.
Any accountant aspiring to enter public practice in the UK, whether independently or as a partner in an existing firm, should consider pursuing this certification. It is an ideal choice for those who have acquired foundational knowledge and wish to advance to the next level.
Achieving this certification demonstrates that you possess the necessary knowledge and experience to act as a principal in an accountancy practice. It reassures clients and fellow professionals that you have mastered the competencies required to be a successful and ethical accountancy practitioner.
Why study the Professional Certification in Public Practice Accountancy:
Recognition
The Certification allows you to join the CPA-BC, showing that you have a strong commitment to professional standards. Upon successfully completing the Certification you can use the postnominals Cert.CPA-BC, showing your mastery of the three domains covered.
Study Support/Training
Candidates have access to CPA-BC Learn, which provides study support in the form of pre-recorded lectures, written notes and practice quizzes. CPA-BC regularly holds live revision and focus sessions led by experienced lecturers.
Remote Exams
The final exam is completed remotely and can be taken from most internet connected computers. Our partners at Meazure Learn will remotely invigilate the exam. To find out more about remote invigilation please visit our partner’s website here.
Candidates should hold either a relevant Level 4 qualification, such as the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting, or be part qualified ACA, ACCA, or CGMA.
Qualified By Experience candidates with at least three years’ experience in a relevant role can also register as candidates for the Certification.
You can look at our prerequisites and exemptions policy here.
Training Highly Competent and Ethical Accountants
Key Dates
To be awarded the Certification, all candidates must pass the final examination. This exam is conducted remotely and is fully invigilated, requiring candidates to complete it under closed-book conditions.
The examination is divided into two sections. Section A comprises a series of multiple-choice questions, while Section B includes three case studies, with questions that require candidates to produce a business document. All questions focus on applying the knowledge covered in each domain to a public practice setting.
Candidates must achieve at least 51% of the available marks in Section A and 50% in Section B to pass.
The CPAA employs experienced and highly qualified academics and practitioners to develop its exam scripts, ensuring the examination is rigorous and relevant.
Successful practising accountants must be able to combine strong technical knowledge with the ability to apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios.
All candidates are required to submit a self-reflective piece that explores their experiences within the accountancy sector. This written piece involves answering a series of set questions designed to challenge candidates to reflect on their experiences and how these relate to the learning objectives of the Certification.
Candidates should have relevant experiences to reflect upon. While there are no specific requirements for the number of hours of experience or particular job titles, candidates should have worked in an accountancy role that has provided them with exposure to ethical and compliance issues, as well as opportunities to apply technical knowledge.
