For an Australian accounting skills assessment, having an accounting, finance or business degree is only one part of the process. The assessing authority also considers whether the subjects completed within the qualification cover the academic areas required for the nominated occupation.
CPA, IPA and CA assess a number of accounting and finance occupations for migration purposes. Their terminology differs slightly, but the academic areas they review are broadly similar for the occupations covered below.
| Occupation | ANZSCO Code |
|---|---|
| Accountant (General) | 221111 |
| External Auditor | 221213 |
| Management Accountant | 221112 |
| Taxation Accountant | 221113 |
| Finance Manager | 132211 |
| Corporate Treasurer | 221212 |
Academic Areas Required
For these four occupations, the main competency areas can be compared as follows:
| Academic Area | CPA | CA | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting foundation | Accounting Systems and Processes | Accounting Systems & Processes | Basic Accounting |
| Business law | Business Law | Business Law | Business Law, including Corporate Law |
| Economics | Economics | Economics | Economics |
| Financial reporting | Financial Accounting and Reporting | Financial Accounting & Reporting | Financial Accounting & Reporting |
| Finance | Finance and Financial Management | Finance | Financial Management |
| Management accounting | Management Accounting | Management Accounting | Cost & Management Accounting |
| Quantitative studies | Quantitative Methods | Quantitative Methods | Statistics |
Although the wording varies between the three assessing bodies, the purpose is similar: checking whether the applicant’s academic studies cover the required accounting knowledge areas.
How the Study Units May Align
An applicant may have relevant subjects spread across more than one qualification. Bachelor’s and Master’s studies can therefore be reviewed together to see where academic content may correspond with the required competency areas.
| Competency Area | Bachelor’s Subjects | Master’s Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting Systems / Basic Accounting | Computer Application in Business; Financial Accounting | Financial Accounting; Financial Analysis |
| Business Law | Business Law | Corporate Laws & Corporate Governance; Mercantile Laws |
| Economics | Economics of Pakistan; Economics | Economics |
| Financial Accounting & Reporting | Advanced Financial Accounting; Financial Accounting | Financial Accounting |
| Finance / Financial Management | — | Financial Management; Banking & Finance; Corporate Finance |
| Management Accounting | Cost Accounting | International Finance |
| Quantitative Methods / Statistics | Business Statistics & Math | Quantitative Methods |
These subjects may be relevant to the corresponding academic areas, but a similar subject name does not by itself confirm that the competency requirement has been met.
Subject Content Matters
Assessing authorities can look beyond the title shown on an academic transcript.
For example, Financial Accounting may be relevant to Financial Accounting and Reporting, while Cost Accounting may contribute to Management Accounting. The actual assessment can depend on what was taught within the unit, the depth of coverage and the learning outcomes.
A competency area may also be covered across more than one subject, while one subject may contribute to several academic areas.
This is why detailed subject outlines or syllabuses can become important where the assessing authority needs more information about what was studied.
Areas That May Need Closer Review
Accounting Systems and Processes
Subjects such as Computer Application in Business, Financial Accounting and Financial Analysis may contain relevant accounting or systems content.
However, the subject content should be reviewed before concluding that the complete Accounting Systems and Processes requirement has been covered.
Management Accounting
Cost Accounting may contain material relevant to Management Accounting, particularly around costing and decision-making.
However, Management Accounting can cover a broader range of areas, so the full subject content needs to be considered.
Similarly, International Finance should not automatically be treated as Management Accounting simply because it relates to finance.
Taxation Law and Audit
The academic requirements can change depending on the nominated occupation.
Two additional areas that may become relevant are:
- Australian Taxation Law
- Audit and Assurance
Australian Taxation Law is particularly relevant where the nominated occupation is Taxation Accountant, while Audit and Assurance becomes important for External Auditor.
For Accountant (General), Management Accountant, Corporate Treasurer and Finance Manager, the core academic requirements are different from those specialist occupations.
The nominated occupation should therefore be confirmed before deciding which academic areas need to be covered.
What If an Academic Area Is Missing?
If one of the required academic areas has not been adequately covered, it does not necessarily mean that no further pathway is available.
Depending on the assessing body and the missing competency, further study or an approved foundation-level subject may sometimes be required before the academic requirement can be satisfied.
The appropriate option depends on:
- the assessing body
- the nominated occupation
- the competency area that is missing
- the applicant’s existing qualifications and subjects
Documents for Unit Assessment
Where detailed subject review is required, useful academic evidence can include:
- Degree or qualification certificates
- Complete academic transcripts
- Subject or unit outlines
- Detailed syllabuses where required
- Evidence of exemptions or credit transfers
- Documents showing subject codes and study periods
These documents help establish what was actually studied rather than relying only on the qualification or subject title.
Key Requirements for an Accounting Skills Assessment
Along with subject or unit mapping, applicants must also meet the qualification, English language, and occupation-specific academic requirements that apply to their nominated occupation.
Qualification Requirement
The qualification generally needs to be assessed as comparable to an Australian Bachelor’s degree or higher.
For overseas qualifications, the assessing body considers the qualification's academic level and then reviews whether the subjects studied cover the required competency areas.
English Language Requirement
English language proficiency is also required as part of the accounting migration skills assessment process.
For approved English tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the minimum scores include:
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 |
| TOEFL iBT | 22 | 22 | 26 | 24 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 175 | 179 | 193 | 194 |
| CELPIP General | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Michigan English Test | 61 | 63 | 74 | 59 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 67 | 71 | 78 | 82 |
English exemptions can differ between assessing bodies. Some authorities may accept eligible passport holders from certain English-speaking countries as meeting the English requirement, while others may still require an approved English test.
Occupation-Specific Competency Requirements
The academic subjects required depend on the nominated occupation.
For Accountant (General), Management Accountant, Corporate Treasurer and Finance Manager, the core academic areas generally include:
- Accounting systems or accounting fundamentals
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Management Accounting
- Finance or Financial Management
- Business Law
- Economics
- Quantitative Methods or Statistics
Additional requirements apply to specialist accounting occupations:
- Taxation Accountant – ANZSCO 221113: Australian Taxation Law
- External Auditor – ANZSCO 221213: Audit and Assurance
The assessing authority reviews the subjects completed to determine whether the required competency areas have been adequately covered. A similar subject title does not automatically mean the requirement has been met, as the syllabus and actual course content may also need to be reviewed.
Why Review Your Units Before Applying?
A preliminary unit review can help identify:
- subjects that appear relevant to each competency area
- how Bachelor’s and Master’s studies may work together
- areas that need closer syllabus review
- possible academic gaps
- documents that may need to be obtained
- areas that may require further study or clarification
A unit review can help applicants understand their academic position before lodgement, but the final decision on whether a subject satisfies a competency requirement remains with CPA, IPA or CA.
How Think Higher Can Help
Think Higher Consultants can help review accounting, finance or business qualifications before an applicant proceeds with a migration skills assessment.
This may include reviewing Bachelor’s and Master’s subjects, comparing them with the academic competency areas relevant to the nominated occupation, identifying subjects that may need more detailed syllabus evidence and helping organise the supporting academic documents.
The purpose of the review is to understand the applicant’s academic position clearly before applying, while recognising that the final assessment outcome is determined by CPA, IPA or CA.
