While maintaining high standards, the Institute has continued to develop and broaden its educational offering in line with business needs. As this year draws to a close, the Institute will be closely following those non-accounting graduates from new pathways introduced this year, who are due to enrol in the Program in the next few weeks. 
 
Broadening the pathway to enter the Program does not challenge the quality and standing of Chartered Accountants, but extends the pool of talent available to employers who have found it challenging in recent years to fill accounting roles.  
 
Graduates can enter the Chartered Accountants Program by holding a bachelor degree, or relevant masters degree, from a recognised tertiary provider majoring in accounting. For prospective candidates without an accounting degree, there are now two additional pathways. 
 
i) Entrance exam – provided by the Institute 
 
Available for non-accounting graduates with employer support, the new entrance exam introduced this year assesses a candidates’ readiness for the Program and identifies any further study they may need. 
 
A total of 60 applicants sat the entrance exam this year, some of whom are enrolling in the Program for next year.  
 
The exam is targeted at those non-accounting graduates currently employed by an Institute approved employer who have gained on the job knowledge and skills.  
 
ii) Graduate Certificate of Chartered Accounting Foundations 
 
The Graduate Certificate of Chartered Accounting Foundations offered by Deakin University, meets all the academic entry requirements of the Institute. More than 280 students enrolled in the eight unit online course this year. The Graduate Certificate enables students to acquire a basic grounding in financial accounting, management accounting, finance, taxation, audit and corporations law, so that they are eligible to enrol in the Chartered Accountants Program.  
 
 
Relevant links: 
 

• The Institute:Chartered Accountants Program 
  
• The Institute: How to become a CA 
  
• Deakin: Graduate Certificate