FAQs

Answer:

Three consecutive years – The successful completion of the professional programme remains valid for a period of three consecutive years starting the year in which the professional programme was successfully completed. This means that the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) must be passed within three consecutive calendar years of having successfully completed the professional programme. [1] If this period has lapsed without the candidate having successfully completed the Assessment of Professional Competence, the candidate shall have to complete a relevant professional programme again before being eligible for entry into the Assessment of Professional Competence again. [2]

[1] This means that candidates have a period of three years within which to pass the Assessment of Professional Competence, irrespective of how many times they actually write or enter for the assessment.

[2] In other words, a candidate shall, in these circumstances, redo a professional programme either at his previous accredited provider or at another accredited provider.

Answer:

Upon successful completion of a professional programme with APT, UCT, Endunamoo or IAS, it is valid for three years. In other words, if the professional programme was passed in 2019, the candidate is eligible to write the APC in November 2019, 2020 and 2021. Should a candidate opt to redo the professional programme, SAICA takes into consideration the last successful result for calculation of the three years.

Answer:

APC Programme

UCT Board Course

Endunamoo Programme

IAS programme

Answer:

Professional programmes for the APC registration window generally start before the IAC June results are released. It is therefore recommended that should you be waiting for the June results, to register within this window period and start the programme. Upon receiving your IAC June results in August, you can decide to either continue or stop the programme should the result be a fail. For more information read Section 6: click here.

Answer:

No, SAICA does not offer a repeaters’ programme, however each of the professional programme providers do offer repeaters’ programmes. Please refer to the following for more information:

APC Programme

UCT Board Course

Endunamoo Programme

IAS programme

Answer:

Due to the rigour of the marking and adjudication process, the CAPD Committee's adjudication shall be final and under no circumstances shall the adjudication be reopened or any answer be re-marked.

Answer:

The marking of the APC is a significant change from the traditional marking approach that has been used by SAICA, as candidates will be ‘evaluated’ (as opposed to being given specific marks) based on their overall submission. The primary objective of the assessment process (which includes writing, evaluation and adjudication) is to identify candidates who have not yet achieved sufficient professional competence for entry into the profession as a CA(SA). This assessment will be the same for all candidates and will not be adapted to the elective selected by candidates in their training contracts. This approach is fully consistent with the Competency Framework which identifies the competencies that all CAs(SA) should possess on entry to the profession. The requirement for passing the APC will be that candidates should have demonstrated competence at the overall level with regard to the case study. The overall marking process consists of:

The development of a consistent application of what a competent answer looks like for each of the required competencies in the case study, and at overall level, amongst markers before marking begins.

(Subsequently SAICA publishes examples of each level of competence – Limited Competence, Competent and Highly Competent –for each of the required competencies in the case study for candidates’ reference. Each script is then evaluated twice, individually, by two different markers. Thereafter they meet to discuss the paper and reach consensus (reconciliation process).

Markers are monitored on a daily basis by team leaders and umpires via an electronic marking tool, in addition to having them mark a ‘consistency’ script for which the levels of competence have been pre-determined by senior markers, to evaluate continued consistency amongst markers.

Moderation of scripts is conducted by the team leader and umpire throughout the main evaluation process.

Regular meetings during the evaluation process are conducted to ensure consistency.

Answer:

Any candidate with a disability who would like a special concession must apply to SAICA on the required form by the required date in order for the panel to assess whether it is appropriate to consider the special concession requested by the candidate making the application.

This is however an exam which assesses professional competence so we would view application of the special concession in a different light to the IAC. Additional time is already built in, and it is therefore unlikely that additional time will be awarded.

For more information on how to apply for special concession and deadline dates, click here.

Answer:

Due to the use of a panel consisting of medical experts, the fee is non-refundable.

Answer:

There are no supplementary exams for the APC. Should a candidate fail, they would need to write again in November of the following year.

Answer:

Booking of venues is unfortunately on a first-come, first-serve basis. Select the venue which represents your second choice and send an email to Support@saica.co.za (With Subject line: ATTENTION EXAMS) indicating that you wish to be placed on the waiting list for your first choice. The waiting list is unfortunately no guarantee that you will get your first choice.

Answer:

The 20 months is calculated from the effective starting date of the training contract and includes the probationary period as defined in the employment contract (if applicable), provided that after expiry of the probation period the trainee enters into a training contract with the training office where the probation period was served, as well as the remission for prior learning in respect of previous relevant experience not gained under a SAICA registered training contract if formally recognised and approved by the training officer (and recorded on TCMS). The 20 months also includes (by way of deducting) any periods of suspension exceeding two months taken in terms of the training regulations and recorded on TCMS. The 20 months will be calculated up to the day before the actual assessment is written. Refer to sections 15, 20 and 4.3 of the training regulations for further clarity on probation, suspension and remission.

Answer:

Once payment is received and the Examinations Department have confirmed that all eligibility requirements have been met, you will be sent an email with your admission letter which will reflect your exam number (also referred to as your assessment number). This is a SAICA-issued number and is only confirmed on your admission letter. A printed copy of your admission letter should accompany you to the examination/assessment to allow you to write the exam.

Further queries in this regard can be directed to Support@saica.co.za (With Subject line: ATTENTION EXAMS).