Why Study / Key Benefits

When it was offered, the PGCertPA was designed as a fast-track route for accounting graduates who wanted to complete the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) professional programme before entering the workforce.

Key benefits included:

• Completion of the CA Program modules through a university-based programme.
• Focused postgraduate study in professional accounting.
• Designed for graduates who had already completed the required academic accounting pathway.
• Delivered in partnership with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
• Covered the professional areas required within the CA Program.
• Face-to-face teaching through lectures and tutorials at Waikato Management School.
• CA ANZ external assessment of examinations for quality assurance.
• The programme was accredited by CA ANZ.
• Graduates could obtain full CA ANZ membership after satisfying the required three years of accounting work experience.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The PGCertPA consisted of eight compulsory CA Program papers, totalling 60 points.

The programme covered the following CA professional areas:

• Risk and Technology
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Taxation
• Business Performance
• Audit and Risk
• Integrated CA Practice.

The eight papers were:

• ACCTP512 – Risk, Technology and Artificial Intelligence
• ACCTP513
• ACCTP514
• ACCTP515
• ACCTP516
• ACCTP517
• ACCTP518
• ACCTP519

Disciplines / Specialisations

There were no separate specialisations within the PGCertPA.

The programme was specifically focused on:

• Professional Accounting
• Chartered Accountancy
• Financial accounting and reporting
• Taxation
• Audit and risk
• Business performance
• Accounting technology
• Integrated CA practice.

Programme Highlights

Historically, the main distinguishing features were:

• CA ANZ-accredited professional qualification.
• 60-point postgraduate certificate.
• Part-time format.
• Approximately 9 months of study.
• Hamilton campus delivery.
• Eight CA Program modules.
• Focus on professional rather than purely academic accounting.
• Delivered in partnership with CA ANZ.
• External CA ANZ assessment of examinations.
• Designed to allow eligible accounting graduates to complete their CA Program before entering the workforce.

Career Outcomes

The qualification was designed primarily as a professional pathway towards Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Graduates who completed the academic and CA Program requirements could progress towards CA ANZ membership, subject to meeting CA ANZ's professional requirements, including the required three years of relevant accounting work experience.

Potential professional areas included:

• Chartered accounting
• Financial accounting
• Management accounting
• Audit
• Taxation
• Risk
• Business performance
• Accounting technology
• Professional advisory services.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

This is the most important section for international-student counselling.

• The final PGCertPA intake was January 2026.
• The programme has been discontinued after that intake.
• The University regulations state that the PGCertPA will not be offered in 2026.
• The related PGDipPA was also discontinued after its January 2026 intake.
• The University's 2026 Accounting subject regulations explicitly confirm that the PGCertPA, PGDipPA and MPAcct Chartered Accountancy endorsement are not offered in 2026, while the standard Master of Professional Accounting continues to be offered. 

International Student Visa Requirements

Since the PGCertPA is no longer available to new students, there is no current visa pathway specifically for this programme.

For historical international students physically studying the qualification in New Zealand, the relevant visa would generally have been the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements for this visa include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for tuition or an applicable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical/travel insurance.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Ability to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.
• Current cost from NZD 850.
• Visa length of up to four years, depending on circumstances.
• Immigration New Zealand currently states that 80% of applications are processed within 8 weeks.