APC Competency Framework
The path to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (SA) is a rigorous process of professional development and assessment achieved across various components including the Academic Programme, the IAC and the Training Programme. This final stage comprises two distinct but interconnected components: the Professional Programme (PP) and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).
Together, these components serve as the bridge between the theoretical knowledge acquired in the academic programme (and assessed via the Initial Assessment of Competence - IAC) and the practical application required of a professional entering the workforce.
The Professional Programme: The Professional Programme serves as a bridging programme for all candidates who have completed the IAC, regardless of the training environment. The objectives of the Professional Programme are to
- Perform at higher levels of learning by requiring them to engage in analysis, synthesis and evaluation of past learning and apply it to new scenarios and experiences;
- Integrate principles, theories, and methods learned throughout their previous learning experiences and creatively analyse, synthesize, and evaluate learned knowledge with a professional focus;
- Communicate effectively at a professional entry level;
- Further develop the PVAAs in real-world, open-ended scenarios; and
The APC is the second part of the qualifying examination (QE) and a prerequisite for registration as a CA(SA). It assesses professional competence (professional values and attitudes, enabling and technical competencies) at the level expected of a competent CA(SA) at the point of entry into the profession. However, success in the APC is predicated on the skills developed during the Professional Programme and the training contract.
The CA of the Future competency framework guides the development and the assessment of the CA of the Future At Entry. Access them here.