Mutual Recognition Agreements

Information for Chartered Accountants looking to join a membership body overseas

As a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, you may have access to membership of other leading professional accountancy bodies in economies around the world.

As a qualified member, you can work around the world, but may wish to also have access to the local membership body in your new jurisdiction of work. This will ensure you have a designation that is recognised where you now live and can avail of relevant member supports such as CPD etc. 

Because of local variations in rules and procedures, it is not possible to create a guide that will apply to all jurisdictions, but below is the key information and outline of steps to take. 

The Institute has Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) in place with several bodies around the world, allowing our members to become reciprocal members while maintaining their Chartered Accountants Ireland membership (dual membership). 

Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) 

If you know where you will be working, you should check whether an MRA exists with the membership body in that country. 

Note that you do not need to be a member to be able to work as a Chartered Accountant, but you may not be able to access all benefits of membership of a representative body. 

The Institute currently has MRAs in place with:

• The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)/ National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)
• Chartered Professional Accountants Canada (CPA Canada)
• The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW)
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ)
• The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
• The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)

Interested members should contact Ronan O'Loughlin, Executive Head of Education Policy, for specifics on accessing membership and working in your chosen jurisdiction.

Possible exclusions: working in practice or audit 

It is important to note that special conditions can and usually do exist for anyone looking to work in practice. This may entail sitting local exams in company law and tax (or similar), but the requirements vary by country. If you wish to work in practice, it is suggested you gain rights in Ireland (ROI or NI) first, including passing the audit elective and obtaining the Audit Qualification before seeking rights overseas. In some jurisdictions, practice rights and membership are both required and an examination must be passed. You should check these facts before you travel. 

Similarly, special conditions usually exist for anyone who wishes to work in audit, and you should find out what you need to do before you travel. 
 
You may also need to provide a Letter of Good Standing which can be obtained from Professional Standards. 

Maintaining membership of Chartered Accountants Ireland 

There is a reduced membership subscription for members living overseas availing of reciprocal membership. This allows you to maintain your membership and avail of the value and benefits of membership, without being liable for back payments which will apply at the full subscription rate should your Chartered Accountants Ireland membership lapse. 

Find out more: who to contact 

• Our Registry and Subscriptions team
  For queries relating to applying to Chartered Accountants Ireland for reciprocal membership and all queries for Chartered Accountants Ireland members about maintaining their existing membership.  

Information for Chartered Accountants from overseas looking to join Chartered Accountants Ireland  

• Our Registry and Subscriptions team will be happy to assist with progressing an application.  
• Executive Head of Education Policy Ronan O'Loughlin can help with questions about specific agreements.
  
  Members of other bodies who wish to join Chartered Accountants Ireland as dual / reciprocal members under an MRA should check eligibility with our Registry and Subscriptions team in the first instance.  
  
  Our team can tell you if you can enter directly or if you need to sit any exams (Note that exams will be offered as per the existing exam schedule, and subject to the standard fees).
  
  Assessing eligibility is done by a simple online form in the first instance, and once all verification is completed and conditions met, applications are approved by our Oversight Board. 
  
  In most instances, a Letter of Good Standing will be required from the home Institute. 

Professional Accountancy Education Europe (formerly the Common Content Project) 

Chartered Accountants Ireland through Professional Accountancy Education Europe (PAEE) (formerly the Common Content Project) has been working with leading European institutes to develop a new education benchmark for professional accountants. Following the agreement of the new framework the Institute’s own education and assessment processes were assessed to confirm compliance with the requirements. This is particularly relevant to European auditors who wish to register in another EU/EEA state (or Irish auditors who wish to register in other EU/EEA state).