The Path in Brief

Becoming a CA(SA) means an accredited BCom (3 years), a postgraduate CTA/Honours (1–2 years), then a three-year SAICA training contract (articles) at an accredited firm, while passing the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

Step 1: Accredited Undergraduate Degree

Study a SAICA-accredited BCom Accounting at universities such as UCT, Stellenbosch, Wits, UP, or UKZN. Aim to pass every subject first time — failing a module can add a full year.

Step 2: CTA / Honours

The Certificate in the Theory of Accounting is the toughest academic year of the journey, with notoriously high failure rates. Many students repeat it. Budget accordingly.

Step 3: Articles and Board Exams

A three-year training contract at an audit or commerce firm. You earn a salary during this period (roughly R18,000–R28,000/month), which offsets some of the cost. Pass the ITC after CTA and the APC near the end of articles.

"The CA(SA) is expensive and brutal, but it remains the single most reliable ticket to the executive suite in South African business."

The Numbers

  • Total tuition (BCom + CTA): R350,000 – R550,000
  • Forgone earnings during study: R400,000+
  • Newly qualified CA(SA) salary: R600,000 – R800,000/year
  • CFO / senior finance (10+ years): R1.75m – R4m+/year

For those who complete it, the return on investment is strong: the qualification opens doors to finance leadership, investment banking, and the boardroom faster than almost any other route.