Yes, ZICA will start awarding exit certifications at the various levels of CA Zambia following accreditation by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) as follows;  

Students who have passed all 16 papers from December 2017 to June 2021 will be awarded the CA Advisory Professional in Accountancy qualification at the graduation ceremony to be held in 2021.

The CA Certificate in Accountancy and CA Application Advanced Diploma in Accountancy qualifications will only be awarded from the June 2021 examination sitting. This means that students who were remaining with one or more papers to qualify for any of the two qualifications, as stipulated in the above structure of qualifications, and have passed these papers during the June 2021 examinations will be awarded the qualifications. Any students who will subsequently pass their examination sitting as indicated above will be awarded the exit certificates.

The graduation is set for 5th November 2021. because the Institute has to put in place logistics for the graduation to take place; this includes procurement processes for the new certificates and gowns. The ceremony will be virtual due to the Covid-19 prevalence. Transcripts will be availed to all eligible students as soon as the graduate lists are ready.

Answer: The following are the new names for the exit certifications;

1. CA Certificate in Accountancy (ZQF Level 4);
2. CA Application Advanced Diploma in Accountancy (ZQF Level 7); and
3. CA Advisory Professional in Accountancy (ZQF Level 9).

The Diploma in Accountancy is currently being certified after completing both levels (Level 1 and 2) and it is not affected by the new certifications because it is a standalone qualification.

The CA Certificate in Accountancy is a two (2) year programme comprising six (6) courses, 3 courses per year. The CA Application Advanced Diploma in Accountancy is a four (4) year programme comprising twelve (12) courses, 3 courses per year, whereas the CA Advisory Professional in Accountancy comprises four (4) courses and will take a minimum of one (1) year to complete. The duration for these certificates is in line with international requirements.  The programme structure of the qualification is as follows: Outline and Structure

The names of the qualifications have been approved and accredited by ZAQA. ZICA may make changes to the name during the curriculum review process.

Students will now need to pass CA 3.3 before graduating at CA Application Advanced Diploma in Accountancy

Yes, the Institute has already started engaging employers, Government and Human Resource practitioners to explain the new exit certifications through virtual town hall meetings.

You will be awarded the certificates which you would have completed under the CA Zambia programme. For example, if you converted from Licentiate level to Application level, then you would be eligible for the award of the CA Application Advanced Diploma in Accountancy upon completion of the Application level Plus 3.3 Strategic Business Analysis from June 2021 onwards, and CA Advisory Professional in Accountancy upon completion of the Advisory level.

Yes, once the examination component is completed, one can apply to be a graduate member. After practical training and getting the CA Zambia designation, one applies for upgrade to Associate membership. After 5 years of being an Associate, the system automatically upgrades such a member to Fellow membership.

Membership categories are aligned with the new exit qualifications and are not in any way affected by the changes. The membership categories after completing each new exit certification is as follows:

Yes, the CA Advisory Professional in Accountancy certificate will be given to all who completed the examination component and the CA Zambia designation will only be awarded after completion of 3 years’ Practical Training.

The list of approved employers is updated and posted on the ZICA website. If your employer or any employer you are looking for is not on the list, then they are not yet approved. They can however apply for accreditation as approved employers.

You can find a mentor from any ZICA approved employers. Some of the approved employers also take on students who are not their employees. Please click here to access the Approved employer list: . To embark on practical training, see below the 3 versions of Practical Training; Version 1 – Approved employer 

• Find a job placement if not employed and sign employment contract.
• Apply for exemptions from mandatory 3 years if you meet exemption policy
• Select at least 2 of the 9 Technical Competency areas
• Find a mentor to supervise you in your selected Technical areas
• Sign a training contract with your employers and Mentorship agreement with your Mentor
• Develop a training plan in conjunction with the Mentor.
• Document the plan
• Record the demonstrated work experience onto the Competence Review Form (CRF) every quarter
• Ensure the CRF (record of experience) (CFR) is signed off quarterly and submitted to ZiCA every quarter
• Complete and submit the Yearly/Half-Yearly Assessment form to ZiCA every year or six months respectively
• Update the Practical training logbook every year end

• Where organisation cannot provide a mentor, a mentor may be seconded from outside the organisation.
• Develop and document the training plan in conjunction with the Mentor.
• Record the demonstrated work experience onto the Competence Review Form (CRF) every quarter
• Ensure the CRF (record of experience) (CFR) is signed off quarterly and submitted to ZiCA every quarter
• Complete and submit the Yearly/Half-Yearly Assessment form to ZiCA every year or six months respectively
• Update the Practical training logbook every year end

1. The student should identify a mentor (from the available qualified accountants internally) who must be an Associate or Fellow member of ZICA in good standing with the Institute.
2. The Trainee and the Mentor must sign a Mentorship Agreement prescribed by ZICA.
3. The trainee should then keep a record of work undertaken under each competency area which will be validated by the Mentor after the serving the practical training period depending on the exemptions given (if any).
4. At the end of the practical training period, the Mentor must sign off the Practical Training Experience Log Book for the Trainee to confirm achievement of the competencies.
5. A trainee accountant whose Practical Experience Log book has been signed off and meets the ZICA expectations will then be required to sit for a Practical Experience Competence Examination to confirm the competency.
6. The exemptions in the current policy shall apply to Version 2 of the Practical Training too.

1. The trainee should keep a record of work undertaken under each competency area which will be attested by the supervisor or other external assurance persons (CEO of the organization if applicable or other authorities such as external or internal auditors for students who maybe CEO or owners of firms) after serving the relevant practical training period depending on the exemptions given (if any).
2. At the end of the practical training period, the supervisor or other external assurance persons (CEO or other authorities such as external or internal auditors for students who maybe CEO or owners of firms) must attest achievement of the competencies.
3. A trainee accountant whose Practical Experience has been attested under (ii) above will then be required to sit for a Practical Experience Competence Examination to confirm the competency.
4. The exemptions in the current policy shall apply to Version 3 of the Practical Training too.

• Record the demonstrated work experience onto the Competence Review Form (CRF)
• At end of the practical Training period, the Supervisor must attest achievement of competencies  ( a half yearly submission will be appreciated so that we check your progress).
• Once the competencies have been attested and submitted to ZiCA , you will be ready to sit for a Practical Training Competence Examination.

ZICA is continuously engaging the Accountant General’s office to sign the MOU.

The organisation/mentor should be willing to give you work, other than your routine work, which is not listed on your job description to enable you achieve the competences required.

Yes, the Diploma in Accountancy is a stand-alone qualification.  A graduate of the Diploma in Accountancy with a Grade 12 School Certificate with 5 O’ level credits or better including Maths & English joins CA Zambia qualification at CA Application level and must sit for 3 to 4 subjects to be awarded CA Application Advanced Diploma in Accountancy.

ZICA recommends two subjects per sitting. Students are nevertheless at liberty to attempt the number of subjects they are comfortable with bearing in mind crashes in the examination time table.

These are two different qualifications and the student has a preference to choose between starting with Diploma in Accountancy and later moving to CA Zambia or commencing with the CA Zambia qualification. Therefore, there won’t be any conflict as the Diploma is a standalone qualification.

With the full CA Zambia qualification after Advisory Professional in Accountancy, one can enter a University into a Masters programme, however exemption policies of Universities vary so one will have to find out from the preferred University.

You can purchase books from wherever you are. Manuals are available at the ZICA HQ in Lusaka and at the Kitwe offices. One can transfer/deposit the manuals/ revision kit fees into any of the ZICA Account Numbers listed on our website and then email the deposit slip. Note that NO Cash payments are allowed at ZICA Offices.  If you are within Lusaka or Kitwe, you may pass through and collect the manuals/ revision kits at ZICA. If you are outside Lusaka or Kitwe, please add a postage charge of K50.00 per book and provide the physical address where the Institute can send the manuals to via EMS. The prices for CA Zambia manuals range from K225.00 to K320.00 per copy and revision kits range from K100.00 to K290.00. The prices for Diploma in Accountancy range from K200.00 to K300.00 for manuals and K80.00 to K290.00 for revision kits. Diploma in Taxation manuals range from K150.00 to K440.00 Alternatively, the Institute launched the e-version of study manuals and revision kits for the CA Zambia qualifications and the Diploma in Accountancy. Payment for e-Books can be made via ZANACO Billmuster and online. The price for the e-books is K160.00 per copy for both Manuals and revision kits.

CA Zambia examiners are highly experienced specialists from both practice and academia that meet ZICA’s set requirements. They further undergo training from time to time to keep them abreast with developments in their field.

The code will only change when reviewing the CA Zambia syllabus in 2022.

CA Zambia holders get exempted in C1, C2 and C3 of the Diploma in Taxation programme.

Yes, switching programmes is allowed as long as one has 5 O’ level credits including Mathematics and English. A student needs to write officially to the Director Education & Training requesting for this conversion to be done.

ZICA has been working on a mutual recognition agreement with South Africa Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). Once it is concluded, all stakeholders will be advised.

A student needs to initiate the process, ZICA provides the guidelines and the employer must be ready to assist trainees achieve the stipulated competences by providing them with tools and competences required by the programme and even work more than what the job description requires. The institute will monitor the progress quarterly by asking a trainee to submit the work done and assessed by the mentor.

No unfortunately results for September 2021 will not be released by then however students will get transcripts after exam results are released.

ZICA provides for exemptions from the 3 year period of practical training depending on the experience obtained according to our CA Zambia Practical Training Policy. If a trainee holds a manager level position (Manager level experience is interpreted as having worked as an Accountant, or Internal/External Auditor, or Audit Supervisor and above) – they may request for some exemptions in the number of years to undertake the practical training. This is done by writing a letter and sending to ZICA with the Curriculum Vitae for assessment. Once the assessment of the CV is done, ZICA shall advise whether a trainee is eligible for exemption or they will need to do all the three years practical training. The following is the exemption criteria: Exemptions

• 3 to 5 years manager level experience in a relevant accounting role = 1 year exemption.
• More than 5 years manager level experience in a relevant accounting role = 2 years exemption

The Institute has a membership financial waiver policy which was established to provide assistance to members who are unemployed or retired as indicated below;

1. The Institute may allow Members who are out of employment with proof such as a letter of termination of employment, resignation acknowledgement letter or contract termination letter to pay 25% of the current and previous years of subscription fees without penalty. Application of this waiver is on an annual basis, Members need to re-apply should they remain unemployed.
2. Senior Members of the Institute who have retired are entitled to reduced membership fees at 25% of the prevailing fees annually. Members on retirement need not to re-apply annually.