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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION: 
Chartered Business Accountant in Practice (Chartered BAP) 
DESIGNATION ID DESIGNATION TITLE
520  Chartered Business Accountant in Practice (Chartered BAP) 
PROFESSIONAL BODY DESIGNATION STATUS
CIBA - Chartered Institute for Business Accountants (Formerly SAIBA)  Reregistered 
SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
SAQA 08145/24  2025-03-20  2030-03-19 


DESCRIPTION:
The Chartered BAP is ideal for professionals with experience in delivering outsourced accounting, tax, and financial management services to clients. Earning the Chartered BAP designation demonstrates your ability to manage the finance function for small, medium, and large business clients 
AWARDING CRITERIA
For the Professional Designation to be awarded, professionals must comply with the following minimum requirements: 
Underlying Registered Qualification or Part Qualification:
Commerce Degree or commerce Diploma, minimum NQF Level 6 plus, 4 years relevant experience in an accounting of finance job or 3 years logbook based experience in an accounting firm.

Any one of the following qualifications are accepted by CIBA on condition that relevant subjects are elected:
" Bachelor's degree in of Commerce/Accounting (NQF 7): DHET accredited provider.
" Bachelor of Commerce (NQF 7) DHET accredited provider.
" Bachelor of Technology (NQF 6): DHET accredited provider.
" National Diploma (NQF 6): DHET accredited provider.
Note that there are more than 10 providers for each of the above and a separate submission isrequested.

To qualify for the Chartered Business Accountant in Practice (CBAP) designation, you typically need approximately 4 years of relevant experience in an accounting or finance related role, or 3 years of logbook-based experience within an accounting firm. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be considered.

Academic Component:
Qualifications must have been obtained from a University, University of Technology, or Private Higher Education Institution registered with the Council for Higher Education (CHE).

A typical underlying qualification for the Chartered Business Accountant in Practice designation is, in order of completion:
1. BCom Accountancy (or similar) or National Diploma in Accountancy from an accredited institute of higher learning. The qualification must include the 5 following subjects: Accounting III, Auditing II, Tax II, Management Accounting II, Corporate Law II.
2. NQF 7 or higher.
3. If your qualifications did not include the above you may be eligible to write a CIBA accredited assessment based on RPL. Click here to read more.
4. Alternative qualifications and exemptions may be applicable, for example professional levels achieved from a professional body. Click here to read more
5. All qualifications must be at NQF7 or higher.
6. We apply a Recognition of Prior Learning Policy as required by the NQF Act to those applicants that did not qualify with a BCom Accountancy degree or only attained a part degree. We may require additional years of experience or other interventions such as further education programs to consider the application. Talk to us to learn more about this option.

It is recommended that the undergraduate qualification should include 5 core subjects at an appropriate level as is generally indicated by the academic year. These are: Accounting III, Auditing II, Tax II, Management Accounting II, Corporate Law II. However, in terms of the CIBA RPL policy if an undergraduate qualification does not include the specified core subjects, then the candidate should either:
1. demonstrate to CIBA that the relevant skill was obtained via professional courses, on the job
training, or working with specialists.
2. in addition, CIBA may require additional years of experience. 
Experiential Learning or Experience
CIBA requires that applicants confirm 4 years relevant experience.

Experience should relate to:
" Ethics, Governance, Non-Financial risk, Communication, Self-management, Use of IT,
Project management, Prepare and interpret financial statements and management
information, Management and control of budgets, Evaluate and compute taxes, Assist with
tax practice.

The applicant verifies experience by submitting a CV and a confirmation letter from an employer or qualified professional. CIBA may contact references.

It is the applicant's responsibility to perform a self-assessment on whether the performance indicators have been met. The applicants should request a supervisor, or principle in the or another member of CIBA to provide an overall assessment whether the
applicant is capable of achieving the stated performance indicators.

CIBA may perform an independent verification of whatever form to determine whether the performance indicators have been met. This includes correspondence with supervisor, principles or the relevant CIBA member that co-signed the ADM and assessments of a workplace.

1. BCom Accountancy (or similar) graduates: 4 years relevant experience in finance department or 3 years as a trainee in practice;
2. National Diploma in Accountancy graduates: 5 years relevant experience in finance department or 4 years as a trainee in practice;
3. Experience will be verified by way of a logbook completed by employer and correlation with credit bureaus 
Competency Assessment
It is the applicant's responsibility to perform a self-assessment on whether the performance indicators have been met. The applicants should request a supervisor, or principal in the or another member of CIBA to provide an overall assessment whether the applicant is capable of achieving the stated performance indicators.

CIBA may perform an independent verification of whatever form to determine whether the performance indicators have been met.

This includes correspondence with supervisor, principles or the relevant CIBA member that cosigned the self-assessment and assessments of a workplace.

Candidates may also be requested to submit a portfolio of evidence.

A person may apply for the professional designation based on recognition of prior learning (RPL) if some of the formal qualification qualifications requirements are not met.

Each case is dealt with on its own merits and must be accompanied with a portfolio of evidence supporting the RPL application.

1. Assessments are conducted in terms of a Competency Framework relevant to each designation.
2. Experience will be verified by way of a logbook completed by an employer and correlated with credit bureaus, and corroborated by colleagues.
3. Self-assessment and declaration that the required competencies was achieved.
4. Verbal interview based on a competency framework appropriate to accountants in practice.
5. Annual completion of a course in ethics.
6. Completion of the CIBA Annual Practice License Part 1 and Part 2. Click here to read more.
7. any statutory determined professional engagement. 
Designation RPL Statement
This Designation may be awarded through Recognition of Prior Learning. 
RETAINING CRITERIA
In order to ensure the currency of professional knowledge and to retain the Professional Designation, the professional must comply with the following minimum requirements: 
Code of Conduct
Members must adhere to the Professional Body Codes of Conduct and Ethics. 
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Persons that have been awarded the Chartered Business Accountant in Practice designation are required to engage in continuous professional development (CPD). This is how CIBA ensures our designations are highly regarded by employers and presents a competitive advantage to our members.

Continuous quality confirmation is a hallmark of the designation, gives credibility and is valued by clients and employers.

The CIBA CPD programme consists of:
a. Ethics: An annual CIBA course in ethics. This must be repeated annually.
b. Knowledge and skills: A Chartered Business Accountant needs to log 20 hours CPD per annum. CPD is a means to update knowledge required within a specific occupation.
c. International and local conferences: Chartered Financial Managers annually participate in local and international conferences, which may include the CFO World Congress. 
Fees
Ensure that the annual membership fee is paid. 


PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION PROGRESSION PATHWAY
(The Designation being reported on here is shown in italics.)

Sequence Designation ID Designation Title
11323Chartered Bookkeeper
21322Chartered Financial Administrator
3521Chartered Business Accountant in Commerce (Chartered BAC)
4520Chartered Business Accountant in Practice (Chartered BAP)
5769Chartered Financial Manager (Chartered FM)
6631Chartered Chief Financial Officer (Chartered CFO)


PROFESSIONAL BODY WEB ADDRESS:
For more information on this Professional Designation, please visit http://www.saiba.org.za