Route to Qualification

To qualify as a CA(SA), you need to complete both academic and practical components. Completing your articles with an accredited undergrad degree makes you eligible to register as an AGA(SA). If you go on to complete your CTA and pass both board exams — the IAC and APC — you become eligible to register as a CA(SA). See detail on term and length below.

Route to CA(SA) qualification Two parallel tracks — academic and practical — both required to qualify as CA(SA). Accredited undergrad plus completed practical contract leads to AGA. Adding CTA, IAC and APC leads to CA(SA). PRACTICAL Completed term (36 months) 3 600 core experience hours Competency framework exposure Exit-level PVAA proficiency Discharged contract ACADEMIC Accredited undergrad degree Eligible: AGA(SA) Undergrad + completed contract To qualify as CA(SA), also complete: CTA / PGDA Honours equiv. Pass IAC Board 1 Pass APC Board 2 Eligible: CA(SA) AGA eligibility + CTA + IAC + APC © www.daylightedge.co.za
How long is a training contract?

Term length and core experience hours depend on your qualification at the start of your training contract, as set out in Section 16 of the SAICA Training Regulations 2026.

Qualification at start of contract Term Core hours
Endorsed postgraduate qualification, endorsed degree, or bridging programme 36 months 3 600
Non-endorsed degree or relevant Advanced Certificate (NQF level 6) 48 months 4 800
Matric certificate or any other qualification 60 months 6 000

For the 48- and 60-month routes, remission may be granted on successful completion of an endorsed degree, bridging programme, or endorsed postgraduate qualification during articles. Refer to Regulation 16.2 for the applicable conditions.

SAICA Training Regulations 2026 → Section 16

Core experience hours are all hours you spend on practical experience and activities related to the training programme. Academic study does not count toward core experience hours.

The minimum number of core experience hours required depends on your contract term — 3 600 hours for a 36-month contract, 4 800 for 48 months, and 6 000 for 60 months. Your training office is required to monitor your core hours and flag any shortfall at least five months before your contract end date.

If you have not achieved the required core hours by the end of your contract, your training officer must apply for an extension of up to 12 months.

Refer to Regulations 16 and 23 of the SAICA Training Regulations 2026.

Being discharged means your training contract has been formally completed and closed on SAICA’s Training Contract Management System (TCMS). It is the official confirmation that you have met all the requirements of your training contract.

To be discharged, you must have:

  • Completed the full term of your contract (including any approved remissions, extensions, or penalties)
  • Achieved the required minimum core experience hours
  • Achieved the final level of proficiency in all prescribed competencies

Once those requirements are met, you apply for discharge via TCMS within 30 days of your contract end date. Your training officer must approve and finalise the discharge within 60 days of the end date.

If you have met all the practical requirements but do not yet hold an endorsed degree or bridging programme, SAICA will issue a Certificate of Completion rather than a Certificate of Discharge. Your contract is treated as completed but not yet discharged. Once you obtain the relevant qualification, SAICA will discharge the contract and issue a Certificate of Discharge.

This distinction matters for AGA and CA(SA) registration — you need a discharged contract, not just a completed one.

Refer to Regulation 24 of the SAICA Training Regulations 2026 for full details.

If a trainee completes all practical requirements — term, core hours, competency exposure and exit-level PVAA proficiency — and holds an accredited undergrad degree, they can be discharged with a completed contract and become eligible to register as an AGA(SA).

If a trainee fails to make sufficient academic progress, the training officer is required to follow the academic progress rule under Regulation 21.3. Failing the same academic year twice may result in cancellation of the training contract, with the training officer having discretion to allow one additional year before cancellation is mandatory.

Once all academic requirements are met — even after the training contract has ended — the trainee becomes eligible to apply to SAICA to register as a CA(SA).

Refer to Regulations 21.3 to 21.5 of the SAICA Training Regulations 2026 for full details.

Academic remission is a reduction in the term of your training contract. It applies if you started articles on a 48- or 60-month contract and successfully complete an endorsed degree, bridging programme, or endorsed postgraduate qualification during your articles.

How much remission you receive depends on when you complete the qualification:

  • If you complete it in the first 12 months of a 60-month contract, your contract is reduced to 36 months from the date you completed the qualification
  • If you complete it in the last 12 months of either a 48- or 60-month contract, the remission covers the remaining balance of your contract
  • If you complete it at any other point, your contract term is reduced by 12 months

A few important points:

  • Remission can only be granted once under the same training contract
  • SAICA calculates the completion date as the closer of 30 June or 31 December to the date you wrote your final paper
  • If you started on a 36-month contract, academic remission does not apply

Refer to Regulation 16.2 to 16.6 of the SAICA Training Regulations 2026 for full details.

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