QP – the peak of success
The qualification program is a comprehensive training programme that provides the knowledge and skills necessary to become a CPA. QP builds on an accounting degree and progresses to course work and examinations -- the knowledge side of the pyramid. On the practice side, you will participate in workshops that simulate issues you will face at work as a CPA. You will then go on to real-world experience, gained under the tutelage of a CPA, which prepares you to assume roles with greater responsibility.
When you join the Institute’s QP, you join a dynamic group of students who are gaining the world’s best training for professional accountants and the designation of CPA, the apex of accounting qualifications. Graduates of the programme have the knowledge, skills and values it takes to carry the designation of CPA.
Completing the QP exempts you from passing the Hong Kong practising certificate examinations, which are necessary for registration as an auditor. All QP students registered on or after 1 January 2008 who hold a non-Hong Kong accountancy degree need to sit and pass the aptitude test on Hong Kong law to gain a practising certificate.
Structure and syllabus
QP structure
The QP comprises four modules and a final examination.
Objective of the QP modules
To develop the skills and competencies essential for you to become a successful Certified Public Accountant.
| Module A | Module B | Module C | Module D |
| Financial Reporting | Corporate Financing | Business Assurance | Taxation |
| Final Examination | |||
Requirements for each module:
- Self-study for 14 weeks using study materials provided by the Institute.
- Complete two full-day workshops led by experienced facilitators (each workshop lasts eight hours including a one-hour meal break).
- Pass a three-hour open-book examination.
Workshop
Completion of workshop is a prerequisite to sit the module examination of the relevant module. You are required to attend all two full-day workshops and demonstrate your successful accomplishment of the workshop objectives, via active participation. You are required to demonstrate the development of the intended learning objectives by attaining at least 70% of the development indicators for satisfactory completion of workshops.
Those candidates who are unable to obtain satisfactory performance for the workshop are not eligible to take the module examination.
Module examination
After successful completion of the workshops, you are allowed to sit the module examination.
Module assessment
| Module examination | Case questions | 50% |
| Essay/short questions | 50% | |
| Total | 100% |
Final Examination
After successful completion of the four QP modules, you take a six-hour open book final examination (to be taken in two sessions of three hours for each three-hour session of examination plus half hour reading time).
The final examination tests your ability to integrate knowledge and skills from any part of the QP module syllabuses and apply these across all fields of competency, demonstrating a level of skills appropriate to a professional practitioner.
| Session I comprises: | - A case study | 75% |
| - An essay | 25% | |
| Session II comprises: | - 1-3 case studies | 75% |
| - An essay | 25% |
The examination entry and completion requirements
- A person can only enrol for QP module and final examination if he/she is a "registered student" of the Institute who has paid his/her current annual registration fee and the required fees for the QP modules or final examination.
- The four QP modules may be taken in any order selected by the candidate and up to two modules can be taken at any one time.
- To pass a QP module, the candidate must successfully complete the workshops and pass the module examination.
- A candidate must pass all four QP modules before they are eligible to take the final examination.
- The four QP modules and the final examination must be completed within ten years from the date of registration as a student.