| CAI | CPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| No. of members | 28,557 | 4,519 |
| Institute staff | 170 | 31 |
| Date of establishment | 1888 | 1926 |
| Local branches | 2 | 2 |
| Subject to public oversight | Yes | Yes |
| Public oversight authority | Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) | Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) |
| Involvement in Qualification and Market Access | CAI | CPA |
|---|---|---|
| Initial education | Yes | Yes |
| Examination | Yes | Yes |
| Approval and registration | Yes | Yes |
| Continued Professional Development | Yes | Yes |
| Activities | CAI | CPA |
|---|---|---|
| Standard setting | No (IAASA) | No (IAASA) |
| Quality assurance | Yes, for member in public practice and members registered for audit (PIES IAASA) | Yes, for member in public practice and members registered for audit (PIES IAASA) |
| Disciplinary measures | Yes, as above | Yes, as above |
| Professions | Chartered Accountant | Certified Public Accountant |
|---|---|---|
| Professional body | CAI | CPA |
| Protected title | Yes | Yes |
| Reserved activities1 | Statutory Audit | Statutory Audit |
| Included authorisations | Investment Business (authorised in law), taxation services, insolvency services, corporate finance | Investment Business (authorised in law), taxation services, insolvency services, corporate finance |
| Chartered Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated profession | Yes | Yes |
| Supervision | Yes | Yes |
| Public oversight authority | Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) | Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) |
| Chartered Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
|---|---|---|
| General initial education steps (without possible exemptions) | • 2 main routes to entry • (a) direct entry after secondary school level education; • (b) entry after completion of university degree or approved post graduate programme | • 2 main routes to entry • (a) direct entry after secondary school level education; • (b) entry after completion of university degree or approved post graduate programme |
| Chartered Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of qualified professionals | 28,557 | 4,519 |
| No. of new trainees per year | 1,793 | 219 |
| No. of people taking the professional examination | 1,192 | 289 |
| No. of people passing the professional examination | 1,120 | 118 |
| Chartered Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration required | Yes | Yes |
| Competent authority for registration | CAI | CPA |
| Cost of appointment/ registration | Sliding scale – fees depend on number of principals, risk profile of firm & no. of offices | Fees depend on the number of principals in the firm and authorisations held. |
| Oath required | No oath but an undertaking is signed on application | No oath but an undertaking is signed on application |
| Insurance required | Yes | Yes |
| Professional address required | No | No |