Find the top SAICA training offices, board courses, and bursaries in South Africa.
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A Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) is an intensive, one-year academic qualification that serves as the gateway to becoming a Chartered Accountant in South Africa, CA(SA). It consolidates the four core accounting disciplines: Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Finance, Taxation, and Auditing.
Functionally, there is no difference. CTA (Certificate in the Theory of Accounting) is the historical and colloquial term that the industry and many alumni still use. PGDA is the modern, formal academic designation awarded by universities. Both refer to the exact same SAICA-accredited postgraduate level of study.
To be admitted, you generally need to have completed a SAICA-accredited undergraduate BCom Accounting degree. Because the PGDA is highly demanding, most universities also require you to meet a strict academic threshold-typically between a 55% and 60% average across your core third-year modules, depending on the institution.
Yes. Several SAICA-accredited providers, such as UNISA and Milpark Education, offer the PGDA via distance learning. This allows candidates to complete the qualification part-time over one or two years, which is a popular route for students who need to work while studying.
No, not automatically. While most major South African universities offer accredited programmes, it is crucial to verify that the specific institution and programme you are applying for holds current SAICA accreditation. If your PGDA is not accredited by SAICA, you will not be permitted to write the board exams.
Once you pass your PGDA, you become eligible to write the Initial Test of Competence (ITC), commonly known as Board 1. The next phase also involves securing and serving a three-to-five-year training contract (articles) at a SAICA-accredited training office to gain your practical experience.
Yes, but postgraduate funding is highly competitive. The primary funding vehicle is the SAICA Thuthuka Bursary Fund. Students can also apply for funding through SETAs (such as FASSET), internal university merit awards, and major auditing firms (like PwC, EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and BDO) which offer bursaries usually tied to signing a future three-year training contract.