Authorisations & Applications

Before engaging in public practice members of Chartered Accountants Ireland need to hold a Practising Certificate (PC) and comply with the Institute's Practising Regulations & Guidance.

A member engages in public practice when he personally and directly provides or holds himself out to provide either personally or through a firm accounting and related services to persons other than his employer.

To establish whether you need a PC you should refer to the Practising Regulations & Guidance.

It is important that members apply for and are granted a Practising Certificate before they engage in public practice.

Practising Certificates are renewable annually from 1 January in each calendar year.
This is generally done as a principal in an accountancy firm but there are other circumstances, for example, when acting as an employee audit responsible individual or insolvency licence holder when a PC is required.

All members who hold a PC are required to have:

• appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance;
• to be subject to the Institute's Quality Review; and
• must be able to demonstrate compliance with the CPD requirements (see Continuing Professional Development Regs).

Members wishing to engage in the reserved areas must, in addition to a PC, have the appropriate registration or authorisation. The reserved areas are:

• Audit
• Investment Business
• Insolvency