BICA (Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants)

The BICA Qualification

Following the passing of the Accountants Act 2010, the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) has introduced its own professional accountancy qualification.

The Botswana professional accountancy accademy qualification evolved out of a realization that:

  • A strong economy like that of Botswana needs a strong accountancy profession.
  • A strong profession needs a strong professional body.
  • A professional body will be stronger if it has its own qualification.

BICA (with the support of the MFDP and the World Bank) entered into a twinning arrangement with one of the world's leading professioanl bodies, The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), to facilitate the development of the Botswana professional accountancy qualification.

Main Features of the Qualification

  • The examination structure has been modelled on that of the twinning partner, ICAEW, but with Botswana papers in tax and law.
  • Students will qualify with BICA as members of BICA.
  • Only BICA Authorized Training Employees (ATEs) will be permitted to offer technical work experience to students studying with BICA.
  • The ATEs will be mentored, monitored and accredited by BICA on an ongoing basis.
  • ATEs will nominate a member of staff, Aualified Person Responsible for Training (QPRT), who will be responsible for a student's training record and the mentoring of that student. The QPRT will be a member of an IFAC member body.
  • Students will enter into training arrangements with ATEs to ensure that the Technical Work Experience (TWE) provided is relevant, appropriately recorded and endorsed, and therefore credible to future employees. The training agreement will be properly controlled, monitored and policed by BICA.
  • Students will acquire key transferable competences through the Initial Professional Development (IPD) programme that will be offered by ATEs.
  • Students will receive a thorough grounding in ethics through the Structured Training in Ethics (STE) programme that will be delivered annuallu by BICA.
  • BICA will be supported throughout by the use of the ICAEW examination scheme and joint BICA-ICAEW oversight.
  • Reciprocity between BICA and ICAEW membership will be a future outcome of the programme, subject to approval of the relevant ICAEW and BICA committees. Reciprocity will lead to wider international recognition and to international portability for the BICA qualification.

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