Certified Practising Accountants - Papua New Guinea (CPA PNG)

What Certified Practising Accountants - Papua New Guinea (CPA PNG) does

Certified Practising Accountants Papua New Guinea (CPA PNG) is the statutory professional membership body for accounting professionals in Papua New Guinea, established in 1974 as the Papua New Guinea Association of Accountants and operating under the Accountants Act 1996 since 1996. CPA PNG administers the Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) qualification, the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification, and the Accountants Registration Board (ARB) licensing regime for public practitioners including Registered Public Accountants, Registered Company Auditors, and Registered Liquidators. The organization also sets accounting and auditing standards, determines CPD requirements, governs ethical requirements, and operates investigation and disciplinary systems for the PNG accountancy profession. CPA PNG holds membership in the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Confederation of Asia and Pacific Accountants (CAPA), with reciprocal accreditation arrangements with CPA Australia enabling cross-crediting of professional programs and a strategic alliance with the University of Papua New Guinea for a joint MBA-CPA award.

CPA PNG's technology infrastructure comprises an Association Management System (AMS Workflows) for membership processing, an online examination registration portal with semester-based enrollment, a Learning Management System (elearn.cpapng.org.pg) for e-learning delivery, a Member Portal (MyMembership) for self-service, and an e-commerce shop for IFRS publications and reference materials. The organization distributes exclusive professional resources to members including the IAASB 2021 Handbook (3 volumes), IFRS Accounting Standards (Annotated 2023 Parts A-C), IESBA Code of Ethics 2021, and curated IFAC resources. Examination delivery is conducted at nine regional venues spanning Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka, Buka, Kavieng, Kimbe, Kokopo, Lihir Island, and Mt Hagen. The product portfolio encompasses the CPA Program (8 examination subjects), CAT Program (7 subjects), Continuing Professional Development workshops, annual conferences rotating across Kokopo, Mt Hagen, Port Moresby, and Buka, ARB registration services, student membership programs at 15+ recognized PNG tertiary institutions, and Find-a-CPA directory services.

CPA PNG generates revenue through six primary streams: annual membership subscriptions across multiple categories (CPA, RAG, RAT, Student, Provisional Student, Expatriate CPA); examination fees at K275-K880 per subject for new registrations and K275 per subject for resits; CPD workshop fees ranging K550-K2,990 per course; conference delegate fees for the annual two-day conference earning 14 structured CPD hours; ARB regulatory fees for registration and renewal (K300 for Accountants in Employment, K2,000 for Registered Public Accountants, K3,000 for Registered Company Auditors, K4,000 for Registered Liquidators); and product sales through the e-commerce shop including IFRS PDF copies at K550. CPA PNG is governed by an elected Council, operates from CPA Haus at Level 2, Armit Street, Paga Hill, Port Moresby with a staff of approximately 22 employees, and is funded in part by a K20,000 annual government grant that has been maintained since 1981.

Name

Certified Practising Accountants - Papua New Guinea (CPA PNG)

Legal name

Certified Practising Accountants Papua New Guinea

Website

https://cpapng.org.pg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CPA PNG is the mandatory professional accounting body in Papua New Guinea under the Accountants Act 1996, administering the CPA and CAT qualification programs, CPD services, and Accountants Registration Board licensing for public practitioners, auditors, and liquidators across PNG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accounting Membership and Certification

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

akta.pro primary industry

Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE) (EDAAALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Professional accounting certification
• Membership association services
• Continuing professional development
• Accountancy examination services
• Regulatory registration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Moresby

HQ country

Papua New Guinea

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Examination Fees: Revenue from CPA and CAT examination registrations. Exam fees vary by subject and category: RAG new registrations K275-K550 per subject, resits K275 per subject, review classes K110-K330. CAT new registrations K275-K880 per subject, resits K275 per subject.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees for multiple categories: Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Registered Accounting Graduate (RAG), Registered Accounting Technician (RAT), Student Membership, and Provisional Student membership. Revenue from subscriptions and exam fees constitute primary income sources.
3. Conference Revenue: Annual conferences generate revenue through delegate registrations. Conference 2026 (Kokopo) featured distinguished speakers. Members earn 14 structured CPD hours over the two-day event. Mt Hagen Conference 2026 upcoming at Highlander Hotel.
4. CPD Workshop Fees: CPD workshop revenue from courses such as Payroll Tax Calculation (K660-K1,880), Excel Mastery (K2,550-K2,990), Cash Flow Forecasting (K550-K880), and Accounting for Non-Accountants (K770-K1,220). Both in-person and virtual attendance options at member and non-member pricing.
5. Product Sales: E-commerce shop selling professional publications: International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) PDF copy at K550, Foundations of Accounting reference materials at K275 for members.
6. Accountants Registration Board Fees: Regulatory fees for registration and renewal: Accountants in Employment K300, Registered Public Accountant K2,000, Registered Company Auditor K3,000, Registered Liquidator K4,000. Late application penalty K500 and processing fee K150.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CPA PNG is the mandatory statutory professional membership body for accounting professionals in Papua New Guinea, established under the Accountants Act 1996. It delivers the CPA qualification program through structured education and examinations, administers continuing professional development via workshops and annual conferences, manages regulatory registration of public practitioners through the Accountants Registration Board, and provides professional resources including IFRS, IAASB, and IESBA standards.

Product overview

CPA PNG operates as a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive platform for accounting professionals in Papua New Guinea. The core offering consists of the CPA Program (education and examination leading to professional qualification), Continuing Professional Development (CPD) services including workshops and annual conferences, and member management services through a web portal. The organization also provides the Accountants Registration Board services for licensing practitioners, professional resources on audit, business management, taxation, and corporate governance, a Learning Management System (LMS), an online shop for examination materials and IFRS resources, vacancy listings, and newsletters. Membership tiers include Student Membership, Registered Accounting Technician (RAT), Registered Accounting Graduate (RAG), and full Certified Practising Accountant status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Members earn 14 structured CPD hours at each annual two-day conference
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Vodafone PNGcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Vodafone PNG provided a historic K100,000 Platinum Conference sponsorship for CPA PNG's annual conference. This represents a significant corporate partnership providing financial support and brand association with the premier accounting professional event in PNG. Vodafone PNG's ICT Manager, Gregory Mataenge, also spoke at the Kokopo Conference 2026.
• CPA AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003CPA PNG signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CPA Australia paving the way for reciprocal accreditation and cross-crediting for professional programs. This enables members to transfer between the two bodies and provides access to CPA Australia's educational resources and professional network. CPA PNG changed its name to Certified Practising Accountants PNG in alignment with CPA Australia's brand recognition.
• University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Strategic alliance with UPNG for the joint award of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and CPA qualification. CPA PNG assesses on its professional CPA units while UPNG assesses on MBA units for the joint award. This partnership provides an accelerated pathway for professional development combining academic and practical credentials.
• Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA)coreOthers · 1 January 1983CPA PNG achieved membership to the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) in 1983. CAPA is a regional organization connecting national accounting professional bodies across Asia and the Pacific, providing networking, knowledge sharing, and regional advocacy for the accounting profession.
• International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)coreOthers · 1 January 1974CPA PNG is an IFAC Member organization. IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. CPA PNG's IFAC membership provides international credibility and access to global standards and resources.
• Strategic Institute of Chartered Accountants - SICA (Solomon Islands)minorOthersSICA (Solomon Islands Chartered Accountants) is listed as a professional partner on CPA PNG's website, providing cross-border professional recognition and networking between the two Pacific island nation accounting bodies.
• DeloitteminorOthersDeloitte has developed high-quality e-learning modules to help users develop knowledge and application of IFRS Accounting Standards, IAS Standards, and IFRIC Interpretations. CPA PNG shares this link with members for self-study. Deloitte e-learning is free to access with no registration required.
• International Education Standards Board (IESB)minorOthersCPA PNG provides access to International Education Standards (IES) 2019 through the IESBA Handbook, supporting the professional development requirements mandated under the Accountants Act 1996.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): Global professional accounting body with 500,000+ members and students offering the ACCA qualification. Operates a comparable examination-based membership program and CPD framework, and is a common alternative designation in PNG and the Pacific.
• CPA Canada: Canadian national CPA body formed by unifying three legacy designations. Operates the CPA Professional Education Program and CPD model that parallels CPA PNG's CPA Program and CPD offerings, including reciprocal pathways.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales): One of the largest global chartered accounting bodies with a member-based qualification, CPD framework, and examination pathway. Provides a benchmark for CPA PNG's professional standards repository and IFAC-aligned ethics/auditing resources.
• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs): The US national CPA body representing 400,000+ members worldwide. Sets US auditing standards (via PCAOB collaboration) and operates a comparable membership/CPD/credentials model relevant to CPA PNG's international affiliations.
• Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA): National chartered accounting body of Singapore with statutory authority to license Singaporean accountants. Operates a comparable membership, CPD, and regulatory model relevant as a regional benchmark for CPA PNG's structure.

Direct peers

• CPA Australia: Largest CPA body in the Asia-Pacific region and CPA PNG's flagship reciprocal accreditation partner. Operates the same CPA designation, examination pathway, and member-tier model (Associate, Member, Fellow), with cross-crediting arrangements directly tied to CPA PNG's qualification.
• CA ANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand): Major trans-Tasman chartered accounting body that competes for the same regional professional accounting members. Operates a parallel CA designation and membership/CPD model directly comparable to CPA PNG's offerings in the Pacific.
• SICA (Solomon Islands Chartered Accountants): The chartered accountants' body of Solomon Islands — CPA PNG's closest peer by size, geography, and Pacific Island context. Listed as CPA PNG's professional partner on its website for cross-border recognition.

Others

• Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA): Regional umbrella organization for national accounting bodies in Asia-Pacific of which CPA PNG has been a member since 1983. Provides cross-border recognition, knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy that CPA PNG leverages for international standing.

Emerging players

• Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA): Global professional body for internal auditors offering the CIA certification, continuing professional education, and standards-setting (IPPF). Comparable to CPA PNG as a specialty professional membership organization with mandated CPD for members practicing in regulated roles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/certified-practicing-accountants---papua-new-guinea-cpa-png-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Certified Practising Accountants - Papua New Guinea (CPA PNG)