Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) is the title used by members of the CPA Australia accountancy association. Accountants practising in Australia have the choice of becoming members of CPA Australia (and hence becoming a CPA), joining the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia (and becoming a Chartered Accountant or "CA") or the National Institute of Accountants (and becoming a Professional National Accountant or "PNA")

International context

The designation Certified Practising Accountant also exists as an accounting designation in the United Kingdom, unrelated to the Australian CPA designation. Accountants in the United Kingdom may obtain the Certified Practising Accountant designation through becoming a member of the Institute of Certified Practising Accountants (ICPA). The ICPA does not require its members to have achieved or possess any formal professional accountancy qualifications. It does however require a prospective member to have relevant accountancy experience.