Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting
Deakin course code	M506
Course Credit Points	4
Course version	3
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Course Information	For students who commenced from 2013 onwards
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Duration	0.5 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS code	073433D Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Supplementary Information	Students who have commenced prior to T1 2019, please refer to the 2018 handbook, or the handbook archives, for the relevant course structure. This course is available for part-time study only in Trimester 3

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study the principles of accounting and finance and take the first step towards becoming a qualified accountant. Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting gives you the flexibility to choose units that are right for you.

Ready to take a step towards your accounting career?

If you are looking to add accounting skills to your professional skill set to progress your career, you have the option to study units that match your interest. Or, if you aspire to apply for the CA program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, you can choose to undertake the units required for this pathway.

As a graduate you can progress to the Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting or Master of Professional Accounting.

Indicative student workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Students who wish to enter the:

CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)

Associate Membership for the CPA Program, CPA Australia

IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) and

Exemptions may apply for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

are advised that it is their responsibility to ensure that they take the appropriate units required for entry.

Students who have completed prior undergraduate or graduate units in accounting or other core knowledge areas are advised to have their qualifications assessed by their preferred professional organisation to ensure they complete the correct units.

Please note: The eligibility of students for membership of any of the accounting accrediting bodies is subject to meeting the requirements of that body and that Deakin makes no representations that individuals will meet those requirements.

Career opportunities

The Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting introduces fundamental accounting and reporting skills, offering a flexible entry into the profession or a stepping stone for further study. It is also ideal for those in admin or operations roles looking to build financial literacy.

Career opportunities include:

bookkeeper
accounts payable/receivable clerk
assistant accountant
payroll and finance administrator
small business financial officer
tax assistant
business support officer
budget and reporting assistant
office manager with finance responsibilities
accounting systems operator
compliance and records assistant

Graduates often work in small-to-medium enterprises, government departments, and accounting support roles. Many also progress to the Graduate Diploma or Master of Professional Accounting to pursue more advanced roles.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning, collaborative online international learning arrangements or collaborative research training arrangements.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting (M696)
Master of Professional Accounting (M742)

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate conceptual knowledge on basic accounting, and techniques in auditing and financial management including simplified applications to real world problems
Communication	Draft user-friendly reports that clarifies the merits of alternate solutions and makes simple recommendations
Digital literacy	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Critical thinking	Identify potential alternative solutions and evaluate the financial costs and benefits of such solutions
Problem solving	Determine ways to resolve a firm’s financial constraints through appropriate match with the theoretical solutions
Self-management	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Teamwork	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Global citizenship	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting students must pass 4 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
4 credit points of core units

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Units

Select a minimum of 2 credit points of units from:

MAA703

Accounting for Management ^{1, 2, 4}

MAA716

Financial Accounting ^{1, 2}

MAA725

Advanced Accounting Principles and Practice ^{1, 2, 4}

MAA701

Accounting ^{1, 2}

MAF752

Principles of Finance ^{1, 2, 4}

Select a maximum of 2 credit points of units from:

MAA705

Corporate Auditing ^{2, 3, 4}

MAA789

Accounting Systems and Analytics ^{1, 2}

MLC703

Principles of Income Tax Law ^{2, 3, 4}

MLC707

Business Law ^{1, 2}

MPE781

Economics for Managers ^1,^{2^}

MAF717

Analytical Methods ^{1, 2}

Or any unit(s) not previously studied as listed in the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting.

Or other postgraduate units with prior written approval of the Course Director.

Notes:
¹ Required by CPA Australia for Associate (foundation level) Membership.

² Required by the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) for entry to the CA Program.

³ For candidates who have completed an accredited degree in Australia, this unit may be taken as part of the CPA program. Other students must complete the unit before becoming an Associate Member of CPA Australia.

⁴ For candidates who would like to obtain exemptions to the ACCA program.

Students should carefully note the trimesters when units are offered to ensure that all required units can be completed in the appropriate time frame.

Work experience

This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning into the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accounting may be granted to students who have successfully completed appropriate postgraduate studies. There are negotiated Recognition of prior learning arrangements in place for CPA members.

Fees and charges

Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.

Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Estimate your fees

Further information

Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin.

Contact Student Central