Professional Year Program (PYP) in Australia: ACS and CPA

A Professional Year Program (PYP) is a structured professional development program primarily designed for international students who have recently graduated from Australian University in the field of Accounting, IT & Engineering.  It combines formal learning with practical experience which prepares student job readiness in Australian workforce.

The Professional Year Program will run for 44 weeks which includes in-class training, workshops, and a 12-week internship. Within this program you will gain industry-specific knowledge, improve communication skills, and gain practical insight into Australian workplace.

This program also provides opportunities to engage with industry professionals and build relevant networks within their field. 

Joining Professional Year Program (PYP) provides several benefits: 

• You will gain extra 5 points towards your application for Australian point-tested Skilled Visas. 
• You will get a Professional Year Certificate, which adds value to your CV/Resume. 
• This program will help you develop professional skills through internship. 
• This program help you understand the Australian workplace culture. 
• You will get the opportunity to build a network with industry professionals and peers. 

To qualify to Professional Year Program (PYP), you must meet the necessary requirements as follows: 

• You must bachelor's or master's degree from Australian University in the field of Accounting, IT and Engineering. 
• You have applied for or obtained a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485). 
• English proficiency test (at least 6.0 in all bands) 
• A positive skill assessment results from professional authorities. 

IT professional year program is developed by Australian Computer Society (ACS) designed to help overseas ICT (Information & Communications Technology) graduates gain formal training and practical skills. ACS is the only professional body endorsed by the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) to provide the Professional Year in IT. 

Requirements for PYP in IT: 

• You must have a bachelor's or master's degree in IT from a recognized Australian university. 
• You must have already obtained or applied for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) with a minimum validity of 12 months. 
• You have scored a minimum of IELTS 6.0 and PTE-A score of 50 in all four components 

Accounting professional year program is developed by CPA Australia, ICA (Institute of Chartered Accountants) and IPA (Institute of Public Accountants, Accounting PYP (formerly known as SMIPA) designed to help international students who recently graduated from Australian university in the field of accounting to gain practical skills and fundamental learning. 

Requirements for PYP in Accounting: 

• You must have obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting from an Australian university. 
•  You must have already obtained or applied for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) with a minimum validity of 12 months. 
• You must have achieved a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 and a PTE-A score of 50 in all four components. 

The application process for PYP are as follows: 

STEP 1: First check your eligibility status for professional year program. 

• You must have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, IT and Engineering. 
• You must have applied for or currently hold a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) with at least 12 months of validity. 
• English proficiency test result (a score of at least 50 in PTE and 6.0 in IELTS) 

STEP 2: Collect all the required documents before applying for the professional program. 

• Academic transcripts from your university 
• A valid passport and other identity documents 
• Your current visa status 
• Proof of English language proficiency 
• Positive skill assessments result from the relevant professional authorities. 

STEP 3: Research and choose a recognized professional year (PY) provider 

STEP 4: Submit your application form 

• You can submit it directly to PY providers. Fill out their application form, attach all the required documents, and pay the application fees. 

STEP 5: Attend a pre-enrolment interview. 

• The PY provider will check your application details and check whether the program aligns with your background and goals. 
• Once you pass the interview round, the provider will confirm your acceptance and schedule your PY commencement and study days. 

STEP 6: Enroll and attend the program

After completing the PY program, you will receive an extra five points on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) ‘points test’. These points can help you while applying for a Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa, Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), or Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489), making it easier to move toward permanent residency.