Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Agreement for Mutual Examination Paper Exemption (MEPE) between the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA/ the Institute) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) (1 July 2019 – 30 June 2024)
Last updated:18 January 2021
HKICPA members applying for CIMA membership
Q1. What are the criteria for HKICPA members to become CIMA members under the MEPE?
All HKICPA members, including Qualification Programme (QP) and non-QP qualified members, are exempted from the CIMA Certificate and all papers of the CIMA Professional Qualification (PQ) programme except
Q2. I am a QP student, how can I take advantage of the MEPE?
QP student is not eligible for the exemptions from the CIMA Professional Qualification programme under the MEPE. You must become a HKICPA member before you can register as a CIMA student to take Papers P3 and Strategic Case Study Exam of the CIMA PQ programme under the MEPE.
Q3. I am a HKICPA member. Can I enroll to Papers P3 and Strategic Case Study Exam of the CIMA Professional Qualification programme at the same time under the MEPE?
No, you must pass Paper P3 before you are eligible to sit for the Strategic Case Study Exam of the CIMA Professional Qualification programme .
CIMA members applying for HKICPA membership
Q4. What are the criteria for CIMA members to become HKICPA members under the MEPE?
CIMA members who wish to apply for HKICPA membership under the MEPE must meet the following criteria and submit his/her membership application to HKICPA on or before 30 June 2024 for processing:
1.
hold an accounting or non-accounting degree accredited or recognised by HKICPA;
2.
pass the CIMA Professional Qualification ("PQ") programme;
CIMA members with exemptions which go beyond the 8 papers of the Certificate and Operational Levels of the CIMA PQ are not eligible to apply under the 2019 MEPE. Applicant who has been exempted by CIMA from sitting any of the PQ paper(s) (less than 8 papers) shall be subject to competency assessment by HKICPA (for which HKICPA shall charge an overseas assessment fee) on a case-by-case basis. Any competency inadequancy identified by HKICPA may be bridged by sitting and passing the relevant papers of the CIMA PQ and/or the relevant subjects in programmes of or accredited by HKICPA.
3.
pass Module 13 (Business Assurance) and Module 14 (Taxation) or equivalent Modules in previous syllabus of HKICPA QP;
4.
pass the Capstone or Final Examination in previous syllabus of the QP;
5.
pass the HKICPA's aptitude test on Hong Kong law;
6.
gain at least three years of relevant accounting experience under an HKICPA authorized employer or supervisor and complying with HKICPA practical experience requirements or, such other equivalent practical experience gained outside Hong Kong and recognised by HKICPA;
7.
be a CIMA member in good standing; and
8.
fulfill other standard HKICPA membership admission requirements, e.g. be fit and proper and not subject to any adverse disciplinary findings or pending complaint or investigation.
Q5. What is "an accounting or non-accounting degree accredited or recognised by HKICPA?"
Accounting or non-accounting degrees accredited by HKICPA are those undergraduate or postgraduate degrees which are accorded the programme accreditation status by HKICPA, thereby holders of these degrees would be granted exemption of designated modules of the QP Associate Level provided that they completed the approved curriculum.
Accounting or non-accounting degrees recognised by HKICPA refer to undergraduate or postgraduate degrees awarded by institutions or programme providers recognised by HKICPA, thereby holders of which might be awarded exemption of modules of the QP Associate Level subject to the qualification assessment conducted by HKICPA.
CIMA Professional Qualification (PQ) programme
Q6. I have been exempted by CIMA from sitting some of the CIMA PQ programme papers. Have I met the requirement of having passed the CIMA PQ programme under the MEPE?
CIMA members with exemptions which go beyond the 8 papers of the Certificate and Operational Levels of the CIMA PQ programme are not eligible to apply under the 2019 MEPE.
Applicants who have been exempted by CIMA from sitting some of the papers of the CIMA PQ programme (less than 8 papers) will be assessed by HKICPA on a case-by-case basis , which may levy an overseas assessment fee . Any competency inadequacy identified by HKICPA may be bridged by the applicant sitting and passing the relevant papers of the CIMA PQ programme or the relevant subjects in programmes of or accredited by HKICPA.
A CIMA member who has been exempted by CIMA from sitting any of the papers of the CIMA PQ programme may be required to pass the relevant modules of the Associate Level of HKICPA QP offered with effect from the June 2020 session in order to bridge the competency inadequacy. The CIMA member shall enjoy the waiver of exemption fees applicable to the Associate Level.
Q7. When should I apply for assessment of my degree and the exemption(s) I have obtained from any of the papers of the CIMA Professional Qualification (PQ) programme?
You should complete and return a preliminary assessment form to the HKICPA for processing. After the preliminary assessment, if you are eligible to apply for HKICPA membership under the MEPE, you will be asked to register as a QP student to take the requisite QP modules and the Capstone. You should then apply for assessment of your degree and paper exemption(s) of the CIMA PQ programme at the time you submit your QP student registration application to HKICPA. You are required to submit certified true copies of your degree certificate, transcript and the CIMA PQ programme result report for assessment, which may levy an overseas assessment fee.
Q8. I am a CIMA member and a QP student who have already passed one QP module. Can my QP module result be transferred for satisfying one of the membership requirements under the MEPE?
Yes, your module result can be used for satisfying the module requirement provided that the module is either Module 13 (Business Assurance) or Module 14 (Taxation) or equivalent Module in previous syllabus of HKICPA QP.
Q9. Can I apply for QP student registration and enroll for QP Module(s) required under the MEPE before completion of the CIMA Professional Qualification programme?
No, you must be a CIMA member and have obtained an accounting or non-accounting degree accredited or recognised by HKICPA before you are eligible to apply for QP student registration and QP workshop enrolment.
Q10. I have attended some workshops offered by CIMA. Have I fulfilled the workshop requirement of QP Module 13 or 14?
No, you must complete and pass the workshops of QP Modules 13 and 14.
Q11. Do I need to register as a HKICPA student before I enrol in Module 13 and/or 14 of the QP or the Capstone?
Yes, you must register as a HKICPA student and hence, shall be subject to the student registration procedures and enrolment deadlines applicable to QP students. You will also be required to pay the initial and annual student registration fees and module fees and the Capstone enrolment fees charged by HKICPA.
Q12. I am a CIMA member and have just registered as a QP student. Can I sit the Captstone before completion of the QP Modules required under the MEPE?
No, you must pass both Modules 13 and 14 of the QP before you are eligible to sit the Capstone.
Q13. I am a student of CIMA. Can I sit the Capstone?
No. The MEPE benefits are only available after you complete the CIMA Professional Qualification programme and become a full member of CIMA.
Q14. Are there any other options to satisfy the aptitude test requirement?
Yes, please click to see other examinations that are recognised as satisfying the aptitude test Hong Kong Law paper.
Q15. What is "three years of relevant accounting experience" required for registration as a HKICPA member?
You must have gained at least three years of relevant accounting experience under an Institute-authorized employer or supervisor complying with the requirements of Institute’s Revised Practical Experience Framework. Please click here for details of the practical experience time and competence requirements for membership admission.
Q16. Will my experience acquired prior to my registration as a student of CIMA, and not under HKICPA authorized employer or supervisor, be counted?
Your practical experience acquired on and after 1 July 2005 , irrespective of the date of your registration as a CIMA student, must be obtained under HKICPA authorized employers or supervisors (AE/ AS). Accounting experience acquired under non-AE/AS before 1 July 2005 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Q17. My current employer is a CIMA accredited employer but is not an HKICPA authorized employer or supervisor (AE/ AS). Will my experience qualify for HKICPA membership admission?
CIMA students and members
Q18. I am now a full member of CIMA. Is the agreement applicable to me?
Yes, provided that you became a CIMA member by having sat and passed the CIMA Professional Qualification programme and not by virtue of your being a member of another accountancy body. Please complete and return a preliminary assessment form to the HKICPA such that we can advise you further.
Q19. I am a CIMA student. Do I need to register as a HKICPA student in order to take advantage of the MEPE?
You must become a CIMA member before you can register as a HKICPA student and take and pass the QP Modules 13 and 14 and the Capstone in order to be eligible to apply for HKICPA membership under the MEPE.
Q20. Am I (CIMA member) eligible for any exemption from the PRC CPA Uniform Examination under the mutual examination paper exemptions agreement for mainland and Hong Kong accountants after admission to HKICPA through the MEPE?
No, only HKICPA members who were admitted to the Institute on or before 29 July 2008 can enjoy exemption from four out of seven papers of the PRC CPA Uniform Examination. Members admitted to HKICPA on or after 30 July 2008 need to have qualified through completion of the QP in full in order to enjoy the exemption under the MEPE agreement for mainland and Hong Kong accountants.
