IELTS and PTE minimums at each body
Sources, read 6 October 2026: CPA Australia English language proficiency, CA ANZ English language requirement and the IPA qualification assessments page. PTE scores are listening / reading / writing / speaking.
| Rule | CPA Australia | CA ANZ | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Academic only, 7.0 in each skill | Academic, 7.0 in each skill | Academic, 7 in each skill |
| PTE Academic, tests from 7 August 2025 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 | 58 / 59 / 69 / 76 |
| PTE Academic, tests on or before 6 August 2025 | 65 in each skill | 65 in each skill | On a separate IPA page |
| IELTS One Skill Retake | Accepted (may not be for some visas) | Accepted | Accepted since May 2023, with the original test report |
| Result age | 3 years from test date, still valid when the outcome is issued | Within 3 years before you apply | Taken within the past three years |
| At-home or online tests | Not accepted | Secure test centre only | Not stated by IPA |
| Passport exemption | Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, USA | Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, USA | Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, USA |
| Other way to meet it | Accounting Professional Year Program | Accounting Professional Year Program | Not stated by IPA |
Other tests accepted (tests from 7 August 2025)
CPA Australia and the IPA list the same minimums for the other tests: TOEFL iBT 22 / 22 / 26 / 24, Cambridge C1 Advanced 175 / 179 / 193 / 194, LanguageCert Academic 67 / 71 / 78 / 82, CELPIP General 9 / 8 / 10 / 8 and the Michigan English Test 61 / 63 / 74 / 59. Both reject TOEFL iBT tests taken between 26 July 2023 and early May 2024 (to 5 May 2024 at CPA Australia, 4 May 2024 at the IPA), when TOEFL was not an approved test.
These are exactly the Proficient English scores on the Home Affairs Proficient English page, which is worth 10 points on the 189 points table. Our 189, 190 and 491 guide has the full Competent, Proficient and Superior tables.
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CPA Australia says "Only the Academic IELTS test is acceptable for qualification assessments", and CA ANZ and the IPA list IELTS Academic. That differs from the visa, where Home Affairs accepts both modules. If you plan to sit one IELTS for both the skills assessment and the visa, take Academic. Our Academic vs General Training guide explains the differences in the reading and writing papers.
Seven in every skill is a high bar, and writing is where most candidates fall short. BandLadder's free mock test scores each skill separately, so you can see which one is holding you below 7.0 before you pay for the real exam.
Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current requirement on the CPA Australia English language proficiency page before you book a test or apply. This guide restates that page as read on 6 October 2026; it is not migration advice.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score does CPA Australia need for migration?+
IELTS Academic 7.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking. General Training is not accepted for the qualification assessment.
Does CA ANZ accept PTE?+
Yes. For tests from 7 August 2025, CA ANZ lists PTE Academic 58 listening, 59 reading, 69 writing and 76 speaking; for earlier tests, 65 in each.
Do accountants with a UK passport need IELTS for the skills assessment?+
CPA Australia, CA ANZ and the IPA all exempt citizens holding passports from Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK and the USA.
How long is my IELTS valid for an accounting skills assessment?+
Three years. CPA Australia requires the result to still be within three years of the test date when the outcome is issued.
Is IELTS 7 each the same as Proficient English?+
Yes. Home Affairs Proficient English is 7 in each skill on IELTS, and it earns 10 points on the 189 points table.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for the 189, 190 and 491 visas
- IELTS Academic vs General Training
- IELTS One Skill Retake
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 6 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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