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Study Accounting

Potential Career Outcomes

Some potential occupations include:

Course overview

Accountants work across a range of industries, as their skills are highly sought after by businesses. Accountants provide a diverse range of services from bookkeeping, payroll, auditing, processing taxes and financial reporting.

Australia offers a variety of courses to students to begin their career as an accountant. Vocational training can train students to work in different areas of accounting, however, to be a certified accountant, you must have at least a Bachelor Degree.

In these courses you can learn:

  • Financial risks
  • Financial reports preparation
  • Financial systems and records
  • Financial statistics and tools
  • Financial services legislation
  • Industry codes of practice
Graduate Outcomes
  • An accountant earns $1660 per week on average.
  • Most accountants work full-time (80%).
  • It is projected that over the next 5 years, there will be approximately 84,000 job openings.
  • Many works full-time (80%)
  • Age: the average age is 38 years
  • Gender: 52% of workers are female.
Common Course Requirements
  • Completion of secondary education
  • Meet English proficiency (Usually at least IELTS 5.5 overall for Vocational courses, or 6.5 for University courses).
Related Courses

Some related courses include:

  • Diploma of Accounting

Duration: 20 – 85 weeks
Intake: Monthly
Cost: $1,000- $34,560
Locations: Most cities – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Canberra

  • Advanced Diploma of Accounting
    Duration: 20 -104 weeks
    Intake: Monthly
    Cost: $4,950 – $24,000
    Locations: Most cities – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Canberra
  • Bachelor of Commerce/ Accounting

Duration: 108 – 156 weeks

Intake: February, July

Cost: $33,600 – $146,206

Locations: Most cities – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Canberra

Studying Accounting in Australia: What the Course Covers

Accounting courses teach you how to record, analyse and report financial information and advise businesses on financial decisions. Typical subjects include financial and management accounting, bookkeeping and accounting systems, taxation, auditing and assurance, corporate and business law, finance, economics, business statistics, accounting information systems and data analytics, and ethics and professional practice. Degrees designed for professional recognition cover the core knowledge areas required by the professional accounting bodies.

Qualifications and AQF Levels

Qualification AQF level What it prepares you for
Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping AQF 4 Bookkeeper and accounts clerk roles
Diploma of Accounting AQF 5 Accounts officer and assistant accountant roles
Advanced Diploma of Accounting AQF 6 Senior accounts and assistant accountant roles
Bachelor of Accounting or Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) AQF 7 Accountant roles, and the usual level for an accounting skills assessment
Master of Professional Accounting AQF 9 Accountant roles for graduates of other fields

Study Pathways

To work as a professional accountant and to obtain a positive migration skills assessment, you generally need a bachelor or master’s degree in accounting that covers the required core knowledge areas. Accounting skills assessments are carried out by CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) or the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). Many students start with a Diploma of Accounting and then complete a bachelor of accounting or commerce with credit, or take a two year master of professional accounting after a degree in another field. A Professional Year program after graduation can add points for some skilled visas.

Related Occupations and Visa Pathways (as at October 2026)

Occupation ANZSCO CSOL (482 and 186) Skilled lists (189, 190, 491, 485)
Accountant (General) 221111 Yes MLTSSL
Management Accountant 221112 Yes MLTSSL
Taxation Accountant 221113 Yes MLTSSL
External Auditor 221213 Yes MLTSSL
Internal Auditor 221214 Yes MLTSSL

Our Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) guide explains which visas use each list and what that means for accountants and auditors.

Career Outlook

Accountants work for accounting and audit firms, banks and financial institutions, government agencies, and businesses of every size. Demand is strong for accountants with Australian tax, audit, technology and data skills, and professional membership of CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA improves career prospects. Competition for skilled visa invitations in accounting occupations is high, so strong English and local experience are important.

Applying for a Student Visa to Study Accounting

Accounting is a popular field for international students, so explain how the course builds on your earlier study and which accounting career you want. If you plan a skills assessment later, choose a course that covers the core knowledge areas required. See our Student visa (subclass 500) page for the current visa rules.

Accounting Study FAQs

Yes. As at October 2026, Accountant (General), Management Accountant and Taxation Accountant are on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the MLTSSL. External Auditor and Internal Auditor are also on the CSOL.

Possibly, but it is competitive. You will need a positive skills assessment, and points tested visas usually require high points, which may come from strong English, a Professional Year, Australian study and work experience, or state nomination. Employer sponsorship is another pathway.

A diploma alone is unlikely to lead to a positive accounting skills assessment, which is required for the 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream. Bachelor and master’s graduates may be eligible for the Post-Higher Education Work stream, which does not require a skills assessment.

A Professional Year is a structured program for international graduates that combines professional training with an internship, and usually runs for about a year. Completing an approved Professional Year in accounting can add points for points tested skilled visas, and the internship gives you Australian work experience to put on your resume.

Am I eligible for a Student visa? Student Visa Funds Calculator Study a Trade Course Assessment Study a Uni Course Assessment Industries We Work With: Accounting, Finance and Insurance

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