Practising certificate regulation

They were made by the ICAEW Regulatory Board in accordance with their terms of reference and take effect on 1 January 2024.

All members who wish to engage in public practice must comply with these regulations.

1. A member, including a member to whom the Corporate Practice Regulations apply, shall be entitled to engage in public practice in the United Kingdom (UK) only if they hold a current practising certificate (PC). For the avoidance of doubt, this includes England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man.
2. A member shall be entitled to engage in public practice in any country other than the UK without holding a current ICAEW PC provided that they hold a licence or authority to practise from a body recognised by ICAEW to be of appropriate standing and which authorises them to practise in that jurisdiction.
3. The following bodies are recognised for the purposes of regulation 2 as being of appropriate standing:
1. Any state or emanation of a state.
2. Any FEE or IFAC body provided that it is headquartered within the jurisdiction within which the member is practising.
4. A member shall be eligible to hold an ICAEW PC only if they:
1. have been a member for two years;
2. are compliant with the requirements of Principal Bye-law 56 - Continuing Professional Development (CPD);
3. understand the Fundamental Principles set out in the Code of Ethics;
4. have undertaken to comply with the ICAEW’s Professional Indemnity Insurance Regulations;
5. are a fit and proper person to hold a PC;
6. have submitted an application including payment of set application fees; and
7. have passed an aptitude test if relevant.
5. A member shall cease to be eligible to hold an ICAEW PC if they fail to confirm their compliance with the provision of the Principal Bye-laws in relation to the requirements for CPD or fail to provide evidence required to demonstrate such compliance when required to do so.
6. A member who ceases to be eligible for an ICAEW PC by reason of regulation 5 above shall forthwith return their PC to ICAEW.

Powers of variation

7. The ICAEW Regulatory Board shall have the power to vary or waive the above regulations.

Please see the ICAEW statement on engaging in public practice for further guidance. There's more information, including the form for applying for a practising certificate, at icaew.com/pc.