Why choose to study Lao CPA?

Lao CPA is the only title that is eligible to practice as chief accountants of public interest entities and large-sized entities (according to the article 58 of the accounting law) and is allowed to establish his/her accounting or audit firm. If you have foreign CPA, you should also become a Lao CPA to be able to practice in Lao PDR. with the new Lao CPA qualification in line with International Education Standards, a Lao CPA who passed through this process would be recognized in the region.

How can I study Lao CPA?

​To study you must apply to CPA training program that the LCPAA office would announce periodically to the public. Then you would need to pass an admission test.

Why to be a member of LCPAA?

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• Being a primary member or practicing associate member of LCPAA means you have meet basic requirement to be eligible to practice as chief accountants or CFO in business especially in public interest entities and large-sized enterprises (as indicated in the article 58 of the Accounting Law 2013), and as manager or partner in public practice in Lao PDR in accordance with the Independent Audit Law. In addition, with the new Lao CPA qualification in line with International Education Standards, a Lao CPA who passed through this process would be recognized in the region.
  
• Being a non-practicing associate member, you will get some advantage to access some training materials and get some discount to attend professional workshop, seminar or training that would facilitate you to improve your ethical and professional knowledge and skills.

How to be a LCPAA member?

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• To be a primary member or practicing associate member of LCPAA, the candidate should be a Lao CPA, which means he\she complete CPA training and passed 3 years practical training as stated in the Independent Audit Law. Those holding CPA certificate from abroad, could be admitted as Lao CPA when his\her CPA curriculum is accredited by LCPAA, and they should complete also an aptitude test concerning Lao business-related regulations. To apply for that the candidate should fill up an application form and submit all related documents to prove satisfactory to all requirements.
  
• To be a non-practicing member of LCPAA, there is no pre-requisite, except you have to pay membership fee.

For the CPA training, can I stop in the midle of the course? Will LCPAA grants any certificate ? 

You can stop the course at any time, but the certificate of completion will be granted only the paper that you have already completed. The CPA certificate will be granted only when you complete all the compulsory papers of this syllabus.

How much is the tuition fees for CPA training? Can we pay only for each paper or the whole course ?

​The first CPA course charges one million kip for each paper and the fee could be change in each period (see the article 15 of the CPA regulation No. 038/ LCPAA, dated 8 Aug 2016). The tuition fee will be publish before opening new CPA course.

​If I’m a holder of CPA holder from oversea, and would like to get Lao CPA, what should I do? How long will it take to complete the course? which paper do I need to take?

Oversea CPA holders, who has completed the CPA course that complied with the International Education Standards(IES) and accredited by LCPAA could request for  exemption of the Lao CPA course, so the LCPAA could consider (through the education committee and registration committee), but at least you must complete the aptitude test concerning local business-related legislations to be able to become a Lao CPA (see the article 8 of CPA regulation No. 038/ LCPAA, dated 8 Aug 2016). 

If I did not pass the exam of the CPA course at the first time, can I resit for the exam and how much it will cost?

You can resit for the exam as many time as you want until you pass.
For the first CPA training course conducted by LCPAA, the resit fee is 250.000 Kip, which represent 25% of tuition fee for each paper.

Those CPA that are owner of an accounting or audit firm which is a legal entity member of LCPAA, why do they have to be an individual member of LCPAA?

​Being an individual member of LCPAA is mandatory in accordance with the Independent Audit Law (see article 41 and 43). This is to enable LCPAA follow the continuing professional development hours that is mandatory for all practicing members (see article 32 of the Independent Audit Law) as well as to contribute to the quality improvement of the professional development.

Can CPA holder that is not yet a member of LCPAA attending training organized by LCPAA obtain CPD hour certificate?

Actually, it is depend on the nature of the training, if he\she attend CPD training course announced by LCPAA, he\she will receive a CPD hour certificate according to the number of hours he\she attended. If he\she has attended thematic training that LCPAA is also recognized as a CPD, you will receive CPD hour certificate that could be maximum 6 hours (although that training is longer 6 hours).

If I’m not a LCPAA member, what would be the impact to my CPA qualification?

Holder of CPA certificate who is not a member of LCPAA would not be allowed to practice as chief accountant or CFO in a public interest entity or large-sized enterprise, and could not establish an accounting or audit firm as stated in the Accounting Law and the Independent Audit Law.

Is it possible that individual practicing member of LCPAA provide accounting or audit services without establishing his/her accounting or audit firm? So he/she does not need to pay annual legal entity membership fee?

The article 71 of the Independent Audit Law does not allow individual to provide accounting and audit services. This means, although you are a CPA, you are not eligible to provide accounting and audit services, except you are an employee of an entity so you can practice in business only. If you want to provide accounting or audit services, you have to be registered as a legal entity and having practicing license from the Ministry of Finance.

​Why a CPA need to complete CPD hours? What are the impact if he/she does not complete this requirement?

​Pursuing the article 32 of the Independent Audit Law, practitioners shall take part in at least 120 hours of educational activities during a three-year cycle with a minimum 20 hours in any year to maintain theoretical knowledge in accounting and auditing professional skills and ethical values at a high level. If a practicing member of LCPAA could not meet this requirement, LCPAA could not renew his/her membership which means he/she would not be eligible to continue their practice.

How can I get the list of LCPAA legal entities members?

​To get the list of LCPAA legal entities members, please contact the LCPAA office by email.