This program is for SMSF professionals, including but not limited to; accountants, financial planners, lawyers and actuaries seeking recognition for their SMSF specific skills and knowledge.
Who can apply for Specialist Advisor Membership?
General Members of SPAA are eligible to apply for accreditation as a SMSF Specialist AdvisorTM Member.
SPAA recommends that General Members should meet the following criteria prior to entering the program.
- Have a minimum 2 years experience providing advice and/or services to the SMSF sector.
- SMSF related work activities must account for a minimum of 20% of your total workload.
What does the SSATM Program consist of?
The SSATM Program consists of two components:
1. Examination
SPAA has developed the SPAA Online Exam Centre so you can enjoy the convenience of deciding when and where you sit your accreditation exam. You can complete the exam at any time of the day from any computer with internet access.
The Online Exam is 2 hours in duration and consists of 120 multiple choice questions. No written answers are required. Access to the exam is via your unique electronic log-in and password.
In order to prepare for the Online Exam you will be given the following:
- SPAA Online Exam Centre Tutorial; and
- SMSF Specialist AdvisorTM Practise Exam.
You are permitted a maximum of two (2) attempts to pass the Online Exam.
2. Questionnaire
This short questionnaire tests and verifies your adherence to the SMSF Specialist Advisor Program Eligibility Criteria. At the time of completing this questionnaire you are also required to provide the details for your two (2) nominated referees and verify that your CPD activities have been provided for a CPD Activity Check. Please see further details about these components below.
| |
Referee Check
You are required to provide the details for two (2) referees who are willing to support your application for specialist accreditation. Referees must meet the following criteria:
- Relationship to candidate must be in the capacity of professional associate, co-worker/peer or manager/supervisor.
- The professional relationship must have existed for a period longer than 2 years.
SPAA will carry out short referee checks via telephone to verify the details above and professional credibility.
|
| |
CPD Activity Check
You are requested to provide details of your CPD activities which fall within the current triennium period. SPAA will then conduct a review of the CPD details provided to ensure they meet the requirements of SPAA’s CPD Policy.
If at the time of submitting the Questionnaire, you are yet to complete the first full year of your first triennium, your CPD activities will not be reviewed as part of the accreditation process. Instead you will be flagged for a compulsory CPD activity check at the conclusion of Year 1 of your first triennium to ensure you have achieved the minimum 20 CPD points as per the SPAA CPD Policy. Please refer to the CPD section of our website for more information about the SPAA CPD review process.
|
Schedule of Fees
Application Administration |
$220 |
Exam sitting |
$440 |
Accreditation and Certification |
$440 |
Extension Fee (if required) |
$220 |
SPAA Specialist Membership (per annum) |
$660 |
Quality Review Program* |
(no charge unless required -
refer to Rules and Conditions) |
*Random annual review of up to 10% of all SPAA Members conducted each year |
How do I get accredited?
To apply for SMSF Specialist AdvisorTM accreditation you will need to:
-
Be a General Member of SPAA.
-
Log on to the SPAA website and access:
- SPAA Accreditation Program - SMSF Specialist AdvisorTM Rules and Conditions.
-
Complete Agreement & Payment Form (see back page) and submit with payment to SPAA or join online at http://www.spaa.asn.au/.
-
Within 24 hours of receipt of your application and payment SPAA will email you information about the Online Exam (including your electronic log-in and password) and the SSA Program Questionnaire.
-
You are required to achieve a score of 50% or greater and submit the completed questionnaire for review by the SPAA Accreditation Council.
-
Upon successful completion of both components you will receive an evaluation report and letter via email.
Program Timeframes
You are required to successfully complete both components of the Program (Online Exam and PH&E) within two (2) months of entering the accreditation program.
If you fail to successfully complete the SPAA Specialist Accreditation Program within the required two (2) month timeframe you will incur an Extension Fee of $220 (GST incl). This fee grants you a maximum four (4) month extension.
Failure to successfully complete both components within six (6) months of entry in to the program will result in your application being terminated. At this time you will forfeit all fees paid and results already earned. Should you wish to re-enter the Specialist Program in the future you will be subject to the same conditions as all new entrants, that is, you will be required to pay in full and successfully complete both components of the Program.
Special circumstances can be submitted for consideration by the SPAA Professional Standards Committee (PSC).
How to join the SSA Program
Before applying you must be a SPAA General Member. Non-members, click here to Join SPAA. Existing SPAA Members can use either of the options below:
Option 2: Download the forms
Please download the documents below and complete the following steps:
Steps:
- Read the Program Rules & Conditions.
- Complete the Agreement & Payment Form (on back page of Program Information & Enrolment Form).
- Return the completed Agreement & Payment Form.
Fax: (08) 8212 5993 or
Post: SPAA, PO Box 6540, Halifax St, ADELAIDE SA 5000.
- SPAA will contact you to acknowledge receipt of your completed application and payment of fees in full (refer to Schedule of Fees). Appropriate Examination and Questionnaire documents will be forwarded to you shortly thereafter.
|
