Overview
The Qualification Programme (QP) is the education and examination route run by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) towards becoming a Hong Kong CPA. It has three levels: the Associate Level (10 modules), the Professional Level (4 modules) and the Capstone. HKICPA pairs it with a practical experience requirement, completed under the guidance of a CPA.
Who can apply
To register as a QP student you need to meet these conditions.
Be aged 16 or above and of good character.
Hold a pre-entry qualification of at least a Higher Diploma or an Associate Degree at Hong Kong Qualifications Framework Level 4 or above.
Exemptions from Associate Level modules depend on your prior qualification.
Degree holders can be exempt from all 10 Associate modules.
Holders of a sub-degree or advanced diploma, and graduates of a conversion programme, can be exempt from Modules 1 to 5.
Apply for all exemptions at the same time. Later exemption applications are not accepted.
Levels or stages
Associate Level
Ten modules: Accounting, Management Accounting, Business Economics, Business Management, Information Management, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Principles of Auditing, Principles of Taxation, and Business and Company Law (Modules 1 to 10 in that order).
Modules can be taken in any order, and up to five can be taken in one session.
Modules 1 to 9 are each offered once a year, split between the two sessions. Module 10 is offered in both June and December.
Most Associate exams are computer-based. In Hong Kong, Modules 1 to 9 are taken at equipped centres, while Module 10 is taken on your own device.
Professional Level
Four modules: Module 11 Financial Reporting, Module 12 Business Finance, Module 13 Business Assurance and Module 14 Taxation.
Each module has a workshop and an examination. You must complete the Introductory Workshop before you can sit any Professional exam.
Each exam is a three-hour open-book paper made up of case studies and compulsory essay questions, taken on your own device.
Sessions are held in June and December. At your first attempt you can sit at most two modules in a session. Resits are unlimited.
Passing a module workshop does not replace the module exam.
Capstone
Three full-day workshops built around a single case study with simulations, covering business acumen, leadership and ethics. You are assessed on individual contribution, written assignments and team presentations. The workshops count for 20% of the Capstone mark.
A four-hour open-book Final Examination a few weeks after the workshops, based on one case with several open-ended questions. The case details are released five working days before the exam. It counts for 80%.
You must attend all three workshops to sit the Final Examination. Retakes are unlimited.
The Capstone is held in June and December.
Exam pattern
| Level | Modules | Exam format | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | 10 | Mostly computer-based module exams | June and December |
| Professional | 4 | Three-hour open-book exam per module | June and December |
| Capstone | 1 | Four-hour open-book Final Examination plus three workshops | June and December |
Marking and results
The Capstone uses an aggregate mark: the workshops (20%) and the Final Examination (80%) combine into one score. The pages reviewed do not state pass marks, so check HKICPA for the current pass standard.
You must complete the Capstone within 10 years of first registering. If you do not, you are removed from the register and your exam results are permanently deleted. Module exemptions are kept only if you re-register within two years.
Important dates
June 2026 session
Enrolment: 27 February to 9 March 2026.
Associate exams: 27 to 29 May 2026. Results are tentatively 31 July 2026.
Capstone Final Examination: 8 June 2026. Results are tentatively 24 August 2026.
Professional exams: 29 and 30 June 2026. Results are tentatively 25 August 2026.
December 2026 session
Enrolment: 26 August to 7 September 2026.
Capstone Final Examination: 1 December 2026. Results are tentatively 24 February 2027.
Associate exams: 23 to 25 November 2026. Results are tentatively 29 January 2027.
Professional exams: 27 and 28 December 2026. Results are tentatively 25 February 2027.
Exams are also offered at centres in Chinese Mainland. Dates are tentative until HKICPA confirms them.
Fees
HKICPA lists these fees for 2026, in Hong Kong dollars.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee | HK$1,000 |
| Assessment fee | HK$1,650 |
| Annual fee | HK$1,100 |
| Re-registration fee | HK$2,100 |
| Associate Level exemption fee, per module | HK$1,100 |
| Associate Level enrolment fee, per module | HK$1,100 |
| Professional Level Introductory Workshop | HK$1,800 |
| Professional Level module workshop, per module | HK$1,800 |
| Professional Level module examination, per module | HK$2,000 |
| Capstone workshops and Final Examination | HK$8,750 |
| Appeal for module exemption | HK$2,200 |
HKICPA reviews fees every year and may change them without prior notice.
How to apply
Register as a QP student, then enrol in modules through the HKICPA Student Centre during the set enrolment periods. Submit all exemption applications in one go; later applications based on the same qualification are not accepted.
Preparation tips
Plan the module order around which modules are offered in each session, since Modules 1 to 9 run only once a year.
Attend the Introductory Workshop early, as it is required for the Professional exams.
HKICPA offers module preparation seminars and examination techniques seminars to registered students.
For the Capstone, practise reading a long case quickly and writing recommendations, since the Final Examination is open-book.
Can I retake QP exams?
Yes. Professional Level exams and the Capstone Final Examination have no limit on resits, but you must finish the Capstone within 10 years of first registering.
Do I need an accounting degree?
No. The QP accepts a Higher Diploma or Associate Degree at HKQF Level 4 or above, and it has routes for non-accounting graduates. The qualification you hold decides how many Associate modules you can be exempt from.