Practising Certificate
The AIA Practising Certificate
Guidance, Support and Benefits for Members in Practice
If you plan to work in public practice, the AIA practising certificate gives you the authority to do so — along with a range of exclusive benefits.
It offers:
- Professional recognition
- Access to expert guidance
- Tailored support services
We’re here to help small and medium-sized practices grow and thrive. As a member in practice, you’ll have everything you need to run a successful, compliant business — from regulatory support to practical tools.
Ready to apply?
- New to AIA? Apply for your membership and practising certificate online
- Already a member? Apply for your practising certificate through MyAIA
Extensive Recognition to Support Your Firm
AIA is recognised and regulated by key authorities across the UK and Ireland, reinforcing our commitment to professional standards and public trust.
Recognised Qualifying Body (RQB)
AIA is a Recognised Qualifying Body for statutory auditors in the UK, regulated by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). In the Republic of Ireland, AIA is a Prescribed Body under the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2014.
We are also a supervisory body under the UK Money Laundering Regulations.
Anti-money laundering (AML) supervision
AIA supervises practising members under the Money Laundering Regulations (amended 2019). As an approved supervisory body, we provide:
- Practical guidance
- Regular checks
- Support to ensure members have effective measures in place to deter, detect and disrupt money laundering and terrorist financing
UK Visas and Immigration
AIA is recognised by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Our members are authorised to provide accountants’ evidence for:
- Tier 1 (General) immigration applications
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) applications under the Points-Based System
For full guidance, please refer to the UKVI website.
Independent examination of charities
Under the Charities Act 2011, AIA is listed as a recognised body whose members can act as independent examiners for charities with an annual income of up to £1,000,000.
Licensed access to barristers
AIA members in practice in the UK are licensed to instruct barristers directly. This means you can:
- Instruct any member of the Bar for legal advice
- In some cases, request representation — either for yourself or on behalf of a client
A copy of the licence is available in the AIA Secure Document Library under the Members in Practice section.
AIA is an approved supervisory body under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (amended 2019) and is listed in Schedule 1 of the regulations. In the Republic of Ireland, AIA is a designated body under the:
- Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2018
- SI No. 578/2019 – European Union (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Regulations 2019
These regulations apply to all practising accountants and firms offering accountancy services.
AIA supports members by promoting your regulated status — giving potential clients confidence in your professionalism and credibility.
Find an Accountant
All Members in Practice are listed on our Find an Accountant page, making it easy for clients to discover and connect with you.
Members who have achieved Quality Assured status are highlighted, offering additional reassurance of your commitment to high standards.
AIA in partnership with Tolley Tax
Comprehensive tax resources at your fingertips
As part of your AIA practising certificate, you’ll receive access to the Tolley Tax Library — the UK’s most extensive source of tax and accountancy information.
This bespoke package includes:
- Full access to the interactive Tax Library
- Monthly Tolley Online Seminars
- Daily updates to reflect the latest legislation and guidance
- Alerts to help you spot new opportunities for your clients
Key resources include:
- Whillans Tax Tables
- Tolley’s Tax Guide
- Tax Computations
- Tolley’s Tax Planning for OMBs
- Tolley Income Tax
- Tolley’s Estate Planning
- Tolley’s Yellow Tax Handbook
Guidance and Support for Your Practice
Eligibility
To obtain a practising certificate, you must have been an AIA Associate or Fellow member and post-qualification gained two years’ work experience at a sufficiently high level with a statutory auditor or an accountant in public practice.
If you have trained in a specialist area of public practice, such as forensic accounting, then you must have completed five years’ experience in the specialist field(s) in which you intend to work. Two years of this experience must be post-qualification.
If you have held your membership for two years continuously and are in public practice, you are eligible to apply for an AIA practising certificate.
