Certificates

For further information on CSA's Certificate courses,  click here.

Certificate in Governance Practice
Certificate in Governance and Risk Management

• General Overview 
• Features 
• Benefits of study 
• Learning flexibility 
• Learning with the experts
• Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration (transition information)  
• FAQs 

General overview

CSA’s Certificate in Governance Practice and Certificate in Governance and Risk Management are widely-respected vocational qualifications that offer flexibility in meeting individual learning needs. They provide a means of extending your knowledge and skills in governance, risk and compliance to maximise your career opportunities and work effectiveness.

Typically, students are highly motivated people who are either embarking on a career in governance or already well established in their roles or planned career path. They are looking to improve their performance in their jobs, to enhance their future career options or to consolidate themselves in their current roles.

The courses provide invaluable knowledge and skills, along with an industry qualification, for anyone in a role providing support to a governance professional responsible for the accountability mechanisms of an organisation. This can be in a public (listed or unlisted) or proprietary company, or a not-for-profit, government or other organisation. In addition, it provides a CSA-accredited qualification for directors, officers and other senior managers who require a broad understanding of the scope of their governance responsibilities and the skills required to discharge them.

Features

• Successful completion of six CSA training programs qualifies a participant for a CSA-accredited Certificate
• Suitable for a wide range of people working in the governance area
• Open entry with no prior qualification required
• Valuable knowledge and skills, along with an industry qualification, for anyone in a role providing support to a governance professional responsible for the accountability mechanisms of an organisation
• A CSA-accredited qualification for officers, directors and other senior managers who require a broad understanding of the scope of their governance responsibilities and the skills required to discharge them
• Substantial flexibility in the choice of training programs to complete the Certificates
• Two study modes available for all programs, face-to-face or online. You can mix and match your modes of study to suit your situation
• Robust, practical and continuously updated learning materials
• The ease and convenience of multiple-choice online assessment with no written exams.

Please click here to enrol in the Certificate in Governance Practice AND/OR the Certificate in Governance and Risk Management.

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Benefits of study

Completing one of CSA’s Certificate courses will provide you with:

• the gateway to Certificated membership
• practical knowledge and skills across a wide range of governance topics that you can readily apply in your workplace
• a strong platform to either consolidate your present position or to launch a new career in governance
• an explicit demonstration to your employer and to others of your commitment to developing your knowledge and skills in governance
• the ability to make a substantial and valued contribution as a member of the governance team within your organisation
• an insight into the importance of implementing good governance practices across the whole organisaton and the importance of your personal contribution to this objective
• the opportunity to network with presenters and other governance professionals and senior mangers when students attend face-to-face tutorial programs.

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Learning flexibility

The Certificate courses have been designed to provide substantial flexibility in the choice of training programs.

Certificate in Governance Practice — From the programs on offer you are required to complete one compulsory program with complete freedom of choice to select five other programs. This means you are free to choose the training programs most relevant to your learning needs based on your individual workplace role. This gives you the advantage of using the Certificate course to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and skills.

Certificate in Governance and Risk Management — This certificate is more focused on Risk Management so is more prescriptive. There are five core programs with your choice for the remaining program.

Please click here to view the training program selection for the CSA Certificates.

Training programs can be taken either by attending face-to-face tutorials or by studying online with the benefit of online access to recorded presentations.

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Learning with the experts

All certificate training programs are written and reviewed regularly by a wide range of practicing governance professionals with expertise in specific disciplines to ensure currency and accuracy of content. CSA also constantly evaluates and improves the programs in response to the feedback received from customers and clients.

CSA is fortunate to have senior practitioners and other governance experts as the presenters of our certificate training programs in all venues where training programs are offered. Presenters are carefully selected to ensure that students receive maximum exposure to practical hands-on knowledge that can be readily applied in their roles.

Some of our presenters and writers include:

Michael Adams FCIS, School of the School of Law, University of Western Sydney
David Berechree, Director, KPMG
Pauline Carr FCIS, Director, Exact Consulting
Lorne Cummings, Associate Professor and Director, Macquarie University
Paul Muir, Executive Manager Risk and Compliance, Suncorp Ltd
Chris O’Meara FCIS, Barrister at Law, Bennett Chambers
Robert Posener, Managing Director, PMComplete Pty Ltd
Chris Wells FCIS, (former CSA National President), CSA Tasmanian Council Member and Member of the CSA National Board
Costa Zakis, Deputy Practice Leader Business Risk Consulting, Marsh Ltd

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If you would like to talk to someone about the Certificate in Governance Practice or the Certificate in Governance and Risk Management please contact your local state office or call 1800 251 849 (toll free) or (02) 9223 5744.

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Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration (transition information)

The Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration is being replaced by the Certificate in Governance Practice. For participants currently enrolled in the Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration you may continue and gain the qualification. However, you may wish to transfer to the new Certificate in Governance Practice. Please click here for the information on the transfer process and the recognition of your study completed so far.

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Frequently asked questions

Q. When can I register for a training program?
A. You can register for a training program via the online mode at any time of the year. To check the program timetable for a face-to-face tutorial, click here for the Courses & Events page to view the timetable for your state.

Q. Where are the face-to-face tutorials held?
A. The venues for the training programs are the CSA offices in the capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and at other convenient CBD locations in Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.

Q. Do I need to be employed while studying the Certificate course?
A. There is no need for you to be in employment while you are studying in the either of the certificate courses.

Q. Do I need any qualifications or experience to enrol in the certificate courses?
A. Since both are open-entry courses, there are no educational or experience prerequisites for enrolment.

Q. Can I choose an individual training program but not enrol in the certificate courses?
A. Yes. However, if you later decide to enrol in either of the Certificate courses you are required to pass the online exam for Certificate graduation.

Q. Can I transfer from one Certificate to another Certificate?
A. Yes. You may transfer your completed eligible programs to the new Certificate. To transfer into the new Certificate please enrol online and then contact the Training Coordinator on 1800 251 849 or send an email.

Q. What will I gain by completing the certificate courses?
A. The courses earn their reputation from being the only vocational courses in governance offered by the premier governance training provider, CSA. You will also find that many employers regard it as a highly valued foundation for a career in governance administration.
Click here for more information on Certificated Membership.

Q. How do I sit the examinations?
A. All examinations, which consist of multiple-choice questions, are completed online without the need for you to attend an exam venue and sit a written paper.

Q. Is my Certificate qualification recognised when I enrol in a second Certificate?
A. Yes. You have a maximum of two exempt programs which are credited to the second Certificate. Please note the exempt programs must have been completed within the last 12 months.

Q. How long do I have to complete a Certificate course?
A. There is no time limit on the completion of the certificate courses. However, each training program has a lifespan of 12 months. A completed training program older than 12 months will not be counted as an eligible program for Certificate graduation, or as an exemption in a new Certificate course.

Q. How long do I have to complete an individual training program?
A. The time limit to complete an individual training program is 21 days. This starts the day of your face-to-face tutorial or with online study you can select your start date.

Q. Will I be eligible for membership of CSA?
A. Completion of the Certificate course entitles you to apply for Certificated membership

Please note: Certificated Members are entitled to use the nationally recognised postnominals of CSA(Cert). They are not Members of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), may not use its logo or postnominals and are not entitled to call themselves a Chartered Secretary. Associate or Fellow Members of CSA have completed a course of study, in most cases, the  Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance, and have met all the qualifying criteria to join. They are then permitted to use the associated postnominals and the professional designation of  Chartered Secretary.

Q. Is there any articulation into the Graduate Diploma on successful completion of either of the certificate courses?
A. A certificate graduate will be granted some recognition status towards a Graduate Diploma subject; either Risk and Compliance or Corporate Governance depending on which Certificate has been successfully completed.

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