BICA Registration 2026: Requirements, Documents & Fees

To work as an accountant in Botswana you need to register with the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA). BICA says membership is compulsory under the Accountants Act 2010 for anyone who does accounting work for a salary or a fee, and that includes ACCA, CIMA and AAT holders. You apply on the MyBICA portal with certified certificates, two BICA referees, a police clearance and proof of your work experience. Approval usually takes 4–6 weeks. Admission fees for 2026 start at P1,821.26 for Accounting Technicians.

This guide covers who has to register, which membership category fits your qualifications, the documents you need, the 2026 fees and the route to the BICA Chartered Accountancy qualification. Every figure comes from BICA's own pages and was checked in October 2026.

Why BICA registration matters for accounting jobs in Botswana

The Accountants Act 2010, as amended in 2020, regulates the profession. BICA keeps the registers of members, students and member firms. Under the Act, anyone who provides audit and assurance, management accounting, public sector accounting, internal audit or other accounting services specified by the BICA Council must be registered.

Registration also signals to employers that you are regulated and bound by BICA's code of ethics. If you hold an international qualification such as ACCA, CIMA or AAT, you still need to register with BICA before you work in Botswana. BICA's FAQ says so directly.

Who can register with BICA?

BICA's general requirements are that you:

are at least 21 years old;
live in Botswana;
hold an accountancy or related qualification from an accredited institution, or have passed the examinations the Council prescribes;
are considered a fit and proper person by the Council;
for the Associate and Fellow classes, are a full member in good standing of a recognised (IFAC-member) accountancy body.

BICA membership categories: which one fits you?

Accounting Technician

This class is for people with a diploma in accounting or a related field, such as a DABS, HND, Diploma in Public Finance and Accounting or IATQ. BICA also accepts AAT, a Bachelor of Accounting or Commerce, CIS membership, or a part-qualification from a recognised chartered body such as ACCA or CIMA. You need two years of practical accountancy work experience, proven with a work-experience checklist that your supervisor signs and stamps.

Associate Certified Professional Accountant (ACPA)

This class is for fully qualified members in good standing of another accountancy body that BICA recognises, for example a newly admitted ACCA member. You need a letter of good standing from your parent body.

Fellow Certified Professional Accountant (FCPA)

The requirements match ACPA, but you hold Fellow status with your parent body and submit your Fellow membership certificate.

Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA)

This class is for people who pass the BICA qualification exams and complete its practical training requirements. See the qualification section below.

If you are already an Accounting Technician and later qualify as a chartered accountant, you apply through BICA's Membership Upgrade form. You do not need to reapply from scratch.

Documents you need

Prepare these before you open the MyBICA portal:

Certified copies of your academic and professional certificates.
A certified copy of your Omang or passport.
A letter of appointment or employment confirmation from your current employer, plus an employer reference.
Two reference letters from active BICA members.
A police clearance certificate.
A completed work-experience checklist, signed by your supervisor and stamped.
For ACPA or FCPA only: your parent-body membership certificate and a letter of good standing.
Proof of payment of the admission fee.

How to apply: step by step

Choose your category using the descriptions above.
Create an account on the MyBICA portal (linked from bica.org.bw) and complete the membership application.
Upload your documents and pay the admission fee. BICA acknowledges each online submission.
Membership Committee review. Several assessors check your file, and you can expect a response about four weeks after BICA receives it.
Council approval. Once the Council approves you, BICA issues a membership certificate for your category.

Timing tip: BICA says applications received after its October approval cut-off are deferred to January of the following year. If you need a membership number for a job, apply as early as you can.

BICA membership fees for 2026

BICA's fees page lists these 2026 amounts, including 14% VAT:

Accounting Technician: P1,821.26 admission; P1,684.97 annual subscription.
Associate: P3,745.03 admission; P3,477.69 annual subscription.
Fellow: P4,024.65 admission; P3,757.31 annual subscription.

Subscriptions paid late attract penalties of 15% to 50%. BICA's FAQ also says reduced fees apply to applications made between July and December. Ask BICA for an exact quote before you pay, and pay only into the bank account shown on bica.org.bw.

Keeping your membership: CPD

Registration is not a one-off. BICA requires members to complete 40 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) each year and monitors compliance. BICA's own CPD events are offered to members at subsidised rates.

The BICA Chartered Accountancy qualification

If you do not yet hold a professional qualification, BICA runs its own Botswana Chartered Accountancy qualification. It is built on ICAEW learning materials, with added Botswana tax and business law modules. Because of BICA's reciprocal agreement with ICAEW, you can work towards both memberships. The route has four steps:

Register with BICA as a student. Entry requires an accounting degree, AAT, ACCA or CIMA part-qualification, or another recognised accountancy qualification.
Enrol with an accredited tuition provider. BICA names Botswana Accountancy College, BaIsago University and Arthur Portland.
Pass the exams, complete 450 days of practical work experience with an authorised training employer, and complete the ethics and professional development elements.
Apply for BICA (and ICAEW) membership once you qualify.

BICA puts the typical study period at 3 to 5 years. Since November 2025, the University of Botswana has also offered a Bachelor of Commerce in Chartered Accounting with BICA. It is designed as a feeder route into the final stages of the qualification.

Auditors are a separate case. Since the 2020 amendments, certified auditors are registered by the Botswana Accountancy Oversight Authority (BAOA), not BICA. To sign audit opinions, you need BAOA registration on top of your BICA membership.

Avoid registration and job scams

BICA processes membership only through its own portal and offices. Be wary of anyone who offers to "fast-track" your registration for a fee, or of an "employer" who asks you to pay a recruitment or processing fee. Real employers in Botswana do not charge applicants. Check vacancies on the employer's official website, and report suspicious adverts to the police.

Frequently asked questions

Do ACCA members have to register with BICA to work in Botswana?

Yes. BICA says membership is legally compulsory for anyone who does accounting work for a salary or a fee, including ACCA, CIMA and AAT holders. Fully qualified ACCA members normally apply as Associate Certified Professional Accountants (ACPA).

How long does BICA registration take?

BICA quotes 4–6 weeks from submission. Applications received after the October approval cut-off are deferred to January.

How much does it cost to register with BICA in 2026?

Admission fees are P1,821.26 (Accounting Technician), P3,745.03 (Associate) and P4,024.65 (Fellow), all including VAT. Each is followed by an annual subscription.

Can I register with BICA with only a diploma?

Yes, as an Accounting Technician, provided you also have two years of practical accountancy experience recorded on BICA's work-experience checklist.

Does BICA register auditors?

No. Certified auditors are registered by the Botswana Accountancy Oversight Authority (BAOA). You must be an Associate or Fellow member of BICA holding a practising certificate before you apply.

Next steps

Once your registration is under way, start applying. Browse the latest jobs in Botswana and finance and accounting vacancies on Jobsiz. Update your CV with the free Jobsiz resume builder, and list your BICA membership number or application status near the top.

Sources

By the Jobsiz Editorial Team · Updated 19 October 2026. Fees and procedures can change, so confirm them with BICA before you apply.

BICA Registration 2026: How to Work Legally as an Accountant in Botswana