In efforts to ensure that the market has enough competent Internal Auditors, the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa has raised the bar for Internal Auditors in terms of the requirements to become a Certified Internal Auditor, the global profession’s premier designation, and thus strengthening the profession in South Africa.

“Internal audit has evolved over the years and the expectations of the profession in the market have increased exponentially. The Institute therefore had to take the necessary steps to ensure that internal auditors are positioned to meet the demands of the market and add significant value in the organisations they find themselves in” says Dr von Eck, CEO of the IIA SA To this end, the IIA SA has overhauled its designations, which includes a revision of the Internal Audit Technician and the replacement of the General Internal Auditor with the much improved Professional Internal Auditor designation.  The two designations are underpinned by structured work-based training programs which combined are tantamount to three years of articleship. Fundamentally they are designed to build practical competence.

Essentially the IIA SA is now expecting Internal Auditors to serve articles before they are allowed entry into the international CIA program. The learning pathways leading to the global Certified Internal Auditor qualification have become more challenging. As of 1 January 2014, candidates can only sit for the CIA exam if they have already completed both the IAT (Internal Audit Technician) and the PIA (Professional Internal Auditor (previously the GIA) or have been assessed as competent against these designations through IIA SA’s Recognition of Prior Learning process.

The IIA SA believes that this intervention is absolutely necessary in the development of future internal audit leaders. Internal audit, as one of the four pillars of governance, is vitally important to the health and wealth of the economy. In the context of increasing reports of corruption and maladministration, this intervention certainly is timely.