DIVER CREDENTIALS

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Diving certifications are issued by diver training agencies, and divers carry a qualification record or certification card which may be required when booking a dive trip, hiring scuba equipment, filling diving cylinders and more.

In honing their diving skills and clocking diving experience, divers acquire a wide spectrum of knowledge areas, while developing their physical fitness. The level of their diving certification determines the depth they can go to and the amount of autonomy they can have on their diving expeditions. As they grow in their knowledge, skills and experience, divers can advance to the next level of certification, progressing from being recreational divers to obtaining professional certificates.

Similarly, ISCA’s specialisation pathways enable our members to acquire new skills and achieve success in various areas that are in demand. With the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic, and the sea change in the economy brought about by digital transformation, upskilling and reskilling are crucial. ISCA’s specialisation qualifications and certifications support the upskilling needs of the profession.

Recognising the importance of upskilling and reskilling, ISCA works with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), WSG and SAC as well as other partners in the accountancy ecosystem to refresh the Skills Framework for Accountancy. The refreshed Framework features ten career tracks, including Enterprise Risk Management, Financial Forensics, Mergers & Acquisitions and Restructuring & Insolvency. Infrastructure advisory is featured as a high growth practice area in the Skills Framework. Data analytics, which enables efficiencies and delivery of real-time insights for management decisions, is another skill that is in high demand among employers and is relevant for professional accountants across different career tracks.

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The global economic slowdown brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic has placed an immense strain on organisations and individuals. Under immense business pressure, individuals and business partners may rationalise that certain illegal activities and actions might be justified when opportunity arises, thus increasing the risk of white-collar crime.

Financial forensic professionals play a big role in combating white-collar crime. ISCA’s Financial Forensic Accounting Qualification, developed in 2018, upskills financial forensic professionals in forensic accounting methodology and investigation approaches, digital forensics, financial crime compliance and professional requirements. Essential laws and regulations in Singapore's context have been woven into each module, differentiating the qualification from others in the market.

Since its launch in March 2018, the ISCA FFA Qualification has admitted close to 300 candidates and produced about 100 graduates, while the ISCA FFP credential has been conferred on more than 100 ISCA members.

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Demand for urban infrastructure and services is expected to grow strongly in Asia. ISCA launched the ISCA IPFQ in 2019 to meet the sector’s training needs for infrastructure and project finance professionals. Supported by Infrastructure Asia, the ISCA IPFQ is developed by ISCA in collaboration with EY Singapore. The ISCA IPFQ syllabus and contents cover topics in four key areas of work in the infrastructure value chain, including financial modelling, Public-Private-Partnership contracts, project financing risks and considerations. The course is facilitated by experienced infrastructure advisory practitioners.

Upon completion of all the modules and attaining at least three years of recent and relevant work experience in infrastructure and project finance-related fields, individuals can apply for ISCA membership and the conferment of the ISCA IPFP Credential. This Credential is the first in Asia to be conferred by a professional body. Since its launch in 2019, the ISCA IPFQ has admitted more than 20 candidates.

Data analytics continue to be highly relevant to professional accountants as the accountancy landscape transforms with the digitalisation of the economy. Leveraging data analytics, accountants, with their core competencies in financial and management reporting, will be able to take on the role of a business partner by providing useful insights from data.

The ISCA-SUSS Business Analytics Certification Programme, offered in partnership with Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), provides candidates with business analytics skills such as data mining, data visualisation and predictive modelling. Under the Programme, individuals can achieve the ISCA-SUSS jointly branded Certificate in Business Analytics and progress on to the Specialist Certificate in Business Analytics for in-depth applied skills and knowledge in business analytics techniques.

There have been five intakes of candidates since the programme was launched in 2018, and over 300 candidates to date. The programme has conferred the ISCA-SUSS Specialist Certificate in Business Analytics on 7 individuals, with the first batch of candidates receiving the certificate in 2020; while more than 150 individuals have been awarded the ISCA-SUSS Certificate in Business Analytics.

Together with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Global) and the Institute of Internal Auditors Singapore, ISCA offered its members a limited-time opportunity in 2020 to earn the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation via an accelerated route. Under this collaboration, ISCA members can earn the CIA designation, which is the only globally-accepted designation for internal auditors by sitting for a one-part CIA Challenge exam instead of the standard three-paper exam. A total of 246 ISCA members applied to sit for the exam to earn the designation in 2020.

ISCA launched the ISCA Membership Milestone Digital Badges and Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network Member Logo in October 2019 to provide an innovative and visible way for members to showcase their membership, accreditation and qualifications in their professional field.

For a start, the ISCA Membership Milestone digital badges were issued to members who have been with the Institute for 10, 20, 30 and 40 years in recognition of their membership milestones and loyalty. Since then, the response has been encouraging as close to 90% of eligible members have claimed the membership milestone badges. This is higher than the industry benchmark of 65% of badges claimed on digital badging platforms.

In July 2020, ISCA rolled out the second phase of digital badges for Professional Accomplishment for a range of ISCA CPE Certification courses and specialisation pathways. Members have claimed badges for ISCA Financial Forensic Professional (FFP) credential, ISCA Financial Forensic Qualification, ISCA Infrastructure and Project Finance Professional (ISCA IPFP) credential, ISCA-SUSS Certificate in Business Analytics, and Practical Audit Workshop. Subsequently, digital badges will be issued to more Professional Qualification programmes and CPE certification courses.

In addition to digital badges, ISCA has worked with CAW, a network of leading chartered accountancy bodies to create a Network Member Logo for chartered accountants. More than 2000 CA (Singapore) members have since downloaded the Logo for use on their email signature, social media profile or website.