Pathway to
Specialisation
SMSF Specialist Advisor
Be recognised for your SMSF expertise by achieving the highly coveted SSA® designation.
Enrol today.
SMSF Specialist Auditor
Be recognised for your SMSF audit expertise by achieving the highly coveted SSAud® designation.
Enrol today.
Set yourself apart and demonstrate your expertise to clients and your peers
Become an Accredited SMSF Association Specialist and be independently recognised for your SMSF expertise and knowledge.
The industry benchmark, attaining an SMSF Association designation will set you apart and position you as an industry leader.
Benefits include:
- Independent recognition of your SMSF expertise
- Industry leading designation (SSA® / SSAud®)
- Grow your profile with Association branding and listing on ‘Find A Specialist’ page
- Enhance your current SMSF skills and knowledge
- Specialist only CPD and up to 25 CPD hours per year
- Potential for one subject credit towards Financial Adviser licensing requirements
The Association offers two different accreditation programs with flexible pathways for completion:
- SMSF Specialist Advisor – for Accountants and Financial Planners
- SMSF Specialist Auditor – for Auditors
To register for an SMSF Association accreditation program, you are required to be a current Associate Member.
“Being an accredited SMSF Specialist means I have the education, skills and know-how to deal with the complexities of SMSFs; and the SMSF Association stands out amongst all the Associations in providing the information you need. ”
- ANNA GARUCCIO
SMSF ASSOCIATION FELLOW SPECIALIST ADVISOR (FSSA), DIRECTOR, MTIS PRIVATE WEALTH
SMSF Specialist FAQs
In a competitive industry, being independently recognised for your SMSF expertise and knowledge with an SMSF Association accreditation allows you to set yourself apart, and demonstrate your expertise to both your clients and peers.
Members have 12 weeks to complete both the SMSF Specialist Advisor and the SMSF Specialist Auditor courses.
The SMSF Specialist Advisor course is designed with built-in structure and guidance to support busy professionals.
The SMSF Auditor Course is designed to allow for flexible, self-paced learning.
To be eligible to enter, and complete, the SMSF Specialist Advisor™ (SSA®) or SMSF Specialist Auditor™ (SSAud®) accreditation course, you must be a current financial Associate Member and be of good fame, integrity, and character.
The Association recommends you aim to meet the following criteria prior to entering the SMSF Specialist Advisor course:
- At least 2 years experience providing advice and/or services to the SMSF sector.
- SMSF related work activities should account for, or be growing towards a minimum of 10% of your total workload.
The SMSF Specialist Advisor course is $2,150. The SMSF Specialist Auditor course fee is $1,980.
Eligible Members with appropriate experience or education can save by completing the Recognition Pathway instead, with reduced requirements and at a reduced fee.
Yes, you must maintain ongoing financial membership of the SMSF Association to retain your Accredited SMSF Association Specialist designation.
Members who let their Specialist Membership with the SMSF Association lapse must immediately ceasing representing themselves as an SMSF Specialist Advisor™ or SMSF Specialist Auditor™.
You must maintain membership with the SMSF Association to retain your Accredited SMSF Association Specialist designation, and comply with the SMSF Association Code of Professional Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
Specialist Members also have annual CPD requirements to meet, as per the Association’s CPD Policy.
In recognition of previous experience or current qualifications, eligible members have the option to bypass the course work required in either the SMSF Specialist Advisor or SMSF Specialist Auditor courses and complete the assessment only with the respective Recognition Pathway courses.