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MORE polytechnic students in Singapore may opt to become accountants immediately after graduation, instead of getting a university degree first – and are unlikely to face lower pay, slower promotions, or career ceilings in doing so, industry players told The Business Times.

This shift comes with the launch of the Polytechnic Pathway Programme (PPP) on Jan 20, which aims to broaden the Republic’s accounting sector talent pool.

The PPP, a S$6 million initiative by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (Isca), will subsidise polytechnic graduates’ examination fees and other costs for the foundational portion of the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification (SCAQ), for up to two years after graduation.

Polytechnic graduates from any discipline are eligible. Isca – the administrator of the SCAQ – also offers learning support under the programme, including free revision classes and access to study spaces at its Cecil Street premises.

The SCAQ is the only way to obtain the Chartered Accountant (Singapore) qualification. It has two stages: a foundational portion with six modules and a professional portion with five modules. Candidates must complete both portions and accrue three years of relevant work experience to qualify.