Admission to the practice of accountancy is governed by the New Zealand Society of Accountants Act 1958. To qualify for admission as a member of the society, a person is required to satisfy certain prerequisites, and thereafter to pass the prescribed professional examinations in accountancy, for which each university provides instruction, while the examinations are conducted by the Examinations Board set up by the University Grants Committee.

Each university also provides for the degrees Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) and Master of Commerce (M.Com.).