Support Centre
1. Transferring your membership to CIBA
Move from another professional body to CIBA – seamless transfer with uninterrupted professional recognition.
2. What You Need to Know
You’ll complete CIBA’s application so we can recognise your qualifications and experience, issue the right membership/designation, and (if relevant) your Tax Practitioner and/or Independent Reviewer License.
3. Why It Matters to You
By submitting all required documents upfront, your transfer to CIBA will be processed quickly and seamlessly.
4. Step by Step Instructions
Register your profile on the CIBA Member Portal
Click Register and complete the online form to create your profile.
Upload your ID/Passport and Curriculum Vitae when prompted.
Once submitted, your profile is automatically created and linked to your uploaded files.
Obtain Your CIBA Membership: Associate
Pay the CIBA Member: Associate fee.
Your CIBA membership becomes active once payment is received.
You now hold CIBA Member: Associate status, which is a prerequisite for any professional designation.
Apply for a Designation (Transfer Route)
Navigate to “Apply for a Designation” in your portal.
Ensure you have uploaded the following documents:
Qualification(s)
Professional Designation Certificate (proof of full membership at your previous body)
Letter of Good Standing
To transfer your Tax Practitioner status, please include the following additional documents.
Tax Compliance Status Pin from SARS that is valid for 12 months, not a once-off pin
Certificate for completing the SARS Readiness Programme with another RCB, indicating a pass rate of 90% was achieved (NB: ONLY if you became a tax practitioner after 1 July 2022)
RCB tax practitioner certificate from previous RCB not older than 6 months
Independently verified Criminal Record Check – not older than 1 month
To transfer your Independent Reviewer status, please include the following additional document.
Independent Reviewer certificate from your previous professional body not older than 6 months
Make payment
Complete your payment to move to verification and assessment.
Note: Members with licenses must choose the Designation PLUS option to activate and manage their licenses.
Verification & Assessment:
Designation verification and assessment
CIBA reviews your documents and verifies your eligibility for our designations.
Feedback will be provided should we require anything more from you.
Tax Practitioner License verification and assessment (if applicable)
CIBA reviews your documents and verifies your eligibility for our Tax Practitioner License.
Feedback will be provided should we require anything more from you.
Once approved, update your RCB details on SARS eFiling to reflect CIBA as your Recognised Controlling Body.
Independent Reviewer License verification and assessment (if applicable)
CIBA reviews your documents and verifies your eligibility for our Independent Reviewer License.
Feedback will be provided should we require anything more from you.
Approval & Activation
Log in to your CIBA Membership profile:
Download your Designation/License(s) Certificate(s)
Access your CPD dashboard, digital badge and other rewards.
Resigning from your previous Professional Body
Only resign from your current body after your CIBA membership and designation are both approved.
Ensure all required documents have been submitted and your transfer is complete before the other membership ends.
5. What you will need
Before applying for your designation (Transfer Route), ensure you have:
Core Documents
Qualification(s)
Professional Designation Certificate (proof of full membership with your previous body)
Letter of Good Standing
If transferring your Tax Practitioner status
Valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) Pin (12-month pin, not once-off)
SARS Readiness Programme certificate with ≥90% pass (only if registered after 1 July 2022)
RCB Tax Practitioner Certificate from previous body (not older than 6 months)
Criminal Record Check (independently verified, not older than 1 month)
If transferring your Independent Reviewer status
Independent Reviewer Certificate from previous professional body (not older than 6 months)
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid (if applicable)
Don’t: Assuming the transfer is automatic — Instead, do: submit the full CIBA application.
Don’t: select CIBA membership only when you need practitioner rights — Instead, do: choose Membership with a Designation and add licences where needed.
Don’t partially upload your document — Instead, do: upload all items in the checklist before submitting.
7. Related Resources
Starting a New Application (Membership Applications)
Information You’ll Need to Apply (Membership Applications)
Applying for a Designation (D — Designations & Licenses)
8. Need more help?
Not sure which designation fits? Submit a Support Ticket with your CV and scope of work.