The council meets approximately eight times a year to set policy on areas like the regulation of members in the public interest, the growth and development of the institute and examination and training standards.

Students may first study for the CPA exams and obtain the required training at a later date.

As CPA Ireland is a recognised body, it has a statutory obligation to oversee the professional activities of its members in practice, ensuring that education and training standards are maintained.

CPA Ireland has mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with CPA Australia,[6]ICA India,[7] ICA Bangladesh[8] and CGA Canada,[9] South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA),[10] the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)[11] and Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA Pakistan).

The MRA will provide an abbreviated qualification pathway for eligible accounting professionals in the U.S. and Ireland to practice in the partner countries.

In 2011, CPA Ireland was awarded two World Bank contracts worth $1.5 million to develop the accountancy profession in Rwanda and Mozambique.