QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Membership is open to practitioners and professionals in the insolvency, business rescue and restructuring industry who subscribe to the Association's constitution and code of conduct. There are four categories: Professional membership for attorneys and advocates, chartered accountants and auditors, business rescue practitioners, corporate restructuring professionals and financial advisors with a relevant qualification and at least two years' professional experience; Associate membership for professionals in related fields; Graduate membership for recent graduates in law, accounting, finance, business management or economics; and Institutional membership for organisations such as law firms, accounting firms, financial institutions, universities and corporate restructuring advisory firms. The full descriptions appear on the membership page.

The indicative annual subscriptions are R2 500 for Professional members, R1 500 for Associate members, R750 for Graduate members and R10 000 for Institutional members. These fees remain subject to confirmation by the National Executive. A once-off application fee of R500 accompanies every application and is invoiced on receipt.

Apply online through the application form, or download the application pack (PDF), complete it and email it with your supporting documents to membership@abripsa.org.za.

A certified copy of your ID or passport, your CV, certified copies of your qualifications, and proof of professional membership where applicable. A printable application document checklist is available under resources.

Applications are vetted by the Membership Committee, with an outcome communicated within 14 to 21 business days of receipt.

A certificate of membership and a membership number, together with access to the Association's programmes according to category — a directory listing, events and CPD at member rates, practice notes and circulars, and the mentorship programme for Graduate members.

Membership is activated on payment of the application fee and the first annual subscription. Your certificate of membership and membership number follow on activation.

A member is in good standing when subscriptions are current, the member complies with the Association's code of conduct, and the member is not under suspension. Certificates of good standing are issued to members who meet these requirements.

Subscriptions run on an annual cycle and are invoiced by the secretariat. A member remains in good standing while the current subscription is paid and the requirements of the code of conduct are met.

Section 138 of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 requires a practitioner to be a member in good standing of a legal, accounting or business management profession, and to be licensed by the CIPC. In practice the CIPC expects at minimum an NQF level 7 qualification in law, accounting or business management.

Enrolment on the panel of a Master of the High Court, which requires the applicant to be fit and proper — among other things, no unrehabilitated insolvency, no convictions involving dishonesty and no removal from an office of trust — and the ability to furnish security to the Master for the proper performance of duties.

Yes. Graduate members join the Association's mentorship programme and the aspirant stream of the training calendar, which pairs emerging practitioners with experienced members. See membership and events and training.

The aspirant resources page sets out the road to a BRP licence and to the Masters' panels step by step, with printable checklists and links to the official application channels.