Certified Public Accountants (CPA) are skilled and competent professional accountants, auditors, finance managers, tax consultants and practitioners both in public and private sectors. The CPA certification also enables students to further their education in business training courses, for instance, the Bachelor of Commerce degree
The CPA Examination is held twice yearly in May/June and November/December. The examination is divided into three parts of two sections each. Each section consists of three papers. A candidate may attempt two sections in a part together or separately in ascending order but before proceeding to the next part, a candidate must pass the lower part.
The examination is rigorous and standards are high and therefore a candidate is advised to devote approximately the equivalent of twelve months of full time study for each part of the examination. Ideally, a student should be able to complete the CPA examination in a period not exceeding three years.
A student is advised to programme the studies in such a way that makes it possible to take and pass the whole examination (parts I, II and III) in a duration of between four and a half years and six years following the date of registration with KASNEB Examining Board.
A student must carefully assess the interest in the profession and ability to study under strenuous condition, with a view to taking and passing the examination in a reasonable time. Competence and flair in mathematical computations, analytical and communication skills are essential requirements in preparing for the examination.
The CPA examination is benchmarked on the international standards promulgated by International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB), International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB).
The CPA examination therefore meets the requirements of International Education Standards (IESs), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs), International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs).
The IESs prescribe requirements relating to entry, professional training and practice as required by International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) for the qualification programme for professional accountants.
The Trainee Accountants Practical Experience Framework (TAPEF)
The TAPEF is a joint kasneb-ICPAK initiative for compliance with the requirements of IES 5 on practical experience requirements for trainee (student) accountants.
Students taking the CPA examination are required to acquiring practical experience so that they can match progress in examination with competence in performance of duties in the work environment. IES 5 requires practical experience to be part of the pre-qualification programme. The minimum period of experience required is three years. The practical experience may be gained during or after the qualification process.
All CPA students are therefore required to register for TAPEF through the ICPAK website.
Upon completing the CPA examination and obtaining the requisite practical experience, the graduates are eligible to register with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) as full members in order to be recognised as professional accountants and use the CPA designation.
CPA graduates without the requisite experience are eligible to be registered with ICPAK as associate members pending their acquisition of experience and registration as full members.
Further details on the TAPEF are available on the kasneb and ICPAK websites.
The CPA certification is intended for those students who wish to qualify and work as professional accountants, auditors, finance managers, tax specialists and financial consultants; experienced accountants and students who have completed CPA examinations would be wise to consider becoming certified public accountants.
Highly respected in the business world and often in financially rewarding positions, certified public accountants have more opportunities to use their accounting skills as consultants serving the general public or business owners.
The aims of CPA Examination include to:
The aims of CPA Part I examination include to:
The aims of CPA Part II examination include to:
The aims of CPA Part III examination include to:
A person seeking to be registered as a CPA student must show evidence of being a holder of one of the following minimum qualifications:
Exemptions
Exemptions may, on application, be granted to registered students who are holders of certain degrees and diplomas recognised by kasneb. Exemptions will be granted on a paper by paper basis.
Progression Rule
Duration of Registration as a Student of kasneb
A registered student of the CPA examination will be required to complete the examination within a period of nine years provided that the candidate shall complete:
kasneb reserves the right to cancel the registration of a student who fails to complete the examination within the stipulated time.
A student whose registration is cancelled under the rules in this paragraph may not be eligible for re-registration.
However, kasneb reserves the right to vary or amend the regulations.
CPA Examination is held twice yearly in June and December. The examination is divided into three parts each comprising of two sections, making a total of six sections in all. A student may attempt two sections of a part together or separately in the ascending order but before proceeding to the next part, a candidate must pass the lower part.
PART I
Section 1
Paper No:
CA11 Financial Accounting
CA12 Business Law
CA13 Entrepreneurship and Communication
Section 2
Paper No:
CA21 Economics
CA22 Management Accounting
CA23 Public Finance and Taxation
PART II
Section 3
Paper No:
CA31 Company Law
CA32 Financial Management
CA33 Financial Reporting
Section 4
Paper No:
CA41 Auditing and Assurance
CA42 Management Information Systems
CA43 Quantitative Analysis
PART III
Section 5
Paper No:
CA51 Strategy, Governance and Ethics
CA52 Advanced Management Accounting
CA53 Advanced Financial Management
Section 6
Paper No:
CA61 Advanced Public Finance and Taxation
CA62 Advanced Auditing and Assurance
CA63 Advanced Financial Reporting
Certified Public Accountants are skilled and competent professional accountants, auditors, finance managers, tax consultants and practitioners both in public and private sectors.