Who can become a Certified Accountant

The criteria for the title “Certified Accountant” are set out in Law No. 10091, dated 05.03.2009, as amended, and are applied by the Examination Commission (KPAP) at registration for the exams. IKM applies the same criteria for admission as a candidate, except for the qualification course and the exams, which come afterwards: in this way, any candidate who completes the Initial Professional Development (IPD) training can register for the exams without obstacles.

Admission as a candidate at IKM

The Registration and Licensing Committee admits as candidate members persons who meet the criteria on education, professional experience and judicial status, including the requirement that the candidate is not under criminal prosecution or on trial for criminal offences. The qualification course is attended at IKM after admission; the exams are taken with KPAP. → Candidate membership

Criteria for registration for the exams

Regulation No. 2, dated 22.02.2018, of the Public Oversight Board (BMP) “On the functioning of the Professional Competence Examination Commission”, as amended, lists the requirements for a candidate for Certified Accountant as follows (Article 4, point 1.1):

a) to have the capacity to act;

b) not to have been criminally convicted or sentenced to a supplementary penalty of a nature that casts doubt on his or her honesty;

b/1) not to be under criminal prosecution by the prosecution office and/or on trial for criminal offences;

c) to have completed at least second-cycle university studies at “Master” level, or to hold a university diploma equated with, or equivalent to, this level, in any of the fields of study in economic sciences, such as accounting, finance, business administration, economics or fields equivalent to them;

ç) to have at least three years of professional experience in accounting, finance, financial control and related fields;

d) to have completed the qualification course in national and international accounting and financial reporting standards, organised or monitored by the professional organisation of certified accountants, recognised by the BMP, which he or she wishes to join, as well as the related tests.

Legal criteria for obtaining the title Certified Accountant

Under Article 49 of Law No. 10091, the title “Certified Accountant” is granted to a natural person who:

a) has completed second-cycle university studies at “Master” level, or holds a university diploma equated with this level, in one of the fields of study in economic sciences, such as accounting, finance, business administration, economics or fields equivalent to them;

b) has at least three years of professional experience in accounting, finance, financial control and related fields;

c) has completed the qualification course in national and international accounting and financial reporting standards, organised or monitored by the professional organisation of certified accountants that he or she wishes to join;

ç) has successfully passed the professional competence examinations.

Under Article 16, point 1, letters “a” and “b”, the candidate has full capacity to act and has not been criminally convicted or sentenced to a supplementary penalty of a nature that casts doubt on his or her honesty.

University degrees

The law accepts second-cycle degrees in accounting, finance, business administration, economics and fields equivalent to them. Degrees obtained abroad are recognised and made equivalent by the ministry responsible for education; equivalence is evidenced by the relevant document (DIND), which is submitted together with the diploma. Where it is unclear whether a study programme falls within the equivalent fields, IKM can direct the candidate to the official channels; in any case, it is recommended to obtain written confirmation from KPAP and the BMP, by email to info@bmp.al or kpap@bmp.al, before submitting the application.

Judicial status

The criminal record certificate and the certificates of judicial status from the court and the prosecution office, which also attest to the absence of criminal prosecution or pending trial, accompany the application for candidate membership, the application for registration for the exams and, later, the application for registration as a Certified Accountant. For registration purposes, these certificates are accepted when they are no more than three months old; it is therefore useful to obtain them close to the date on which each application is submitted.

For questions about the criteria, IKM staff are available to help at ikm.alb@gmail.com or through the Contact page.