Frequently asked questions for candidates

The law requires second-cycle university studies at “Master” level, or a diploma equated with this level, in one of the fields of economic sciences. A “Bachelor” degree does not meet this condition. The application for candidate membership can be submitted after completing “Master” studies.

The law accepts the fields of economic sciences: accounting, finance, business administration, economics and fields equivalent to them. The assessment of other cases rests with KPAP and the BMP, which administer the examination process: it is recommended to obtain written confirmation before submitting the application, by email to info@bmp.al or kpap@bmp.al. IKM can direct the candidate to these channels.

A foreign diploma is accompanied by the document of recognition and equivalence issued by the ministry responsible for education (DIND). The equivalence document is submitted together with the diploma both at candidate membership and at registration for the exams.

At least three years of professional experience in accounting, finance, financial control and related fields, as set out in Article 49 of Law No. 10091. The three years must have been completed at the time of registration for the exams. For experience in related fields or for special cases, the decision rests with KPAP and the BMP, whom the candidate can contact at info@bmp.al or kpap@bmp.al. → Professional experience

Candidate membership of IKM takes place once the experience criterion has been met, because the same criterion is required by KPAP for registration for the exams; in this way, the Initial Professional Development (IPD) training certificates are of immediate use to the candidate. For persons who have passed the exams, the experience criterion is considered met.

The law requires the SKK and IFRS qualification course to have been completed at the professional organisation recognised by the BMP that the candidate intends to join, and after the exams the profession is practised only as a member of such an organisation. IKM is one of the organisations recognised by the BMP; candidate membership of IKM opens the way to the course and, later, to registration as a Certified Accountant.

The Registration and Licensing Committee meets at least once a month when there are new applications. A complete application is reviewed at the next meeting and the candidate is notified of the decision within ten working days.

Candidate status is annual and is renewed by paying the membership fee for each calendar year, until registration as a Certified Accountant.

Twice a year, in spring and in autumn, in person. The dates are published under News → Training and sent by email to candidate members.

The Initial Professional Development training (the SKK and IFRS modules) is one of the legal criteria for registration for the exams and is completed by every candidate; admission to the test requires attendance of at least 75% of the hours. The preparatory courses for the exams are additional support and are attended at the candidate’s choice.

The SKK and IFRS certificates are issued after passing the test. A candidate who does not pass the test may retake it at the next training session.

For registration for the exams, the certificates are valid from the moment they are issued, except where substantial changes occur in the relevant standards, according to the criteria that KPAP publishes for each exam season.

The Examination Commission (KPAP), which operates under the Public Oversight Board (BMP). KPAP decides on registration, conducts the exams and announces the results; the BMP issues the title certificate and examines appeals. IKM prepares candidates and passes on announcements to them; no registration and no payment for the exams takes place at IKM.

Three: financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements; practical application of civil, criminal, commercial and labour legislation; and practical application of the legislation on taxes and levies. Their order is set in the calendar of each season. Candidates for Statutory Auditor sit three further exams.

Yes. The candidate can register for each of the three exams regardless of the result of the previous exam, and exams passed are carried over from season to season. The period for passing all three exams is five years from registration; where the period expires without all three exams having been passed, the process starts again from the beginning.

To the technical secretariat of KPAP, which operates at IEKA, within the period set in the season announcement; a copy of the application, together with the document for payment of the registration fee, is submitted to the BMP. The list of documents is published for each season on the BMP website. → Professional Competence Examinations

KPAP announces the results no later than 15 working days after marking is completed, on the BMP and IEKA websites, and notifies each candidate individually by electronic means. The solved paper is published within 72 hours of the exam.

The appeal is submitted to the Public Oversight Board within the deadline published together with the results of each exam; the Board examines it no earlier than 10 and no later than 45 working days from submission, and its decisions are final. Where the candidate notices an error in the published answer key, he or she informs KPAP.

The BMP issues the title certificate. The candidate chooses the membership category according to how he or she will practise the profession and submits a new online application for registration as a Certified Accountant. After approval by the Registration and Licensing Committee, he or she receives a licence and is included in the Public Register.

The profession is practised after registration as a member of a professional organisation recognised by the BMP, obtaining a licence and inclusion in its Public Register. The application for registration can be submitted as soon as the candidate has the certificate or the exam confirmation from KPAP.

Yes. Under BMP Regulation No. 2, Certified Accountants who have passed the three exams proceed directly to the other subject exams for Statutory Auditor, where they meet the other requirements of the law for that title and where the programmes of the exams already taken have not undergone significant changes.

The procedure involves five payments: the annual candidate membership fee, the Initial Professional Development training fee and the preparatory course fees, which are paid at IKM and communicated to candidates by the Secretariat; and the exam registration fee and the fee for each exam, which are set by the BMP, paid into the BMP’s account and published in the criteria document for the season. IKM does not collect any payment for registration or for the exams.