In accordance with the Resolution №237 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 22 May 2019 on the approval of “Rules regarding the organization of the process for issuing a certificate in professional accounting (CPA), the conduct of exams, and the state registry of professionally certified accountants”, the State Examination Center (SEC) organizes the process for issuing a certificate in professional accounting and conducts exams thereof.
The exams are conducted for issuing the certificates specified below.
1. CPA on International Financial Reporting Standards for Small- and Medium-sized Entities;
2. CPA on International Financial Reporting Standards;
3. International Public Sector Accounting Standards – CPA Level 1;
4. International Public Sector Accounting Standards – CPA Level 2.
The certification process consists of two stages. The first stage contains questions on the accounting and the second stage contains questions on budget, taxation, civil and employment laws, depending on the types of certificates.
Candidates’ knowledge will be tested with 40 questions at each stage.
First stage (Accounting):
Out of total 40 questions, 30 questions will be multiple-choice; 10 questions will be open-ended.
20 multiple-choice questions will be given 1 mark and 10 questions will be given 2 marks;
8 open-ended questions will be given 5 marks and 2 questions will be given 10 marks.
Second stage (Laws):
Out of total 40 questions, 35 questions will be multiple-choice; 5 questions will be open-ended.
20 multiple-choice questions will be given 1 mark and 15 questions will be given 2 marks;
Each open-ended question will be given 10 marks.
The number of test questions on the laws is divided as follows depending on the type of certificate.
CPA on International Financial Reporting Standards for Small- and Medium-sized Entities;
CPA on International Financial Reporting Standards:
Taxation law - 20 test questions: 15 multiple-choice, 5 open-ended;
Employment law - 5 multiple-choice questions;
Civil law -15 multiple-choice questions.
International Public Sector Accounting Standards – CPA Level 1 and 2
Taxation law - 20 test questions: 15 multiple-choice, 5 open-ended;
Budget law - 10 multiple-choice questions;
Employment law - 5 multiple-choice questions;
Civil law - 5 multiple-choice questions.
The maximum possible score for each stage of the exam is 100 marks.
The duration of each stage is 3 hours.
In order to ensure the candidates’ effective preparation for the exams, the SEC provides exam syllabus for each type of certificate. Click here for more information.
The candidates can obtain the legislation acts on relevant standards and accounting from the website of the Ministry of Finance (http://maliyye.gov.az/), and this or that kind of legislation acts from the Unique electronic database of legislative and regulatory acts under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan (http: //www.e-qanun.az/).
Relevant syllabus will be amended and changed in accordance with the changes in the legislation. Moreover, the content and conduct of exams, as well as other necessary information thereof will be posted on the SEC’s website regularly.
Therefore, the candidates are recommended to constantly follow the websites of the SEC and the institutions mentioned above.
Note: In order to obtain more detailed information, the candidates who wish to attend the exams, might closely read the Resolution №237 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 22 May 2019 on the approval of “Rules regarding the organization of the process for issuing a certificate in professional accounting (CPA), the conduct of exams, and the state registry of professionally certified accountants”.