CIPFA Modules & Structure

The CIPFA qualification is changing.  The new CIPFA Professional Qualification syllabus will be examined from June 2012 onwards with the final level examinable from December 2012.

The new Professional Qualification is broken down into three main components:

• Professional Certificate:  Comprising four modules (Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Audit & Assurance and Financial Reporting).  These four modules are the building blocks of any career in accountancy or financial management. 

For June 2012 sitting only Audit & Assurance and Financial Reporting will be taught via Kaplan Live Online*.  Financial Management and Financial Accounting will be taught Live Online to December 2012.

• Professional Diploma:  The following six modules make up the diploma stage:  Public Finance and Taxation, Public Sector Financial Reporting, Governance, Public Policy, and Ethics, Financial Management, Business Strategy and Business Management. 

Kaplan will be offering all six Diploma papers for June 2012.  The Public Finance and Taxation paper will be taught as two separate modules to accommodate those with exemptions under the transition arrangements (see below).  In addition a re-sit revision course will be provided for the Leadership and Management course which continues to be examinable in June 2012.

• Strategic:  The two strategic papers are Strategic Leadership and Strategic Financial Management.  These are not examinable until December 2012.

Kaplan Live Online will continue to offer courses in the old strategic papers – Strategic Business Management and Finance and Management Case study – to June 2012.

*Kaplan will be offering bespoke re-sit courses in Financial Accounting and Financial Management for June 2012 subject to demand.

An element of workplace evidence is also required to complete the qualification.

Examination method

All examinations for the CIPFA qualification are paper based but can vary in duration:

• Professional Certificate - 3 hours
• Professional Diploma  - 3 hours paper based exam
• Final Test of Professional Competence – Strategic Business Management – 3 hours *
• Final Test of Professional Competence – Finance and Management Case Study – 6 hours 10 minutes *

* Examinable to June 2012

Please note that students are responsible for registering with CIPFA in good time for examinations and paying the required examination fee to CIPFA (which is in addition to quoted course costs).

Transition Arrangements

Students will be given exemptions based on the exams they have already passed. 
Detailed guidance on the new Professional Qualification may be found on the CIPFA New Syllabus Page