ASCA Launches ACAT Qualification for Accounting Professionals

The Arab Society for Certified Accountants (ASCA) Board of Directors announced the launch of the Arab Certified Accounting Technician (ACAT) qualification for professionals working in all fields of accounting.

The foundation for this qualification is the Arabic version of the internationally recognized ?Certificate in Business Accounting? which is offered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA).

During the meeting, Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, president of ASCA said, ?Many professionals hold accounting and/or finance positions in industry and commerce, whether in the public or private sector; however, they do not hold a professional accounting qualification such as the Arab Certified Public Accountant (ACPA) for various reasons.?

Abu-Ghazaleh added ?Still, these professionals are considered integral to the accounting industry, and they should be able to get the accreditation they deserve. In a knowledge-based society, it is crucial that all individuals have the opportunity to improve themselves. For this reason, we introduced an accounting qualification equivalent to the ACPA.?

Mr. Robert Jelly, director of education at CIMA stated, ?We are delighted that ASCA has decided to use our Certificate in Business Accounting as the foundation for its new accounting technician qualification. This stands as another groundbreaking example of the joint work we are carrying out in the Arab region.?

According to Jelly, such cooperation aims at introducing the accounting professionals to the benefits of becoming members of a professional body such as ASCA.

To become a member of ASCA and use the designatory letters, ACAT candidates must fulfil three requirements:

1. Complete the online exam for the Arabic Certificate in Business Accounting.

2. Complete the online exam for the IT skills program, which is offered in the region by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Center, followed by an Elementary Auditing exam offered by ASCA.

3. Demonstrate at least three years of experience in accounting.

In this respect, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh underscored, ?Not only will holding the new ACAT qualify people to become members of ASCA; it will also be one of the requirements to sit for the ACPA examinations.?



The Arab Society for Certified Accountants (ASCA) was established in London in 1984 as an Arab regional professional society dedicated to the promotion of the highest accounting, auditing and ethical standards and to capacity-building through the institution of globally recognized educational and examination qualification programs. For further information, visit www.ascasociety.org.


The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), founded in 1919, is the world?s leading and largest professional body of management accountants, with 164,000 members and students operating in 161 countries, working at the heart of business. CIMA members and students work in industry, commerce and not-for-profit organizations. For more information about CIMA, visit www.cimaglobal.com.