KASNEB CPA

Overview

The Certified Public Accountants (CPA) qualification is offered by the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB), a Kenyan state corporation under the National Treasury and Economic Planning. KASNEB describes the course as preparation for work as an accountant, auditor, finance manager, tax consultant or business advisor in the public or private sector, or for running your own consultancy.

The course has three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. Each level is made up of papers with codes that start with CA.

Who can apply

To enrol you need one of the following:

• A Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of C+ (plus).

• A KASNEB diploma qualification.

• Any other recognised diploma.

KASNEB also runs an exemption process for candidates with other qualifications. Check the exemption page on the KASNEB site for the current rules.

Levels or stages

Foundation level

• CA11: Financial Accounting

• CA12: Communication Skills

• CA13: Introduction to Law and Governance

• CA14: Economics

• CA15: Quantitative Analysis

• CA16: Information Communication Technology

Intermediate level

• CA21: Company Law

• CA22: Financial Management

• CA23: Financial Reporting and Analysis

• CA24: Auditing and Assurance

• CA25: Management Accounting

• CA26: Public Finance and Taxation

Advanced level

Compulsory papers:

• CA31: Leadership and Management

• CA32: Advanced Financial Reporting and Analysis

• CA33: Advanced Financial Management

• CA34S3: Advanced Management Accounting

Specialisation papers. You choose one, and KASNEB allows a double specialisation:

• CA34S1: Advanced Taxation

• CA34S2: Advanced Auditing and Assurance

• CA34S4: Advanced Public Financial Management

Practical and workshop components:

• CA35P: Business Data Analytics, a practical paper

• CA36WE: Workshop on Ethics

• CA37WP: Workshop on Work Simulation, for candidates who do not have one year of relevant practical experience

Important dates

KASNEB announces examination sittings through notices on its website. Its notices list an April 2026 examination and a December 2026 examination. Check the notices page for the booking window and timetable of each sitting.

Fees

KASNEB publishes a fee structure for the CPA qualification on its website, in Kenyan shillings and US dollars. Two general rules apply to all qualifications:

• Candidates with a disability get a 25% discount on the registration fee, and must attach a copy of their National Council for Persons with Disabilities card.

• The deferment fee is 15% of the total booking fees.

How to apply

KASNEB directs students to pay through its student portal at online.kasneb.or.ke. Students based outside Kenya pay through the KCB dollar account that KASNEB lists on its fee structure page.

FAQs