AAOIFI Certificate of Proficiency in Shari’ah Standards (CPSS)

The Certificate of Proficiency in Shari’ah Standards (CPSS) is issued by Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial InstitutionsAccounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions and is based on its official Shari’ah Standards.

Introduction

The Certificate of Proficiency in Shari’ah Standards (CPSS) is an advanced professional certification developed to meet the needs of practitioners in the Islamic finance industry who seek to strengthen their ability to correctly understand, interpret, and implement Shari’ah standards within institutional environments.

The certification focuses on practical and applied knowledge, linking Shari’ah rulings with contemporary financial transactions. It supports stronger Shari’ah compliance within Islamic financial institutions and enhances the quality of Shari’ah-compliant products, services, and decisions.

The curriculum covers all AAOIFI Shari’ah Standards that are currently effective or expected to become effective within the specified exam window.

Important Note:
Any candidate may register and sit for the CPSS exam without prior experience. CPSS is also one of the qualifying certifications required to obtain the Certified Shari’ah Advisor and Auditor (CSAA) designation.

CSAA Certification Requirement

Certified Shari’ah Advisor and Auditor (CSAA)
To obtain CSAA, candidates must pass both of the following:

• Certificate of Proficiency in Auditing, Assurance, Governance and Ethics (CPSAGE)

• Certificate of Proficiency in Shari’ah Standards (CPSS)

Program Objectives

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the structure and methodology of Shari’ah standards and their development.

• Explain Shari’ah principles governing Islamic financial transactions.

• Interpret Shari’ah standards and apply them to practical cases.

• Distinguish between various Islamic finance contracts and products.

• Apply Shari’ah compliance controls in banking and financing operations.

• Evaluate transactions against Shari’ah standards requirements.

• Professionally prepare for the CPSS examination.

Target Audience

• Professionals working in Islamic banks and financial institutions

• Shari’ah supervisory board members and their assistants

• Shari’ah compliance and audit officers

• Islamic finance and investment specialists

• Accountants and auditors in financial institutions

• Legal and Shari’ah advisors

• Candidates seeking CPSS certification

Curriculum Structure and Exam Weighting

The examinable content is divided into five parts with the following weights:

• Part A: Shari’ah Fundamentals — 7%
  Riba concepts, basic prohibitions, Islamic contract principles, controls on Gharar, combination of contracts.

• Part B: Islamic Finance Contracts and Related Topics — 71%
  Trade contracts, leasing, services, partnerships, options and promises, guarantees, documentary credit, mortgages, debt treatment, Islamic social finance (Zakah & Waqf), and miscellaneous governance topics.

• Part C: Islamic Banking — 7%
  Banking services, payment cards, syndicated finance, credit agreements, liquidity management, bank conversion to Islamic banking.

• Part D: Islamic Financial Markets — 10%
  Sukuk, financial papers, indices, commercial papers.

• Part E: Islamic Insurance (Takaful) — 5%
  Islamic insurance and Islamic reinsurance.

Candidates are tested on conceptual and practical understanding, rationale, requirements, and basis of conclusions within the Shari’ah standards.

Exam Language

The CPSS exam is available in:

• Arabic

• English

Candidates select their preferred language at registration.

CPSS Exam Dates

Available exam windows:

• 15 April 2026 — Registration & payment deadline: 31 March 2026

• 10 June 2026 — Registration & payment deadline: 01 May 2026

• 09 December 2026 — Registration & payment deadline: 07 November 2026

CPSS Exam Fees

• Standard individual fee: USD 450 (excluding tax)

• Discounted fee (30% group discount for 5+ candidates or members):
  USD 337.5 (excluding tax)

Re-take Fee

• Exam re-take fee (per attempt after failing): USD 200 (excluding tax)

AAOIFI Fellowship and Module Registration – FAQs (2025–26)

1. Why has AAOIFI restructured its Fellowship and Qualification Scheme?

The AAOIFI Education Board approved the restructured Fellowship and Qualification Scheme on 21 August 2025 to strengthen the global recognition of AAOIFI qualifications and provide greater flexibility to candidates.

2. What is the new modular structure?

The restructured scheme is based on three independent modules, each awarded as a Certificate of Proficiency:
a) Certificate of Proficiency in Financial Accounting Standards (CPFAS)
b) Certificate of Proficiency in Shari’ah Standards (CPSS)
c) Certificate of Proficiency in Audit, Assurance, Governance, and Ethics (CPSAGE)

• Each module may be attempted separately.

• The CSAA qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of CPSS and CPSAGE.

• The CIPA fellowship will be awarded upon successful completion of all three modules plus the Practical Experience Requirement (PER).

3. Are candidates allowed to register for modules only, or must they register for the full CIPA or CSAA programme?

Candidates may register for individual modules.
However, the fellowship qualification (CIPA or CSAA) will be granted only once the required modules have been completed.
For CIPA, candidates must also fulfil the practical training requirement.

4. Do candidates have to pay an additional fee to obtain the fellowship after completing all modules?

• Candidates registered in the CIPA or CSAA programmes will not be required to pay any additional fee upon completing all required modules.

• Candidates who are not registered for a fellowship but have completed the required modules independently will be required to pay a service fee of USD 100 to cover processing, issuance, and delivery of the fellowship certificate.

• A separate service fee of USD 100 also applies for issuing a second fellowship certificate (e.g., when a CSAA fellow later completes CPFAS and applies for CIPA).

5. What are the entry requirements for the new scheme?

Admission to the scheme requires appropriate academic preparation:

• For CIPA, a four-year university degree from a university recognised by AAOIFI is required, including courses in accounting, auditing, business/management, and finance.

• Candidates without such a background must complete Pre-Requisite Competency (PRC) examinations.

• AAOIFI will maintain and publish a list of universities whose degrees qualify for exemption from these prerequisites.

6. What is the Pre-Requisite Competency (PRC) requirement?

Candidates required to take the PRC must demonstrate competence in:

• Basic Accounting and Reporting

• Basic Audit and Assurance

• Business and Regulatory Environment (BRE)

Notes:

• The PRC is a single examination module covering all three subject areas.

• Fee: USD 100.

• Candidates who have already passed BRE and AAE papers under the old CIPA are not required to complete PRC.

7. What will happen to current CSA students?

• All CSA students will be transferred to the CSAA programme effective 1 January 2026.

• Candidates who already hold the CSAA fellowship will not be required to reappear.

• CSA candidates with CSAA may transfer to CSE or CIPA at no cost.

• Candidates who passed the SS paper under CSA will receive exemption from CPSS, but must complete CPSAGE to earn the CSAA qualification.

8. What exemptions will current CIPA candidates receive?

• Candidates who passed CIPA-FAR will be exempted from the CPFAS paper but not eligible for the standalone CPFAS certificate.

• Candidates who passed CIPA-SS&GS under old CIPA will be exempted from CPSS paper but not eligible for standalone CPSS.

• CPFAS, CPSS, and CPSAGE certificates are only awarded to those who pass the respective module examinations.

• Candidates who completed both BRE and AAE are not required to complete PRC. No exemptions for CPSAGE.

9. What will happen to the CSE qualification?

• CSE will continue under its existing structure.

• CSE examinations will be conducted once a year, and registration and assessment arrangements remain unchanged.

10. What are the duration and marks allocation for the new modules?

• Each module (CPFAS, CPSS, CPSAGE) has a 3-hour duration and 100 marks.

11. When will the new scheme become effective, and when will exams be held?

• The restructured scheme is effective from 1 January 2026.

• CIPA examination in December 2025 will be under the old syllabus.

• First exams of enhanced CSAA (CPSS + CPSAGE) will be held in December 2025.

• BRE and AAE papers of old CIPA will no longer be administered after December 2025.

• CSA programme will end after the 2025 session.

12. What is the duration of the practical training requirement for CIPA?

• Standard training period: 2 years, supported by a certificate of completion.

• May be reduced to 1 year if training is relevant (e.g., in an Islamic financial institution) and properly documented. Additional documentation may be required by AAOIFI.

13. What are the fees for the new scheme?

Fellowships and modules:

• CIPA Fellowship: USD 1,350

• CSAA Fellowship: USD 800

• CSE Fellowship: USD 1,350

• CPFAS (individual module): USD 550

• CPSS (individual module): USD 450

• CPSAGE (individual module): USD 350

• PRC examination (covers 3 subject areas): USD 100

Additional fees & conditions:

• Service fee USD 100 for non-fellowship candidates to process fellowship certificate.

• USD 100 for a second fellowship certificate (e.g., CSAA to CIPA or CIPA to CSAA).

• Digital certificates issued for CPFAS, CPSS, CPSAGE.

• Exam retake fee: USD 200.

• Exam fee transfer allowed to next sitting if requested before registration deadline.

• Late registration fee: USD 100.

• No-show fee: USD 100 to allow another attempt.

Discounts & special provisions:

• AAOIFI member institutions or group registrations: 30% discount.

• Transfer of CIPA or CSA candidates to new programmes: no cost.

• Candidates with CPSS who take CPASAGE to complete CSAA: 25% discount on CPASAGE (valid for sittings before 31 Dec 2026).

14. Why pursue an AAOIFI Fellowship?

• AAOIFI Fellows form a professional community of 2,800+ members across 74 countries.

• The qualifications combine Shari’ah, accounting, audit, and governance expertise, recognised globally by regulators and Islamic financial institutions.