KASNEB, short for Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board, is a Kenyan organization that is responsible for creating syllabuses, conducting exams, and issuing certificates for professional, diploma, and certificate level courses in disciplines such as accountancy, company secretarial practice and other related fields.
The board has also recognized a number of educational institutions across Kenya where students can pursue studies for courses that are examined by KASNEB.
It is crucial to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications set by KASNEB before applying for any of their examined courses, so as to avoid being denied the opportunity to register and take the exams.
KASNEB Courses and Examination Requirements
Here is a list of courses examined by KASNEB and their minimum requirements:
1. KASNEB Vocational Certificate Courses
These courses are ideal both for fresh high school graduates and established professionals in various areas willing to diversify their knowledge and competencies.
The minimum entry requirement for the vocational certificates is a KCSE certificate.
Courses are administered in two levels, with each level requiring an average of three months, thus a total of six months. Students with high school certificates start at Level I which covers basic skills.
Here are the vocational certificate courses examined by KASNEB:
- Vocational Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Vocational Certificate in Graphic Design
- Vocational Certificate in Information and Cyber Security
- Vocational Certificate in Blockchain Technology
2. Certificate in Accounting and Management Skills (CAMS) Course
The course is mainly for students who wish to work as entry-level accounting and management personnel who can apply basic management and marketing skills and prepare basic accounts and financial statements for a small enterprise.
The CAMS course is administered in two levels, with each level requiring an average of six months, thus a total of one year.
The minimum entry requirement for this course is a mean grade D plain in KCSE, or a vocational certificate.
The course is fully tuition-based and students are required to sit for continuous assessment tests (CATs), which constitute 15% of the final score for assessment purposes.
3. KASNEB Diploma Courses
The diploma courses are administered in two levels, with each level requiring an average of one year, thus a total of two years.
The minimum entry for the diploma courses is KCSE mean grade C- or equivalent, IGCSE) examination grade D, CAMS, or any other KASNEB technician or diploma examination certificate.
KASNEB offers 3 diploma courses:
- Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD) course
- Diploma in Data Management and Analytics (DDMA) course
- Diploma in Computer Networks and Systems Administration (DCNSA) course
4. KASNEB Professional Courses
KASNEB professional courses are administered at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Levels.
Each level requires an average of one year, though candidates are advised to provide for an additional one year for internship/ practical experience.
The minimum entry for the professional courses is KCSE mean grade C+, KACE with at least TWO principal passes provided that the applicant has credits in Mathematics and English at Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) level, KASNEB diploma qualifications or professional examination certificate.
Other qualifications include a degree from a recognized university, IGCSE examination grade C in 6 papers with C in both English and Mathematics, or such other certificates or diplomas as may be approved by KASNEB.
KASNEB offers 5 professional courses:
- Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
- Certified Secretaries (CS)
- Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (CIFA)
- Certified Credit Professionals (CCP)
- Certified Information Systems Solutions Expert (CISSE)
5. Post-Professional Specialisation Course
KASNEB has introduced the Certified Forensic Fraud Examiner (CFFE) courses aimed at persons who wish to qualify and work or practice in the fields of financial fraud and corruption investigations, fraud prevention, fraud risk analysis and related areas.
The CFFE is administered in three modules, with an integrated case study and workshops at the end of the course.
Each module is expected to last for three months. Examinations for the CFFE course are administered three times in a year, thus the course is meant to last on average one year.
The minimum entry requirement to pursue the CFFE course is any of the following:
- KASNEB professional qualification
- Bachelors degree from a recognized university
- Any other qualification considered equivalent to the above.
Summarised Structure of KASNEB Qualifications
According to the revised KASNEB syllabuses, a student can start at the certificate level with a KCSE mean grade of D or a KNQA Level 5 qualification, and then progress to higher levels, including the Post-Professional Specialisation programs. See the flow chart below:
Professional Institutes/ Registration Boards for KASNEB Graduates
Upon completion of studies, KASNEB graduates can register with one of the following professional registration boards:
- Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)
- Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS)
- Registration of Certified Public Secretaries Board (RCPSB)
- Institute of Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (ICIFA)
- nstitute of Credit Management Kenya [ICM (K)]