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Become an IPSAS expert - qualifications in International Public Sector Accounting Standards

CIPFA’s expertise in public financial management means we have the knowledge and experience to help develop and interpret International Public Sector Accounting Standards. CIPFA provides relevant qualifications and training to meet the needs of many national governments, state enterprises and public sector institutions around the world as they move towards implementing IPSAS.

Benefits to you and your organisation:

  • Leverage to promote specialist expertise in this technically demanding area.
  • Achieve formal recognition from CIPFA, the leading body for global public financial management.
  • Improve quality and transparency of your financial reporting.
  • Improve quality of financial data and enable alignment across governments and non-governmental organisations.
  • A reliable basis for evaluating the current financial position and past performance for decision making purposes. 

CIPFA has developed IPSAS qualifications which are accessible anywhere through a flexible online learning and assessment programme.

IPSAS FAQs >

What the diploma covers 

The CIPFA Diploma in IPSAS (Dip IPSAS) provide trainees with a comprehensive knowledge of the published standards and guidance on applying the accounting requirements of the standards. Successful completion of the course will demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the technical content of accruals based IPSASs, Cash Basis IPSAS and the ability to apply this knowledge to certain events and transactions in public service organisations.

Key learning objectives

At the end of the course, trainees will be able to:

  • describe the financial reporting context for public sector entities 
  • describe the main requirements of IPSASs 
  • apply the requirements of IPSASs to determine the appropriate treatment of events and transactions in financial statements 
  • explain the requirements of cash Basis IPSAS.

Register now  

  IPSAS-Brochure  (pdf, 511 KB)

  Dip IPSAS Syllabus 2016  (pdf, 143 KB)

Learning and assessment

The CIPFA Diploma in IPSAS prepares trainees for an end of course online assessment. Trainees must achieve a minimum of 60% to pass the examination and will receive the CIPFA Diploma in IPSAS qualification upon successful completion. Trainees may attempt the examination up to four times during the 12-month registration period.

The learning materials consist of a series of online modules and interactive workbooks including practical examples, self-test questions and progress tests.

What the certificate covers

The CIPFA Certificate in IPSAS (Cert IPSAS) introduces trainees to accounting and financial reporting in accordance with IPSAS thereby providing a solid foundation of the core published standards. Successful completion of this course will demonstrate basic technical knowledge of IPSAS and an understanding of how certain events and transactions of public sector organisations should be treated. 

Trainees will be introduced to the Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities and gain a foundational understanding of Cash Basis IPSAS and several key accruals based IPSASs.

Key learning objectives

At the end of the course, trainees will be able to:

  • describe the financial reporting context for public sector entities 
  • understand the main requirements of core 
  • understand the requirements of the Cash Basis IPSAS. 

Register now  

  IPSAS-Brochure  (pdf, 511 KB)

  Cert IPSAS Syllabus 2016  (pdf, 136 KB)

Learning and assessment

The CIPFA Certificate in IPSAS learning materials consists of a series of online modules with interactive workbooks including practical examples and self-test questions. A Certificate of Completion is available at the end of the CIPFA Certificate in IPSAS programme.

The Cert IPSAS has no formal examination and is intended for learning to take place on the job. It provides the perfect basis to progress to the CIPFA Diploma in IPSAS.