The long-awaited KASNEB New Syllabus 2021 was launched in a colorful ceremony held on Friday, 23rd July 2021.

The event was also streamed live via KASNEB social media pages and Facebook. The syllabus will be uploaded on KASNEB’s website together with the transition guidelines in due course so keep checking the website for relevant materials and new KASNEB updates.

Some of the queries that emerged in regards to the syllabus transition during the event were as follows:

What happens to those moving from ATD to CPA?

ANSWER: ATD graduates are exempted from 4 papers in CPA foundation level.

What happens to those who had been exempted from CPA section 2 under the old syllabus?

ANSWER: The exemptions granted under the old syllabus will be retained.

What will happen to those who are transitioning from ATD 3 to the CPA Intermediate level?

ANSWER: They will be exempted from 4 papers in CPA Foundation level. Regarding the actual papers to be exempted in, wait for the full transition guidelines to be published.

Will there be any exemption in the new syllabus for a BCOM Accounting option graduate who has done CPA part II?

ANSWER: Yes, Kindly share copies of your transcripts (1st – 4th year) and Degree certificate/letter of completion via KASNEB email address info@kasneb.or.ke for advice on the papers you will be exempted and the total amount to pay.

What will happen to those who are given last chance to sit for a particular paper this August and it is their first attempt, for example, company law?

ANSWER: A candidate with a referral in any of the six (6) papers in the current CPA Parts I, II or III will transfer the referral to the equivalent paper(s) in the revised CPA syllabus or otherwise as explained in the transition guidelines.

What happens to the section 6 students? For example, what if someone gets a refer in the August 2021 exam sitting…how do you move from there…will you do the refers under the old syllabus or the new one?

ANSWER: All candidates will be granted up to one year to complete the CPA syllabus as is. Upon the expiry of one year, the students will be required to select a specialization from among the papers that they will not have passed by that date.

What happen to those who are joining section 4 under this new syllabus and have done some units that have been brought to this section? Eg tax and M.A?

ANSWER: The student will be granted a transitional credit based on exemption in Management Accounting and Public Finance and Taxation having sat for the papers in CPA Part I

As an ATD student, the new KASNEB syllabus transition looks confusing because the same units that I’m doing now are still there section 3 of CPA. What about it?

ANSWER: Kindly note that once you graduate ATD you will be exempted from 4 papers in CPA Foundation level

What happens to any referrals including those that one may get during the August 2021 exam sitting?

ANSWER: A candidate with a referral in any of the six (6) papers in the current CPA Parts I, II or III will transfer the referral to the equivalent paper(s) in the revised CPA syllabus

Can one book all the 6 papers in one level at once like it used to be under the old syllabus?

ANSWER: Yes, You can book for the six papers in the same level

What will be the exemptions for an ATD graduate under the new syllabus?

ANSWER: ATD graduates are exempted from 4 papers in CPA Foundation level

What happens to those who had started in old syllabus and stop and now I want to continue

ANSWER: KASNEB will give a detailed transition guideline in due course

What happens to the unit I had passed earlier on?

ANSWER: In the transition guidelines, it’s clear that those units passed will be reserved

When will the new syllabus be examined for the first time?

ANSWER: the first exam sitting under the new syllabus will be in December 2021