Friends, with your support and appreciation, I am here again with one more article. Your response to my previous article on CFA (US) & CPA (US) & CMA (US) & CMA (UK) encouraged me and helped a lot for this article. Also special request by some of my friends on CA Club, enabled me to evaluate these courses. I hope this will also help you in evaluating the latest trend of IFRS Learning Courses.

In this article, I tried to compile the information in an understandable manner for the IFRS courses from ICAEW, UK and ICAI, India. I hope it will be in interest for the professionals and aspiring students who are looking forward to get some certification and understanding of IFRS.

This article contains the contents of the two courses in the way of suitability, syllabus, exam contents & structures, course fees and other relevant points. Also, relevant link to the respective pages directly from the institute sites are provided for detail information, if required by anybody.

Find the details of the two courses in the below explanation. I hope it clarifies various doubts and questions related to the said courses.

Certificate Level

IFRS learning & assessment programme

By The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), UK

About the Course

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is a global accountancy body established in 1880. The ICAEW is headquartered in Londons financial district and has a presence across the worlds capital markets.

The ICAEW has developed a specialist learning and assessment programme. This flexible certificate level programme is self-taught and easily accessible so you can learn at your own pace, wherever you are. There is also the additional benefit of the online certificated assessment, which allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding..

Contents of the Programme > The Programme contains the following:

1. Context and environment

2. Preface to IAS

3. Framework for preparation and presentation of financial statements

4. IAS 1 to 41

5. IFRS 1 to 8

6. Standing Interpretation Committee Statements (SICS)

7. International Financial Reporting Interpretation Committee Statements (IFRICS)

Learning materials

Learning manual: provides an overview of all current international financial reporting standards, with illustrations and examples to help prepare you for the online assessment.

Interactive online learning environment: online version of the learning manual including practice tests, so you can test your level of understanding before taking the final assessment. Self-assessments are available at the end of each chapter, so knowledge can be tested before taking the online assessment.

Online certificated assessment

a. No Entry Requirements

b. The assessment is located within the interactive online learning environment

c. The assessment consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.

d. You will have a limited time of 2 hours to complete the 100% objective test questions.

e. After each learning module you can undertake a module test, this will help you prepare for the final assessment.

f. When you pass the online assessment, you can print your certificate immediately; this demonstrates successful completion of the programme.

g. Pass Marks > 70%.

h. Once you submit your answers, your assessment result will appear immediately.

i. Access to the programme will be for a period of 12 months from the date you receive an email containing your login details.

j. On average, programme can be completed in 70 hours study time. This may vary depending on your level of prior knowledge and experience.

k. The programmes are available worldwide.

Registration

You can purchase the full programme, which includes the online learning materials and online assessment. If you would like to order the IFRS learning and assessment programme, you can order online at Gillards.

Cost

Prices are in GBP Sterling.

Certificate Course on IFRS

By The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), India

About the Course

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (Act No. XXXVIII of 1949) for the regulation of the profession of Chartered Accountants in India. ICAI now is the second largest accounting body in the whole world.

The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has decided to launch a Certificate Course on International Financial Reporting Standards for its members. The objective of this Course is to enhance the knowledge as well as to provide benefit to the members in the global service market. The contact Details are >

Contents of the Programme

1. Module 1: IFRS 3, IAS 27, Standing Interpretations Committee Interpretation 12, IAS 28, IAS 31 and FAQs

2. Module 2: Financial Instruments - IAS32, IAS 39 & IFRS 7, IFRIC 9, IFRIC 10 and FAQs on IAS 32 and IFRS 7

3. Module 3: Employee Benefits, IFRS 2, IFRIC 8, IAS 19, IAS 26 and Investment Properties - IAS 40, IFRIC 15 and FAQs

4. Module 4: IAS 18, SIC 31, IFRIC 13 andFAQs on IAS 18, IFRIC 13, SIC 31

5. Module 5: Accounting Principles and Capital Expenditure - IAS 1, IAS 8, IAS 10,IFRS 1 and Capital Expenditure, Leases & Borrowing Costs, Impairment - IAS 11, IAS 16, IAS 17, IFRIC 4, IAS 20, IAS 23, IAS 36, IFRS 5

6. Module 6: IAS 14, IAS 38, IFRS 4, IFRS 6 and FAQs

7. Module 7: Types of Reporting - IFRS 8, IAS 29, IAS 34, IAS 24, IAS 33, IAS 2 and FAQs

8. Module 8: IAS 21, IAS 7, IAS 12, IAS 37, Interpretation Issued by SIC and IFRIC and FAQs on IAS 21, IAS 7, IAS 12 & IAS 37

Learning materials

An evaluation will be conducted on the following criteria:

a. E learning > E-learning - 60 hours - 270 days of unlimited access. FAQ at the end of each module

b. Class room study - 40 hours - Days of Class Room: Saturday & Sunday (8 Hours each)

c. Case studies - Participants may be grouped for preparing the case study

d. Evaluation Test > ICAI conducts exam approx. 1 month from the end of Quarter in which the study classes held.

i. 60 Objective Type Questions

ii. Passing Marks > 50%

iii. Written Exam.

A certificate will be awarded to the participants after attending and satisfactorily completing the course and passing the certification exam.

Registration

Registration will be on first come-first served basis and can be done online as well. If one batch becomes complete, the members will be automatically shifted to the next batch.

Steps involve in online payment and registrations are as follows:

1. Make online payment using link http://www.icai.org/ccm.html and take the print out of the page.

2. Fill up the form available at http://www.icai.org/addupdate/regform.php and take printout.

3. Send the registration form and proof of online payment (print out above) at the following address:

Nodal Officer, Certificate Course on IFRS,
Technical Directorate, ICAI
ICAI Bhawan, Indraprastha Marg,
Post Box. No. 7100,
New Delhi - 110 002

Cost of Course

IFRS (ICAEW) IFRS (ICAI) at a Glance in the comparative and tabular format.

Disclaimer > The contents mentioned above are compiled through the information available on the respective Internet sites. Please highlight any points, which you would like to add as a part of your experience for the benefit of the course aspirants.

Feedback > Again, looking forward to your feedback, suggestions, improvements, inclusions, deletions or any sort of information which you think has been wrongly interpreted or can be added up and can provide more clearance in understanding the structure of the above courses.

Compiled by CA Rahul Gupta

rahulgupta45@gmail.com

13/07/2010