CIAP Programme Reaches Major Milestone as First Students Sit Examinations
The Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers (IAB) has reached a significant milestone in one of its most ambitious international education initiatives, with the first cohort of students sitting the Certified International Accounting Professional (CIAP) examinations in March 2026.
The programme represents the culmination of more than three years of research, collaboration and strategic development, transforming an idea identified by IAB Chief Executive Sarah Palmer into a nationally recognised education and employment pathway in India.
World Congress of Accountants
The journey began in 2022 when Sarah Palmer visited India during the World Congress of Accountants. While meeting education providers, employers and outsourcing businesses, one challenge emerged consistently. India was producing thousands of commerce graduates each year, yet employers continued to report that many lacked the practical workplace skills required to become productive finance professionals from day one.Rather than creating another academic qualification, the IAB set out to solve this employability gap.
Working closely with employers operating within India’s rapidly expanding Outsourced Accounting Services sector, the IAB designed the Certified International Accounting Professional (CIAP), a six-month programme combining internationally recognised bookkeeping and accounting standards with practical workplace skills, professional behaviours and industry-ready knowledge.
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In November 2024, this vision became reality when a landmark tri-party Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the IAB, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Veranda Learning Solutions, one of India’s leading education providers. The agreement established a unique partnership that brings together internationally recognised qualifications, national skills policy and large-scale educational delivery.
Under the agreement, the IAB provides the qualification, assessment framework and international quality assurance, NSDC supports national skills development and learner accessibility, while Veranda Learning delivers the programme through its extensive education network across India.
Development did not stop with the qualification itself.
From the outset, the programme was designed around employment outcomes rather than simply certification. Practical skills, workplace readiness, professional behaviours and recruitment support were embedded throughout the learner journey to ensure graduates are prepared for careers within India’s growing finance and accounting outsourcing sector.
That commitment to employability has been strengthened through collaboration with leading employers, including Pacific Group, creating a direct route from education into employment. Students completing the programme have access to placement support, internships and recruitment opportunities with organisations actively seeking skilled finance professionals.
March 2026 marked another landmark moment as the first CIAP students sat their examinations, demonstrating not only their technical knowledge but also the practical skills demanded by today’s global finance employers.
With examinations now underway, recruitment activity is accelerating as employers begin engaging with the first graduating cohort. The programme has generated significant interest from organisations seeking work-ready talent capable of supporting international accounting and finance operations from day one.
The rollout across India is continuing through Veranda Learning’s national network, with additional training centres expected to launch and further student cohorts planned throughout 2026. As demand for skilled finance professionals continues to grow, the CIAP programme is well positioned to become a flagship qualification supporting India’s role as a global leader in finance and accounting services.
For the IAB, CIAP represents far more than a qualification. It is a model for how professional bodies, governments and industry can work together to create education that genuinely leads to employment, supporting economic growth while giving thousands of young people access to high-quality international careers.
