Training insights: syllabus changes
Given that the IIA’s Standards are the foundations of good internal audit practice and the basis of the certifications issued by both IIA Global and the Chartered IIA, it should be no great surprise that the introduction of the new Global Internal Audit Standards in January will also necessitate changes to the syllabuses, courses and exams. However, the message for all those currently studying for a designation – and those planning to start soon – is not to panic.
Some changes will be necessary, and people may choose to alter their planned exam schedule, but many areas will require adjustments rather than a fundamental overhaul. All the training courses and study materials will be updated before the new Standards become effective in January and there will be plenty of information and support during the transition period between January and May next year.
Exams under the new Standards will not start until May, so anyone who is already close to taking their exams has plenty of time to finish under the current system. The institute is also embarking on a comprehensive communications programme to explain the differences between the old and the new syllabus to everyone affected, including students, their managers and those leading apprenticeship courses. So there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and find out details.
“We received the new syllabus from IIA Global in May and we immediately started work to identify which parts of our certification courses, Chartered IIA training courses and our Internal Audit Practitioner (IAP) and Certificate in Internal Audit and Business Risk need to be amended,” explains Jan Olivier, Head of Education and Development at the Chartered IIA. “We will be speaking to all our stakeholders at numerous events over the summer and autumn to provide all the granular detail they require.
We have also set up a web page to hold everything you need to know about training, apprenticeships, the IAP and CIA certifications and Chartered by Learning.”
The most important message, he emphasises, is that current students should not worry unduly. “If you’ve already passed any exams under the old syllabus, you will retain these credits in the new system – you won’t need to retake exams,” Olivier says.
Plan ahead
One suggestion to minimise stress over the transition period is to plan the timing of your exams according to how much you have already studied and which parts of the syllabus are most closely aligned.
“Part 1 and Part 2 of the CIA are very closely linked to the Standards, so if you are planning to sit Part 1 under the current syllabus, or have already taken Part 1, you might want to take Part 2 before next May,” Olivier suggests. “Part 3 is less closely aligned to the Standards because it focuses on broader themes, such as cyber risk, and it will be fairly easy to update your knowledge of any changes that are relevant. You may therefore decide it doesn’t matter so much whether you take this before or after May.”
The format and length of the exams will not change and all the entry and eligibility criteria remain the same. Olivier stresses that the amendments to align the exams with the new Standards does not mean there will be a new exam system.
Those who are embarking on their studies now should be able to transition to the new syllabus fairly easily next year, Olivier adds. “Remember, you don’t need to do Part 1, 2 and 3 in that order, so you might choose to do Part 3 first because it’s less closely related to the Standards and then do Part 1 and 2 together on the new syllabus.”
“We realise that people want to plan ahead and we will be publishing updates as soon as we know more,” he explains. “Check the Chartered IIA website, and if you’re an apprentice ask your tutors if there’s anything else you need to know. If they don’t have the answer, they can talk to us. There is also a comprehensive section of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the CIA syllabus on IIA Global’s website.”
Chartered by Experience (CBE)
Those planning to become Chartered members of the institute on the Chartered by Experience route should also keep an eye on the new Standards.
The competencies that candidates are assessed against are based on the Standards, so will be aligned with the Global Standards once these come into operation.
“There are a few changes around governance structures and expectations that will need to be referenced, however the important broad issues such as objectivity and independence and ethics are not changing fundamentally,” Olivier says. “It’s likely to be more about nuances and wording.”
CBE candidates should also check the Chartered IIA website for information about the new Standards and updates on training and membership pathways.
With ten months still to go before the new syllabus is examined, everybody planning to gain an internal audit designation at any level has plenty of time to look at the detail of syllabus changes. If you keep checking the websites and ask tutors for advice and updates, the transition should not create any significant problems.
This article was published in July 2024.