AAOIFI CPSS Examination Becomes Available in Russian for the First Time

The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has announced that its Certificate of Proficiency in Shari’ah Standards (CPSS) examination is now available in Russian for the first time.

The announcement was published by the AAOIFI Centre for Islamic Finance Development on LinkedIn and states that the development expands access to AAOIFI professional qualifications for Russian-speaking professionals and supports the development of professional expertise in AAOIFI Standards and their practical application in partnership finance.

The announcement also states that the CPSS qualification is intended for professionals including financial professionals, auditors and compliance specialists, corporate governance professionals, legal and consulting specialists, academics, and others working in or interested in partnership finance. L

CPSS Examination Now Available in Russian

The Certificate of Proficiency in Shari’ah Standards (CPSS) is an advanced-level AAOIFI qualification focused on understanding, interpreting and applying AAOIFI Shari’ah Standards in Islamic financial institutions and transactions.

According to the latest announcement from the AAOIFI Centre for Islamic Finance Development, candidates can now take the CPSS examination in Russian, marking the first time the examination has been made available in the language.

The announcement is particularly relevant to Russian-speaking professionals across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the wider Eurasian region, where access to Islamic finance education and professional qualifications in local languages has been developing.

AAOIFI has also published an official Russian-language edition of its Shari’ah Standards. In February 2026, AAOIFI announced the publication of the Russian-language edition covering Standards 1 through 61, describing it as a reference for banks, investment funds, fintech companies, researchers and other stakeholders across the CIS and Central Asian countries.

Examination Centres and Registration

Candidates should distinguish between an AAOIFI examination centre and a candidate registration centre.

AAOIFI’s current official list of examination centres includes the Russian Center of Islamic Economic and Finance. The same organisation also appears on AAOIFI’s current candidate registration-centre list.

AAOIFI subsequently established its Centre for Islamic Finance Development in Kazan in January 2026. The centre was launched to support the development of Islamic or partnership finance in Tatarstan, Russia and the wider CIS region.

Candidates interested in registering for the Russian-language CPSS examination should therefore confirm the available examination location and registration procedure directly with AAOIFI or an authorised AAOIFI centre.

Russian-Language Study Materials

The AAOIFI Centre’s announcement confirms the availability of the CPSS examination in Russian, but it does not state that a separate Russian-language CPSS study textbook or complete Russian preparation package has been released.

This distinction is important because AAOIFI’s current CPSS e-learning page publicly identifies the programme language as English, while the newly published announcement specifically concerns the examination being available in Russian.

Candidates should therefore verify the availability of Russian-language study materials, registration arrangements and examination-centre details before enrolling.

A Wider Expansion of AAOIFI Access in the CIS

The Russian CPSS examination announcement follows other AAOIFI initiatives aimed at increasing access to its standards and professional knowledge across the CIS and Central Asia.

AAOIFI published its Russian-language Shari’ah Standards edition in February 2026, covering Standards 1 through 61.

The organisation has also established its Centre for Islamic Finance Development in Kazan, which serves as a regional platform for the development of Islamic finance and the localisation and adoption of AAOIFI standards across Russia and the wider CIS region.

The introduction of a Russian-language CPSS examination adds a professional qualification component to these wider localisation efforts.

Industry Impact — IFD Editorial Insight

The introduction of the CPSS examination in Russian creates a new pathway for Russian-speaking professionals seeking to develop expertise in AAOIFI Shari’ah Standards.

For the Islamic finance industry in Russia and the wider CIS region, the development may make professional qualification programmes more accessible to candidates who primarily work and study in Russian.

It also represents a further step in the localisation of AAOIFI’s professional education and standards ecosystem in the region, following the publication of Russian-language Shari’ah Standards and the establishment of AAOIFI’s regional centre in Kazan.

At this stage, however, details concerning Russian-language CPSS study materials and the specific examination venue should be confirmed with AAOIFI or an authorised examination centre.

Source: AAOIFI Centre for Islamic Finance Development — LinkedIn announcement. (LinkedIn)

Additional official sources: AAOIFI Examination Centres; AAOIFI Candidate Registration Centres. (AAOIFI)