1. The terms and phrases used herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in Article (one) of the Profession of Accounting and Auditing Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/59), dated 27/07/1442H.
2. The term “register” wherever appears in these Regulations shall mean: the certified public accountants database and all amendments or changes thereto.

The register shall be created in the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA), and it shall contain the following data:
1. The name of the certified public accountant and his identification number; the date, number and expiry date of his practicing license; and data of the licenses previously issued for him.
2. The name of the office or company through which the certified public accountant practices the profession.
3. The names of the partners in the professional company along with the data mentioned in Paragraph (1) of this Article for each partner.

For a university degree or any higher qualification in a field related to the profession to be deemed valid, it shall fulfill the following criteria:
1. The certificate must be in one of the administrative sciences disciplines or any branch thereof, provided that the license applicant has completed (twenty-one) hours in accounting or one of its branches, or any other certificate considered equivalent thereto by SOCPA.
2. The license applicant must pass the qualifying training program prepared by SOCPA.

For the work experience to be deemed valid, it shall be gained in the following bodies:
1. Accounting and auditing offices and companies that have been practicing the profession for at least (three) years, provided that they have a certified public accountant with a minimum of (five) years of experience after he obtains the license.
2. Government agencies, joint-stock companies and other establishments that have been practicing the activity for at least (three) years, provided that they have financial statements audited by a certified public accountant and the license applicant have experience in supervisory work over accounting and internal auditing.

Subject to the conditions stipulated in Paragraph (1) of Article (3) of the Law, part-time license applicants must consider the following:
1. The period for practicing the profession on a part-time basis shall not exceed (three) years, including every period during which he was allowed to practice the profession as apart-time.
2. The percentage of audit hours shall not be less than (6%) of the total hours of each audit for which a report is issued, and the total hours allocated to him shall not exceed (1,000) working hours per year.
3. He shall refrain from providing audit services to joint-stock companies, banks, finance companies, and public bodies and institutions.

• 1. Subject to the provisions of Articles (3) and (4) of the Law, the license application shall be submitted in accordance with the forms and procedures determined by the Authority.

• 2. The application must include the data and attachments specified by the Authority.

• 3. When reviewing the application, the Authority shall take the necessary measures to verify the accuracy of the data provided by the license applicant, and the applicant must fulfill the requirements within a period not exceeding thirty (30) days from the date of notification; otherwise, the application shall be considered null and void.

• 4. The Authority shall consider the application that is complete with all data and attachments, and the applicant is obligated to pay the financial fee for the license as determined by the Council.

• 5. The Authority shall decide on the application within a period not exceeding fifteen (15) working days.

• 6. The license duration for a full-time profession practice is five (5) years, and for a part-time profession practice is three (3) years.

• 7. Subject to the provisions related to the part-time licensee contained in Article (5) of the Regulation, the license renewal shall be made at least ninety (90) days before its expiration.

The license shall be revoked in any of the following cases:
1. Failure to meet any of the conditions and controls stipulated in Article (3) of the Law.
2. The certified public accountant requests revocation of the license, provided that he does not have any existing accounting and auditing operations or outstanding obligations towards his clients or employees. SOCPA may take appropriate actions to verify this matter.
3. The death of the certified public accountant.

1. The person whose name is listed in the register - whether a natural or legal- shall provide SOCPA annually, or whenever necessary, with the following data:
a. Any information and data that enables SOCPA to monitor the quality and nature of the professional practice of the certified public accountant’s office or company through which the professional work is being carried out, compliance to the provisions of the Law and its Regulations, accounting and auditing standards, professional performance quality standards, and professional code of conduct and ethics.
b. The names of the establishments he is auditing for.
c. The financial statements he has audited and the reports he has prepared therefor which he must submit through the electronic filing system (Qawaem), or any other means to be determined by a decision of the Board.
d. Other professional works he has undertaken and determination of their types in accordance with the procedures specified by SOCPA.
2. In all cases, the certified public accountant shall prepare an electronic copy of the engagement file, reports and financial statements within (four) months from the date of issuing the report. The Board sets controls for maintaining electronic copies.

Unless the Labor Law and related decisions stipulate a higher percentage, the certified public accountant’s office or company through which the professional work is carried out shall employ a percentage of Saudi technicians out of the total technical workers not less than the percentages indicated below:
Number of Employees Percentage
(1) to (20) employees 30%
(21) to (30) employees 35%
(31) to (40) employees 40%
(41) to (100) employees 45%
More than (100) employees 50%
The percentages shall be gradually applied within a maximum period of (five) years from the issuance of the Regulations. The Board shall set the controls which determine the description of the technical personnel mentioned in this Article.

1. When the certified public accountant states the maximum audit engagements that he is able to undertake -whether through a private office or a professional company, he shall abide by the following:
a. The supervisory hours must not be less than (5%) of the total hours of each report issued by him.
b. The supervisory hours of the office or the company shall not exceed (1700) working hours for each fiscal year.
2. As an exception to Paragraph (1/b) of this Article, the audit hours of the certified public accountant can be increased to a maximum of (2200) working hours if the controls stipulated in SOCPA’s regulations are met.