AAOIFI Master Trainer
Eligibility criteria for becoming an AAOIFI Master Trainer
For an IFP to be recognized as an AAOIFI Master Trainer, the IFP must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:
Academic and / or professional qualifications
- have a postgraduate degree from a university recognized by a competent authority of higher education in the applicant’s country, or internationally, in a discipline linked to the respective area of standard setting of AAOIFI (i.e., Shari’ah, accounting, auditing, governance, or ethics); or
- be a member of a relevant professional body (such as the accounting professional bodies that are IFAC members); and
Professional or relevant experience
- have at least 10 years of working experience with at least 5 years in a relevant specialized role such as the roles of implementing, supervising the implementation of, consulting, or full-time teaching, etc., of the AAOIFI standards, reflected through professional designation, job description, and / or high-profile assignments or projects; or
- be an AAOIFI Associate Trainer who has served at least one full term; and
Market standing and contribution to industry
- be or have been involved in the standards development process as a member of the relevant technical board[1] of the AAOIFI or at least 3 different working groups; or
- have authored or co-authored and published a book and / or have at least 5 peer-reviewed research papers published in AAOIFI’s journal or any other reputed, indexed journal. The book and the research papers should focus largely on relevant AAOIFI standards; or
- furbish a testimonial from a high-ranking official demonstrating high-profile contribution to the advancement of AAOIFI standards, or Islamic finance industry in general, and
Other mandatory requirements
- have conducted at least 100 hours of training on a number of standards of a specified area of standard-setting of AAOIFI;
- is a or has been a member of the board of directors, Shari’ah supervisory board, or senior management of an IFI or any other type of organization / department of an organization which primarily seeks to promote Islamic finance;
- is not currently affiliated with a conventional financial institution. This requirement will be applied on case-by-case basis by the AAOIFI Education Board;
- be proficient in any of the AAOIFI official languages[2] in terms of verbal and written communication; and
- submit at least one recommendation letter from an IFP of equivalent or higher standing attesting to applicant’s practical expertise in the implementation, supervision of the implementation of, and / or the delivery of professional training in AAOIFI standards.
Other considerations
- The IFP may additionally be evaluated based on the following criteria with the possibility of awarding additional marks for their fulfillment:
- be a CIPA[3] and / or a CSAA[4] fellow, and / or have earned CPFAS[5];
- be an AAOIFI Associate Trainer;
- have obtained accolades / awards from a globally recognized Islamic finance industry for any related work undertaken; and
- have favorable testimonials from trainees (i.e., those who have received direct training from the IFP).
Requirement for maintaining the AAOIFI Master Trainer title
The title of AAOIFI Master Trainer shall be valid for a period of 3 years and renewable for a further period of 3 years subject to the fulfillment of the following requirements:
- continue to be eligible for AAOIFI Master Trainer;
- remain an active AAOIFI Master Trainer by conducting at least 75 hours of professional training in a given area of standard-setting of AAOIFI over a period of 3 years;
- not have a single verified complaint against him from the trainees or other relevant stakeholders, which question or bring into dispute his competency and / or the moral character; and
- achieve a minimum score of 80% in the training evaluation survey of AAOIFI.
[1] These include the AAOIFI Shari’ah Board, the AAOIFI Accounting Board, and the AAOIFI Governance and Ethics Board, respectively
[2] The AAOIFI official languages are those languages to which the AAOIFI standards have been translated which include, as of May 2021, in addition to primary languages in Arabic and English, the Russian, French, Turkish, and Urdu languages, respectively
[3] CIPA stands for Certified Islamic Professional Accountant
[4] CSAA stands for Certified Shari’ah Advisor and Auditor
[5] CPFAS stands for Certificate of Proficiency in Financial Accounting Standards