How to register for SOCPA membership in KSA?

All expat accountants under the SOCPA professional list need SOCPA membership registration for the issuance and renewal of iqama. Here is the profess;

• How to renew SOCPA membership?

SOCPA Membership Requirements

1. Passport-size photo.
2. Scanned copy of the degree.
3. Copy of valid Iqama.
4. Transcripts/Marksheet (optional).
5. Copy of Passport.
6. SOCPA authorization letter.

The degree requirement

What are the degrees acceptable for SOCPA membership? Here is the list.

1. Bachelor or master’s degree in accounting.
2. Post-secondary accounting diploma.
3. SOCPA Certificate.
4. A professional certificate from an approved IFAC body including but not limited to CPA USA, ICAEW, CICA, CA ANZ, ACCA, ICAP, CMA USA, ICMA Pak.
5. Any bachelor’s degree with at least 15 academic hours in accounting. In case the academic hours are less than 15, you can register for exams as explained below.

The degree or certificate needs to be attested by the Saudi Embassy and the Saudi Culture of the issuing country.

SOCPA Registration Process

First of all, open the website and click on the “New User” to start the SOCPA registration process. 

On the next screen, you will have to fill the SOCPA registration form with your name, iqama number, email address, and phone number. After filling the form;

• Activate your account by clicking on the email.
• Login to your SOCPA account.

After the login, click on the “Membership and Professional registration” and then click on the “Membership Request” from the drop-down menu.

Step 1: Membership Info

On this screen, you will be given information about the SOCPA registration and membership, read through this page, and click on the “Next” button.

Step 2: Qualification

At this stage of SOCPA registration, you need to;

• Select the qualification.
• Enter the name of the university.
• Select the country where the university is situated.
• Enter the GPA or Grades.
• Select the Iqama profession.

Step 3: Attachment

Now you need to upload all the required documents for SOCPA membership. You can download the authorization letter from the given link, sign it, and upload it again in the system.

Step 4: Payment

On the fourth step, you need to make a payment of SR 840 which includes SR 525 subscription fee and SR 315 for the annual fee.

You can pay the SOCPA registration fee through debit or credit card, Mada card, or SADAD.

Once the fee is paid, you can click on the “Payment” and then “Paid bill” from the drop-down screen to get the invoice. You can submit the invoice to your employer and ask for reimbursement to try your luck.

Step 5: Temporary Accounting Technician

After the successful registration, the SOCPA will immediately issue you a temporary accounting technician certificate. You can click on the “Membership and Professional registration” and then “Dashboard” to download this certificate.

Keep in mind that you would be able to renew your Iqama or transfer your sponsorship on the basis of this certificate.

Step 6: SOCPA Associate Member

After verifying your degrees uploaded at the time of registration, SOCPA will issue you an Associate Membership which means that you are a permanent member. 

In my case, it took them around 6 months to verify my degree and convert the certification from temporary to Associate.

SOCPA Professional list

Only the following 44 jobs under the SOCPA professional list are required to register with SOCPA to issue/renew their Iqama.

1. 1112131 – مدير شؤون مالية ومحاسبة – Finance and Accounting Manager
2. 1217131 – مدير حسابات وميزانية – Accounts and Budget Manager
3. 1217281 – مدير إدارة التقارير المالية – Financial Reports Manager
4. 1217331 – مدير إدارة الزكاة والضرائب – Zakat and Taxes Manager
5. 1217381 – مدير إدارة المراجعة الداخلية – Internal Audit Manager
6. 1217661 – مدير الإدارة العامة للمراجعة – General Audit Manager
7. 2218191 – رئيس برامج التدقيق الداخلي – Head of Internal Audit Programs
8. 2621031 – مراقب مالي – Financial Controller
9. 2621151 – مراجع مالي أول – Senior Financial Auditor
10. 2621141 – مشرف مراجعة مالية – Financial Audit Supervisor
11. 3621141 – مشرف مراجعة مالية – Financial Audit Supervisor
12. 3621151 – مراجع مالي أول – Financial Audit Supervisor
13. 2622011 – محاسب عام – Senior Financial Auditor
14. 2622021 – محاسب تكاليف – General Accountant
15. 2622031 – مدقق حسابات – Cost Accountant
16. 2621081 – مراجع داخلي – Auditor
17. 3621012 – فني حسابات عام – Internal Auditor
18. 3621022 – فني تدقيق حسابات – General Accounting Technician
19. 3621032 – فني حسابات كلفة – Auditing Technician
20. 4211173 – كاتب تكاليف – Cost Accounting Technician
21. 4211183 – كاتب مالية – Cost Clerk
22. 4121044 – كاتب مسك الدفاتر – Financial Clerk
23. 121101 – مدير مالي – Bookkeeping Clerk
24. 121102 – مدير حسابات – Financial Manager
25. 121103 – مدير حسابات تعريفة – Accounts Manager
26. 121104 – مدير خزينة – Tariff Accounts Manager
27. 121105 – مدير ميزانية – Treasury Manager
28. 121106 – مدير مراجعة – Budget Manager
29. 121107 – مدير مراجعة داخلية – Audit Manager
30. 121113 – مدير تحصيل – Internal Audit Manager
31. 121116 – مدير خزانة – Collection Manager
32. 241102 – محاسب تكاليف – Treasury Manager
33. 241106 – مراقب مالي – Cost Accountant
34. 241103 – مراجع داخلي – Financial Controller
35. 431101 – كاتب حسابات – Internal Auditor
36. 241101 – محاسب – Accounts Clerk
37. 241107 – أخصائي موازنة مالية – Accountant
38. 241108 – أخصائي حسابات ضرائب – Financial Budget Specialist
39. 241105 – محاسب قانوني – Tax Accounts Specialist
40. 335202 – مسؤول ضرائب – Chartered Accountant
41. 331301 – مساعد حسابات – Tax Officer
42. 241109 – أخصائي مراقبة مخزون – Accounts Assistant
43. 241110 – أخصائي مستودعات – Inventory Control Specialist
44. 331302 – مراقب مخزون – Warehouse Specialist

SOCPA Exams

Sometimes SOCPA rejects applications with a comment that the applicant has less than 15 academic hours in accounting. In such a case, you can take a bachelor’s degree in accounting from any university in the world or take SOCPA exams.

In order to take SOCPA exams, click on the “Exam” and then the “Registration” button. The per-subject fee for taking a SOCPA exam is;

• SR 1,000 for the first time.
• SR 500 for repeating the exam.