Become an APA® Certified Petroleum
Accountant and Gain the Recognition
Employers Trust.
Validate Your Expertise
What This Certification Does for You
Gain Specialized Industry Expertise
The certification ensures proficiency in the unique guidelines and principles of the petroleum industry, exposing you to all its facets.
Achieve Recognized Competence
It certifies that you possess the basic elements of knowledge essential for oil and gas accounting and meet the requirements for competent practice.
Enhance Job Performance
The credential equips you with the knowledge needed to excel in job performance and provides a heightened level of accuracy and ethics.
Boost Career Opportunities
The APA® designation is positioned as a valuable element for employee selection, promotion, and retention within the oil and gas industry.
Validate Your Skills & Knowledge
It offers a formal opportunity to validate your petroleum accounting knowledge and skills to employers, the public, and other stakeholders.
The APA Certification Process
- Verify Eligibility: Confirm you meet the required criteria, typically involving a combination of education (like a 4-year degree with accounting hours) and/or specific oil and gas industry work experience.
- Register for the Exam: Complete the application process, including submitting documentation for your education and/or work experience verification.
- Take the Exam: Sit for the single, comprehensive APA® certification examination covering essential petroleum accounting domains.
- Pass the Exam: Successfully pass the certification exam to demonstrate your knowledge and competence.
- Earn & Maintain Your Credential: Receive your APA® certification, which is valid for one year and requires annual renewal through continuing education and applicable fees.
Have Questions?
Learn More About The APA Certification Process
More about COPAS and the APA
The Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, Inc. (COPAS) was established in 1961 by representatives from various independent local societies throughout the U.S. and Western Canada. In accordance with COPAS’ mission to provide expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of accounting procedures, publications and education, COPAS initiated the Accredited Petroleum Accountant® (APA®) certification program in 1996. Its purpose is to certify accountants within the oil and gas industry and to ensure that practicing petroleum accountants are proficient in the basic elements of knowledge essential for oil and gas accounting.
In 1996, the original design of the program was a series of eight knowledge-based exams covering the areas of Operations, Law, Financial Reporting, Audit, Joint Interest, Managerial Accounting, Tax, and Revenue. A job analysis study was performed in 2014 to enhance the benefits of the credential to the oil and gas accounting profession by ensuring that the exam was assessing the key knowledge required by practicing petroleum accountants. The results of that study resulted in the development of a single certification exam (effective January 1, 2016) covering five content domains that were determined to be essential for competent practice as a petroleum accountant.
Earning An APA® Certification
To earn the APA® certification, candidates must first meet the eligibility requirements for education and/or work experience, and must then register for, take and pass the APA® certification examination. The APA® certification is valid for one (1) year, and must be renewed by participating in the specified number of continuing education hours and paying applicable renewal fees as specified in the section “Maintaining your APA® Certification.”
The APA® credential program does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, age, national origin, or physical disability.
Certification Exam Eligibility Criteria
To register for and take the APA® certification exam, a candidate must meet ONE of the following requirements:
- Hold a four (4)-year degree with a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours in Accounting and one (1) year of oil and gas industry work experience; OR
- Have five (5) years of oil and gas industry work experience.
The exam application will include a Work Experience Verification Form to provide the candidate’s Employer(s), job title, job duties, Supervisor(s), and their contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses. Documentation of Educational Requirements may be satisfied with a photocopy of the candidate’s transcript and diploma.
NOTE: If the candidate has an International Degree, evidence of equivalent academic credentials will be considered on a case-by-case basis.