Author: Ken Bishop, NASBA Executive Vice President and COO
Posted: August 24, 2011

Chief Focus – Candidate Security

As NASBA explored various international sites (and eventually choosing Japan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates as our inaugural ones) for administering the Uniform CPA Examination, personal security was a major concern. Keeping candidates safe during testing is a priority every time — and everywhere — we give the exam, but there were other security factors to be considered as well.

The Uniform CPA Exam is a valuable piece of intellectual property. We must ensure that, no matter where the exam is administered, the information contained in the testing materials remains confidential. We also looked at civil unrest around the world, and balanced the potential for issues in some of our new host countries with the fact that commerce continues there, no matter what may be happening on the political scene. In short, business is going to continue, and accountants are going to be needed.

Whether the issue is physical or proprietary security, NASBA must balance all concerns with the realities of the world we live in. The process involves evaluating potential sites on various points. One very important factor involves the balance of political issues and economic progress. To successfully offer the CPA exam as a global credential, issues such as these must be evaluated. That’s why we have worked hard to create safe, secure environments in all our testing centers, and why we are continuing our efforts to become more fully integrated into a global environment.

> Read the final portion of this 3-part series focuses on emerging international opportunities for women

> Read Part I of this Series