OCC Exame de Avaliação Profissional
Exame de Avaliação Profissional (OCC)
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The Exame de Avaliação Profissional is the professional examination set by the Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados (OCC), the Portuguese order of certified accountants. It is aimed at candidates seeking admission to the profession as Contabilista Certificado, typically after completing an eligible curricular or professional traineeship, professional experience, or the modular training route. The examination is governed by the Regulamento de Inscrição, Estágio e Exame Profissionais, and examination papers and programme contents are published by the OCC under 'Enunciados de exame e conteúdos programáticos'; a Júri de exame oversees the examination. Preparation should be built around the published programme contents and past examination papers, which are the most reliable guide to the depth and style of questioning expected. Candidates should expect the assessment to span the core areas of the profession: financial accounting and reporting, taxation, law and professional ethics, auditing and internal control, and management and financial analysis. Because pass rates are modest, successful candidates usually combine a structured revision plan with practice under timed conditions and careful review of the official enunciados. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the OCC; always confirm administrative details such as dates, fees and eligibility directly with the OCC.
What you'll study
About OCC Exame de Avaliação Profissional preparation
What is the Exame de Avaliação Profissional?
It is the professional examination set by the Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados for candidates seeking to become certified accountants in Portugal. It is governed by the Regulamento de Inscrição, Estágio e Exame Profissionais, and the OCC publishes examination papers and programme contents for candidates. Confirm eligibility and current rules directly with the OCC.
Who should sit this exam?
Candidates who have completed an eligible route into the profession - a curricular or professional traineeship, recognised professional experience, or the modular training option - and who now need to pass the professional examination. The OCC sets out the admission routes and requirements; check your own situation against the current regulation before applying.
What topics does the exam cover?
Expect the core domains of the profession: financial accounting and reporting, taxation, law and professional ethics, auditing and internal control, and management and financial analysis. Use the OCC's published programme contents as the authoritative syllabus, since the weighting and detail of topics can change between sittings.
How difficult is the exam?
It is demanding: it tests applied technical knowledge across several domains rather than isolated definitions, and many candidates need more than one attempt. The most common weakness is shallow coverage - candidates memorise rules but cannot apply them to a scenario under time pressure. Depth on the published programme beats broad but superficial reading.
How should I structure my study?
Start from the official programme contents and map each topic to a study block. Work through past examination papers early, not at the end, so revision is shaped by the real question style. Prioritise your weakest domain, keep a running error log, and reserve the final weeks for timed practice under exam-like conditions.
Are past examination papers useful?
Yes - the OCC publishes examination papers and programme contents, and they are the best available indicator of question style, depth and topic emphasis. Solve them without notes first, then review against the applicable standards and legislation. Treat them as diagnostic tools rather than predictions of what will be asked.
What are the most common failure modes?
Running out of time because of poor pacing, misreading the question requirement, writing general theory instead of applying it to the specific facts given, and neglecting one or two domains entirely. Candidates who practise full papers under timed conditions and review their errors systematically tend to close these gaps fastest.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Retake arrangements, including any limits or waiting periods, are set by the OCC in the applicable regulation rather than by this page. Check the current rules and the examination calendar on the OCC portal before planning a resit, and use the interval to address the specific domains that cost you marks.
How much time should I allow for preparation?
There is no single answer, but candidates balancing full-time work typically need several months of consistent weekly study rather than a short intensive burst. Build your plan backwards from the examination date, allocate hours by domain weight and personal weakness, and leave at least two weeks for full timed practice.
Is this page an official OCC resource?
No. This is an independent study page and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados. All administrative details - dates, fees, eligibility, registration and results - must be confirmed with the OCC directly through its official portal.