Member States may approve persons to carry out statutory audits of the documents referred to in Article 1(1) even if they do not fulfil the conditions imposed in Article 4, if they can show either:
(a) that they have, for 15 years, engaged in professional activities which have enabled them to acquire sufficient experience in the fields of finance, law and accountancy and have passed the examination of professional competence referred to in Article 4, or
(b) that they have, for seven years, engaged in professional activities in those fields and have, in addition, undergone the practical training referred to in Article 8 and passed the examination of professional competence referred to in Article 4.