Stand out in a competitive job market with a professional
qualification recognised by over 6000 employers worldwide.
ICAEW, we get you there.
Stand out in a competitive job market with a professional
qualification recognised by over 6000 employers worldwide.
ICAEW, we get you there.
Chartered Accountants play a vital role in the running of organisations. They offer advice, assurance and information that shape business-critical decisions.
ICAEW Chartered Accountants are the largest source of business advice in the UK, reaching more than 1.5 million organisations. They undertake a large variety of work which can see them preparing financial statements and developing profit projections one day, and identifying strategic risks or advising on business improvements the next.
ICAEW’s Chartered Accountants sit on the boards of multinational companies, testifying in court and advising governments, as well as supporting charities and businesses from every industry all over the world. All 100 of the global leading brands employ a Chartered Accountants.
Negotiating finance for organisations, investigating criminal financial activity, planning the allocation of budgets, maintaining financial records and conducting risk analyses are some of the many arenas that Chartered Accountants have knowledge and experience in. Due to their extra qualifications and expertise, Chartered Accountants are highly sought after everywhere, in practice, industry and even not-for-profit organisations. You could find yourself working with a new tech business start-up, a global retailer or a national charity.
To qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant you must complete the ACA, a highly-respected professional qualification that requires students to complete at least three years on-the-job training while passing a series of exams. You can start your training by completing ICAEW’s Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB), which is made up of the first six modules of the ACA, before going on to complete the rest of the qualification.
What is the ACA qualification
How is the ACA qualification structured?
How to complete the ACA qualification
The support you will receive
The ACA qualification is valued by businesses worldwide, with more than 6,000 employers currently training ACA students.
Completing the ACA qualification enables you to use the title ‘ICAEW Chartered Accountant’, offering a way to stand out from the crowd by providing employers
with a specified, certified skillset.
The knowledge and skills provided by the ACA qualification means that ICAEW Chartered Accountants are highly sought after professionals.
They often command higher salaries throughout their careers:
The ACA qualification is a thorough course made up of four elements which provide students with a combination of finance knowledge, accountancy skills and real-world business experience.
450 days of practical work experience – offering invaluable insights into the realities of a career related to that of a Chartered Accountant.
15 exam modules* – covering a broad range of topics including: financial management, law, assurance and business strategy. These topics are expected to be mastered by Chartered Accountant aspirants as these will be useful for their future jobs.
Professional development – preparing you to successfully handle different situations that you’ll encounter throughout your career. As the job of a Chartered Accountant is more difficult than that of a regular certified accountant, they must be equipped with more professional development skills.
Ethics and professional skepticism – providing you with the skills to work under close scrutiny and be confident you are making the right decisions. Chartered Accountants make the important financial decisions in the company they are serving. Thus, it is important to have a strong work ethics and decision making skills.
There are 15 modules over three levels – Certificate, Professional and Advanced. They can be taken in any order with the exception of the Case Study which has to be attempted last. You must pass every exam.
*Credit for prior learning (CPL), also known as exemptions, are available for some of the Certificate level and Professional level exam modules. Check our CPL Directory to see if you can apply for credits at apps.icaew.com/cpldirectory.
The Certificate level of the ACA also make up an independent qualification, ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB). This can be completed independently of the ACA. The six exams can be completed in any order and are assessed via computer-based assessment at a local exam-centres.
ICAEW CFAB can be achieved in 12 months. Upon completion, you will receive your ICAEW CFAB qualification certificate and you can choose to carry on and complete the ACA.
The ‘Business Planning: Taxation’ and ‘Business Strategy’ modules in the Professional Level are more advanced and link to the Advanced Level.
The Advanced Level is comprised of three exams. The Corporate Reporting and Strategic Business Management modules have been designed to test your understanding and strategic decision making at a senior level.
The Case Study presents a complex business issue which encourages you to problem solve, identify the ethical implications and provide an effective solution. It must be completed last, and is aimed to test all of the knowledge gained throughout your studies training.
ICAEW Chartered Accountants are recognised worldwide and sit on the Boards of 78% of FTSE 100 companies. You can be one too. Let the facts speak for themselves.
Globally ICAEW Chartered Accountants earned on average £108,000 in 2018.
They work for organisations of all shapes and sizes
All of the world’s 100 global leading brands employ ICAEW Chartered Accountants
The global average salary for ACA qualified accountant in the first two years of their career
Find your route
Becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant has never been more accessible. Options to complete elements of the ACA qualification include: ICAEW apprenticeships, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications, ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business and joint programmes with other professional bodies.
Finding an employer
To complete the ACA you must complete 450 days of work experience at an ICAEW authorised training employer (ATE). There are c6000 ATEs offering ACA training agreements, including accountancy firms of all sizes, private businesses and public sector organisations.
Register as a student
To start the ACA qualification you must register with ICAEW as a student. The majority of students do this once they have secured a training agreement, but it is also possible to register and begin studying the ACA before you have found an employer. Learn more about the registration process.
Apply for credit for prior learning
Those who have already completed a qualification in accountancy, business or finance, might be entitled to exemptions from one or more of the ACA modules. A full list of eligible qualifications and information on how to apply for credits is available on our CPL directory: apps.icaew.com/cpldirectory.
Complete the four elements of the ACA
To successfully achieve the ACA qualification you must demonstrate that you have: completed 450 days of work experience at an ATE; passed 15 exam modules; undertaken professional development; and have advanced your ethical understanding and professional scepticism.
As part of your training, you will undertake classes with an ICAEW-authorised training provider. These can be face-to-face or online, and will give you the benefit of an expert tutor.
Alongside this, your employer will provide you with a mentor to help you through the ACA and you will receive support from your colleagues.
ICAEW will also provide you with a range of tools and resources to help you, including:
Certificate Level first-time pass rates (January-December 2020)
Business,
Technology
and Finance
Principles
of Taxation
Professional Level exam pass rates (2020 exams)
between 65% - 94% across 6 modules
Case Study pass rates (July and November 2020)
first-time pass rates
There are many ICAEW approved tuition providers located in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam to provide tuition and study support to our students. To locate a tuition centre in a city nearest to you, click here
To find out more about your entry route options, please contact an ICAEW representative
located near you.
Find out how the ICAEW ACA Qualification has helped our students and graduates boost their CV and open doors to career opportunities.
“Entering the second year of my journey to be a Chartered Accountant, I have to say I have experienced peaks and valleys. Juggling between work and study has not been easy and sacrifices had to be made. However with the dynamic and competitive Accounting & Finance field that we are in, comprehensive technical knowledge and practical problem-solving skills are vital. I realised that what I learned through ICAEW is particularly relevant in my career and grants me the edge among my peers. In addition, ICAEW has benefitted in my personal development as to displaying professional behaviour in the industry.
Till date I am still grateful for making that first step to take the ride. I believe in the myriad of opportunities ICAEW professional qualification can offer and am excited on what’s to come.”
ACA Student
Singapore
“When it comes to accountancy, business or finance, ICAEW is one of the world’s most respected and internationally recognized professional qualifications. This is the course to take if you are looking for a professional qualification. ICAEW has helped me to embark on a career in accounting and guided me with strong fundamentals that could be used to build further knowledge and insights in the business and commercial world. One thing I truly value is how ICAEW keeps themselves up-to-date and relevant in today’s business world. I also appreciate the strong supportive network in ICAEW which has helped me through this life-changing journey. To anyone who is considering accountancy/business/finance as their career choice, I strongly recommend ICAEW. ”
ACA Student
Singapore
“I started taking ICAEW papers when I was in Year 2 when I was still studying in NTU. Taking ICAEW was an obvious choice for me as it was the only CA body that allow its students to take their papers without being in the workforce. I was able to embark on my journey as a Chartered Accountant earlier than the rest of my peers, and at the same time, concurrently studying similar modules in NTU. I love the idea of how I am able to frontload my ICAEW papers early as they are complementary to the modules I took in NTU. When I am faced with a concept that I don’t understand, I can easily reach out to my professors in school for assistance. Will it be an extra burden to clear one more paper? No. In fact, I feel that it actually aid me more by helping me aced school examinations at the same time.
Taking ICAEW also open new opportunities around me as I am able to add an extra edge in my CV to show that I have a certain technical skillset which is deemed valuable from the employer’s point of view.
On a more personal level, when I transit from being a student to working life, I am even more appreciative of the fact that I cleared my papers early as I can better concentrate on my work rather than having to study on top of the long hours of OTs.”
Chartered Accountant / ACA Graduate
Singapore
“The rigorous ACA training that I underwent accurately simulated the demanding environment that my current role entails. The invaluable programme equipped me with the necessary critical thinking skills, discipline and perseverance to push through any challenges that come my way and has placed me ahead of my peers, allowing me to formulate sound and cogent financial advice.
The most exciting part of my job is being able to travel and work in different countries, such as Indonesia and Singapore. Not only have I assumed roles in unfamiliar and challenging environments, I’ve also been fortunate to immerse myself in new and vibrant cultures around the region.”
Chartered Accountant / ACA Graduate
Malaysia
“The ACA really helped me to prepare for my current role as an Audit Manager, where I’m responsible for identifying and assessing risks and their potential influences on my clients’ business and financials. In addition, I also play the role of leader, counsellor and partner to my team members; coaching, mentoring and empowering younger Associates to ensure that they are well equipped to play their respective roles on the job.
If there is one word I could use to describe my journey over the last seven years, I would say it has been very fulfilling and that doing the ACA has truly been my stepping stone towards so many opportunities.”
Chartered Accountant / ACA Graduate
Malaysia
“Right after university, I was considering different qualifications that would help me kick start a career in public accounting. I was particularly interested in the ACA because I liked the holistic approach to the programme. There’s a lot of emphasis on analysis and creative thinking, which demanded that I should look at each situation from different viewpoints.
Each client has a different challenge and it is up to my team and I to help them navigate through those challenges. And when we do, the sense of achievement is truly priceless.”
Chartered Accountant / ACA Graduate
Malaysia
“I was fortunate to be one of the first three A Level students in Kuala Lumpur who attempted the ACA without a bachelor degree, and as a result, I managed to qualify as a Chartered Accountant at the age of 22. I guess you could say I am fortunate to have a pretty exciting job. The thrill of being in the market, and to witness developments taking place in the financial world is quite exhilarating!
Apart from gaining a premier, globally recognised qualification that offers abundant career choices, the ACA has given me a strong foundation in business and finance. On a personal note, it has made me mentally stronger, more confident and helped me mature into the person I am today.”
Chartered Accountant / ACA Graduate
Malaysia
“The ACA is one of the most useful and practical professional accounting and finance qualification for those who work in a multi-national environment. The ACA has provided me with strong foundation in both technical knowledge and critical thinking skills when it comes to business analysis. There are more than 80% of CFOs of top corporations in the world who are an ICAEW ACA. This strengthens my belief for a promising career path.”
Chartered Accountant / ACA Graduate
Vietnam
“ICAEW CFAB plays a critical role to my career success as a finance and accountancy profession. ICAEW ACA equips me with greater skills, knowledge and practical experiences that enhances my career development in the long term.”
Deloitte, ACA student
Vietnam
