ACCA full form is Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, it is a globally recognized qualification for those aiming to build a career in accounting, finance, or auditing. Accepted in over 180 countries, it opens doors to job opportunities worldwide, including roles in multinational companies and global firms. The course is beginner-friendly, taking you from the basics of accounting to advanced areas such as taxation, auditing and financial management. Even if you have no prior knowledge, ACCA will help you build strong technical and practical skills so that by the end of the course you are equipped for the job market. Whether you are a student, graduate or professional looking to further your education, ACCA offers you a flexible and respected pathway to grow in the finance industry and build a global career.
Level | Exam Name | Description |
Applied Knowledge | Financial Accounting | Introduces fundamental financial accounting principles and practices. |
Management Accounting | Focuses on basic management accounting principles and techniques. | |
Business Technology | Covers essential business and technology concepts, including governance and ethics. | |
Applied Skills | Financial Reporting | Focuses on preparing and understanding financial statements. |
Performance Management | Emphasizes management accounting techniques for decision-making and control. | |
Audit and Assurance | Introduces the principles and processes of auditing and assurance engagements. | |
Financial Management | Covers principles of financial management in an organization. | |
Corporate and Business Law (LW GLO) | Covers business and company law relevant to accountants. | |
Taxation (TX-UK) | Covers principles and practices of taxation. | |
Strategic Professional | Strategic Business Reporting | Advanced financial reporting and analysis, applying IFRS in complex reporting scenarios. |
Strategic Business Leader | Integrated case study focusing on leadership, governance, risk management, and strategy. | |
Advanced Audit and Assurance (optional) | Advanced auditing concepts, standards, and professional responsibilities. | |
Advanced Performance Management (optional) | Strategic performance evaluation and management techniques. | |
Advanced Financial Management (optional) | Advanced topics in financial management, risk, and investment appraisal. | |
Advanced Taxation (optional) | Advanced concepts in tax planning and compliance. |
Note: Optional Exams (Choose Any Two)
Additional requirement of the exams and membership:
• Completion of the Ethics and Professional skills module
• A minimum of 36 months practical experience in relevant role.
For the ACCA exams, the candidate must be 18 years old and have completed Year 12 with at least 65% in Mathematics or Accounting and English and at least 50% in the other subjects to be able to register directly for the ACCA qualification. If the candidate has already completed a degree in Commerce or a related subject, they may be exempt from certain exams based on their previous qualifications. ACCA also offers the Foundation in Accountancy (FIA), which is an introductory level of preparation for the ACCA main qualification for those who have completed Year 10 and do not meet the criteria for direct entry.
There are some entry routes to acca:
If you have a degree in Commerce or a related field, you can qualify for ACCA and get exemption for up to 5 exams covering both applied and professional levels. The exact exemptions will depend on your college’s curriculum and ACCA recognition. This can save you both time and effort. Obtaining the ACCA qualification after graduation can significantly boost your career as it is recognized worldwide and opens doors to various well-paid positions in accounting, finance and management.
Once you have completed Year 12 - especially if you have a business background - you can start the first stage of the ACCA course. Students must sit all ACCA exams (13 papers) as no exemptions are granted. Students must have passed at least English and either Maths or Accounting in Year 12 to be eligible. Official ACCA exam sessions report that over 100,000 students worldwide sit the ACCA exams each cycle. In fact, many students choose to take ACCA alongside their degree. This is a smart decision because while you are studying for your degree, you are also taking the ACCA exams step by step. By the time you have finished your degree, you will have already taken most of the ACCA exams. This will give you a head start and prepare you for better job opportunities at the start of your career.
If you’ve only completed Year 10 and still want to start your journey to ACCA, don’t worry - there’s a special pathway for you here called FIA (Foundation in Accountancy). FIA is a type of beginner's course that helps you build a solid foundation in accountancy and finance. It is designed for students who have not yet completed Year 12.
Once a student has completed the FIA course, they will be exempt from the three Applied Skills level exams - Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA) and Financial Accounting (FA) - so that they can go straight into the main ACCA program and continue with the Applied Skills level exams. This is a great option for those who want to start early and become a qualified professional at a younger age. Starting early allows more time to complete the exams at a reasonable pace, reducing the pressure and spreading the cost over several years. Early exposure to finance and accounting improves analytical and problem-solving skills over time.
Fee Type | Fee in GBP | Approx. Fee in INR | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Initial Registration Fee | £30 | ₹3,456 | One-time registration fee |
Annual Subscription Fee | £135 | ₹15,000 | Annual fee for student status |
Applied Knowledge Exam Fee per Paper | £84 | ₹10,000 | Per paper exam fee |
Total Applied Knowledge Exams (3 papers) | £252 | ₹30,000 | For 3 papers in Applied Knowledge level |
Applied Skills Exam Fee per Paper | £145 | ₹16,000 | Per paper exam fee |
Total Applied Skills Exams (6 papers) | £870 | ₹96,000 | For 6 papers in Applied Skills level |
Strategic Business Leader (SBL) | £252 | ₹29,028 | Mandatory core strategic professional exam |
Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) | £185 | ₹21,310 | Mandatory core strategic professional exam |
Optional Strategic Professional Papers (per paper) | £185 | ₹21,310 | Optional strategic papers |
Total Strategic Professional Exams (4 papers) | £810 | ₹96,648 | Approximate total for 4 strategic professional papers |
Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) | £81 | ₹9,330 | Ethics module fee |
Exemption Fee Applied Knowledge per Paper | £84 | ₹9,676 | Fee if exempted from a paper in Applied Knowledge |
Exemption Fee Applied Skills per Paper | £111 | ₹12,786 | Fee if exempted from a paper in Applied Skills |
After completing the ACCA course, you can work in many different areas, for example as an accountant, auditor, tax advisor or financial analyst. Big 4 firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PWC and many large multinationals such as Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Rolls-Royce and Astra Zeneca often employ ACCA professionals. ACCA professionals benefit from global recognition, varied roles, good salary prospects and opportunities in developing industries, making ACCA a valuable qualification for a successful career in finance and accounting.
ACCA is a great course for anyone interested in accounting or finance and looking for a career with global opportunities. It’s flexible, world-renowned and gives you an edge when applying for jobs. Whether you are still at school, studying at college or already in employment, ACCA can help you advance your career and take it to the next level. ACCA’s global reach, ethical foundations, comprehensive skills development and flexible learning structure make the degree ideal for professionals seeking international career mobility and leadership positions in finance and accounting.
ACCA is a globally recognized professional accounting certification that teaches accounting and finance and helps to get jobs in Big 4 accounting firms like Deloitte, KPMG, PWC, EY and multinational corporations like Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Rolls-Royce, AstraZeneca HSBC and Rolls Royce etc. with rewarding salary packages.
Anyone who has completed Year 10 can start ACCA via the Foundation in Accountancy (FIA) route. Students who have passed Year 12 with at least 65% in Mathematics/Accountancy and English and 50% in other subjects can register directly for the ACCA exams. Graduates from all disciplines can also study ACCA, although they are often exempted due to their previous qualifications.
The ACCA exam consists of 13 tasks, which are divided into 3 levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills and Strategic Subject Knowledge. In addition, candidates must complete a short module on ethics and professional skills and gain at least 36 months of relevant practical work experience to qualify for ACCA.