ACCA is an accountancy qualification ideal for those who would like a rewarding career in finance, or wish to become a Chartered Accountant. The qualification is based on international accounting standards, so employers around the world know that an ACCA qualification indicates professional excellence.
Benefits of being an ACCA member
- The most recognized Finance and Accounting Qualification
- Globally respected qualification
- Flexibility that opens doors to various opportunities
- Respected job profile, rewarding career
Course Overview:
The ACCA syllabus is broken down into three levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills and Strategic Professional.
Applied Knowledge exams, as well as the Corporate & Business Law exam at Applied Skills, are computer based and are available all year round. For Applied Skills (except Corporate & Business Law) and Strategic Professional levels, ACCA offer four exam sittings per year.
There are 15 exams in the entire syllabus. Two tests are optional. To gain the ACCA qualification you have to pass 13 of these exams. The three levels of tests are given below.
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE
OVERVIEW
Applied Knowledge is the entry level to the ACCA qualification. This level consists of three sub-parts which can be attempted in any order.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Two A-Levels and three GCSEs in five separate subjects (including English and Maths) or a non-relevant degree or NVQ qualification. Lack of any previous qualifications, requires completion of the final level of the AAT or FIA Diploma prior to ACCA.
EXAMS
The three sub modules will be evaluated through a Computer Based Exam (CBE) at the local testing centre.
- Accountant in Business (AB)
- Management Accounting (MA)
- Financial Accounting (FA)
DURATION
6 – 9 months
EXEMPTIONS
Candidates that hold a relevant degree (e.g. Accountancy, Finance, Law or Management) or are AAT, FIA or CAT qualified, may be eligible for exemptions from the Knowledge level.
Exam format
There are four exam sessions per year (Pass mark – 50%) and candidates can sit a maximum of four exams at each session with a maximum of eight distinct exams each calendar year. There are two types of exam formats:
- PAPER BASED EXAM (PBE)
Paper Based Exams (PBEs) are written at ACCA centres, booked directly with ACCA. The exams are three hours long with 15 minutes reading time.
- COMPUTER BASED EXAM (CBE)
Session CBEs are three hours 20 minutes long plus up to 10 minutes to read the pre-exam instructions.
APPLIED SKILLS
OVERVIEW
This level can be overlaped with the knowledge level and its sub modules can be attemped in any order.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Two A-Levels and three GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Maths. A relevant Accounting or Finance degree candidate, may start at the Applied Skills Level.
EXAMS
With the exception of LW, all the exams for this level are available as Session CBEs (Computer-based Exams).
- Corporate & Business Law (LW)
- Performance Management (PM)
- Taxation (TX-UK)
- Financial Reporting (FR)
- Audit and Assurance (AA)
- Financial Management (FM)
DURATION
6–9 months
EXEMPTIONS
Candidates that hold a relevant degree (e.g. Accountancy, Finance, Law or Management) may be eligible for exemptions from some or all of the Applied Skills modules. Exemptions must be applied for through ACCA when registering as a student
Exam format
There are four exam sessions per year (Pass mark – 50%) and candidates can sit a maximum of four exams at each session with a maximum of eight distinct exams each calendar year. There are two types of exam formats:
- PAPER BASED EXAM (PBE)
Paper Based Exams (PBEs) are written at ACCA centres, booked directly with ACCA. The exams are three hours long with 15 minutes reading time.
- COMPUTER BASED EXAM (CBE)
Session CBEs are three hours 20 minutes long plus up to 10 minutes to read the pre-exam instructions.
STRATEGIC PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
OVERVIEW
The Professional level (consisting of Essentials and Options subjects) has been recently re-designed into Strategic Professional level. These levels can be attempted in any order.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Completed Applied Skills Level, or a relevant degree from an ACCA-accredited university.
STRATEGIC PROFESSIONAL ESSENTIALS
The exams in this level are Paper Based Exams (PBEs). Candidates can overlap with subjects on Applied Skills as long as the Applied Skills level is being completed.
EXAMS
- Strategic Business Leader (SBL)
- Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
EXEMPTIONS
There are no exemptions available for the Strategic Professional Essentials level.
STRATEGIC PROFESSIONAL OPTIONS
Exams for the Strategic Professional Options papers are Paper Based Exams (PBE).
EXAMS
- Advanced Financial Management (AFM)
- Advanced Performance Management (APM)
- Advanced Taxation (ATX-UK)
- Advanced Audit & Assurance (AAA)
EXEMPTIONS
There are no exemptions available. Although, only two out of the four papers needs to be completed.
DURATION
18–24 months
Exam format
There are four exam sessions per year (Pass mark – 50%) and candidates can sit a maximum of four exams at each session with a maximum of eight distinct exams each calendar year. There are two types of exam formats:
- PAPER BASED EXAM (PBE)
Paper Based Exams (PBEs) are written at ACCA centres, booked directly with ACCA. The exams are three hours long with 15 minutes reading time.
- COMPUTER BASED EXAM (CBE)
Session CBEs are three hours 20 minutes long plus up to 10 minutes to read the pre-exam instructions.
