Intakes

April and September/ October

Duration

Most student qualify in 3 to 5 years.

Examinations

Professional Stage

March, June, September, December

Advanced Stage

July and November

What is the ACA?

ACA stands for Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The ACA is regarded globally as one of the leading business and finance qualifications, and is recognised and valued in practice, industry, commerce and the public sector. Seamlessly merging examinations with practical on-the-job training, it fully equips you with all the relevant experience, skills and professional knowledge to make sound decisions in genuine business environments.

On successful completion of the ACA examinations, a training contract with an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer (ATE) and required work experience, students apply to have the three exclusive letters ACA after their names, and a glittering career ahead of them.

Career prospects

The sky is the limit. The ACA qualification is a passport to the business world.

With the ACA qualification, it will:

• Open doors to a wide range of employers from established multinationals to entrepreneurial local organisations.
• Help you to successfully establish your own business.
• Prepare you to lead public sector, not-for-profit or charitable organisations.
• Allow you to specialise in a technical aspect of accountancy such as corporate recovery, forensic accountancy, corporate finance or taxation.

When you qualify, you will possess a highly marketable professional qualification that is in demand throughout the business world. Many ACA members achieve partner or financial director status early in their careers.

How the ACA works

To achieve the ACA, you must complete a training contract with an Authorised Training Employers (ATE) which will last between 3 and 5 years, pass the ICAEW's Professional Stage and Advanced Stage examinations and complete work experience requirements.

For the complete module outline, please refer here.

You can find out more about the ACA qualification at www.icaew.com/careers.