Global Accounting Alliance FAQs

ICAEW Benefit	GAA institute member benefit	ICAEW Member
Use of ACA designation	No	Yes
Able to practice	No	Yes, if certain conditions are met
Access to Advisory Services and helplines	No	Yes
Monthly economia magazine	No	Yes
Monthly Alert	Yes	Yes
Faculties	Can join the Faculties at the subscriber rate	Can join at ICAEW member rate
Communities	Can join the Communities at the subscriber rate	Can join at ICAEW member rate (plus VAT)
CPD events	Charged at ICAEW member rate (plus VAT)	Charged at ICAEW member rate (plus VAT)
Use of Library & Information Service	Access to the library, enquiry desk, document delivery and book borrowing rights services while based in the UK	Yes
Online subject gateways and country resources	Yes, but access to some materials will be restricted	Yes
Online accounting and tax developments by country, industry guides, market research reports, articles from key business magazines and e-books	No	Yes
Access to ICAEW website	Public pages only	Yes
Use of Business Centre	Yes	Yes
Special rates on room bookings at Chartered Accountants’ Hall	Yes	Yes
Eligible for ICAEW member rewards and discounts	Yes, with some restrictions on eligibility for finance and insurance based products	Yes
Eligible for anti-money laundering supervision	Yes	Yes

To be eligible for membership of ICAEW:

• you need to have obtained membership of your home body by complying with its training and examinations requirements
• we encourage you to maintain membership of your home body (requirement for SAICA members);
• you need to comply with ICAEW CPD obligations and make an annual declaration that you have done so
• you are required to comply with ICAEW's Code of Ethics; and 
• you must provide a Letter of Good Standing from your home institute in support of your application. 

You do not have to:  

• be resident in the UK or Europe to take up ICAEW membership; and
• sit the ICAEW aptitude test.

• Apply for ICAEW membership

Membership of ICAEW does not confer the right to practice accountancy or undertake work in the regulated areas of audit, insolvency or investment business. Members wishing to practice in the UK or European Economic Area will be required to obtain an ICAEW practising certificate. Further conditions apply to those seeking to work in regulated areas. For more information on practising certificates please call +44 (0)1908 248 250.

• Apply for a practising certificate

Audit is a regulated area in the UK, and membership of the ICAEW will not automatically grant you the right to audit in the UK. To gain audit rights in the UK, individuals joining ICAEW will need to:

• gain the ICAEW audit qualification; 
• obtain an ICAEW practising certificate; and  
• apply to be an ICAEW responsible individual (you must be nominated by your firm for this).

For further information please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)1908 248 250 or email aq@icaew.com

• Gaining audit rights in the UK

No, you can only use the ICAEW designatory letters ACA or FCA if you join ICAEW, subject to the regulations which apply to all ICAEW members.

For more information on how to join please visit our Members of other bodies A-Z page.