Independent student FAQs

You are an independent student if you are studying for the ACA qualification, but you are not yet in an ACA training agreement with an ICAEW authorised training employer or principal.

To become an independent student studying for the ACA, you must:

• meet our minimum entry requirements
  • Entry requirements for those in the UK
  • If you are outside the UK, there are various local entry requirements
• register with us and pay the required fees
  • You can register online
  • You will need to pay the annual student registration fee

No. You can only use the ACA designatory letters after your name when you become a fully qualified ICAEW member.

You must be registered with ICAEW as an ACA student to be able to take the ACA exams. You will also need to be registered as a student before you can claim any credit for prior learning.

Once you become an ACA student, you will benefit from a wide range of fantastic resources and services to help you in your studies. Here’s what we have to offer:

• a dedicated student support team;
• free exam resources - past exams, practice questions, examiner feedback, errata, exam webinars etc;
• access to your local student society or group for exam support, local events and study buddies;
• access to free learning content from across ICAEW such as digital skills training, economic insights and more; and
• regular e-newsletters with the latest student news, job alerts, exam resources and exam date reminders.

You may be eligible for credit for prior learning (which you may know as exam exemptions) if you have an academic qualification such as a degree, Masters or a diploma - that has elements of law, business, finance or accounting within it - or, have a professional qualification.

Depending on what you have previously studied, you may be eligible to apply for credits for up to 12 of the Certificate Level and Professional Level exams.

• More on credit for prior learning and how to apply
• View the Credit for prior learning FAQs

No. Please note you need to be in the final year of an ACA training agreement to be able to take the Case Study exam*. You can only qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant when you have successfully completed all the requirements of the four elements of the ACA qualification.

• View four elements of the ACA
• More on ACA assessment regulations for ACA students

* ACA assessment regulations state that students may not attempt the Case Study until they have completed all but their last year of approved training by the end of the month in which the assessment is held unless authorised to attempt the examination earlier by the Managing Director, Education and Training.

No, you need to be registered as an ACA student to sit your exams.

This depends on a number of factors such as which country you study in, what type of tuition you take and if you are entitled to any credit (exemptions) at any of the ACA exams.

There are two types of costs – those payable to ICAEW and those that are payable directly to your tuition provider.

Fees payable to ICAEW

• View ACA tuition fee information

Fees payable to your tuition provider

• Tuition costs - there may be a number of ways for you to study for the ACA exams (classroom, online and one-to-one). The costs for these will vary by location and tuition provider.

• Find a tuition provider

To become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant you need to complete all four elements of ACA training: exams, practical work experience, professional development, and ethics and professional scepticism. You also need to complete a formal period of training under an ACA training agreement with an authorised training employer or principal.

You will not be able to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant without having completed all of these required elements of the ACA qualification.

You cannot use the ACA letters after your name until you have completed all elements and have become a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant.

There are a number of ways we can help. If you are working for an organisation that is not currently an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer (ATE) or principal, you may want to talk to them about becoming one. The process is free and simple. Our business development team are happy to talk to you/your employer through the process.

• More on becoming an authorised training employer or principal
• Tips for independent students

Look for ACA training opportunities on our dedicated ICAEW Training Vacancies website. You will find a variety of UK and overseas vacancies from employers including accountancy firms, commercial organisations, not for profit and the public sector. Set-up job alerts to receive notifications about newly added vacancies.

Get yourself and your CV employer-ready - make use of our Careers Advice Hub for insight on getting ready for interviews, assessment centres and how to job hunt effectively.

You can register on the site, upload your CV and create a personal profile. Your profile can be reviewed by employers recruiting ACA students. Some companies choose not to post their jobs on our site, so remember to check the websites of companies you want to work for too.

For further advice on finding a training agreement, you can visit our careers website at icaew.com/careers.

All ACA students benefit from a wide range of fantastic resources and services. These are designed to help you in your studies and in the workplace. They include:

• A dedicated student support team – here to help and advise you throughout your training via live web chat, email or phone;
• Student website – find the latest information, guidance and exclusive resources to help you as you progress through the ACA at icaew.com/dashboard;
• Student insights hub - an online hub with useful articles, videos and resources to help you with work, study and life;
• Regular e-newsletters – with the latest student news, exam updates and reminders;
• Exam resources – past exams, exam software practice, errata, exam webinars, syllabus and examiner feedback to help your revision;
• Student groups – join your local ICAEW student society or network to connect with other ACA students and get involved in social activities, study buddy groups and more.

• Gain access to free resources from across ICAEW including free digital skills training, economic insights and more.

If you are an independent student, you will not be able to complete the requirements of the ACA until you have gained employment and are in a training agreement with an ICAEW authorised training employer or principal.

Remember: you will also need to be in the final year of your training agreement, before you can sit the Case Study exam.

If you are working for an organisation (or individual) that is not currently an ICAEW authorised training employer or principal, you may want to talk about becoming one. It is a free and straightforward process. Our business development team will happily talk to you and your employer about what's involved.

• Find out more about becoming an authorised training employer or principal

For advice on finding a training agreement, you can visit our careers website at icaew.com/careers.

• Tips for ACA independent students

In the majority of cases the answer is no. However, in certain circumstances, we will recognise up to a maximum of 12 months of prior work experience (which would include some practical work experience) gained before your ACA training agreement. This applies only if:

• that experience was gained in an organisation that was registered as an ICAEW authorised training employer or principal;
• AND that this experience was gained within the 24 months before your ACA student registration date;
• AND you met the requirements to register with ICAEW from the date you are trying to claim credit;
• AND your previous work experience must have been gained within the two years prior to the start of your training agreement.

• View the guidance notes on prior work experience

Please note that if your work experience does not meet all of these conditions, then you will not be able to count it towards the requirements of the ACA.