Level 4 professional accounting apprenticeship certificate regulations

1. To sit the assessments for the ICAEW Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate, a student:
   1. is not required to have attained an educational level before commencing their study; and
   2. the applicable fees set by the Committee should have been paid.

2. To be awarded the level 4 professional accounting apprenticeship certificate, students must:
   1. hold qualifications in English and Maths, at grades A*-C/9-4 or equivalent, which are listed as a minimum of Level 2 on the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) or listed on the Department of Education (DfE) and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) list of acceptable qualifications that satisfy Maths and English requirements for an apprenticeship; and
   2. complete 12 months’ employment as an apprentice in an accountancy role at an Authorised Training Employer; and
   3. pass the ICAEW On-programme Assessment or the experience route equivalent as defined in the Apprenticeship Assessment Plan, and any mandatory On-programme qualifications and any other gateway requirements listed in the Apprenticeship Standard or Assessment Plan; and
   4. pass the ICAEW End-point Assessment; and
   5. the applicable fees set by the Committee must have been paid.

3. An individual registering to study the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate must declare to ICAEW at registration if they have a criminal conviction, bankruptcy order or IVA, have been disqualified as a company director, have failed to satisfy a judgement debt, hold an adverse finding by any professional body or regulator or have been involved in any other activity that brings into question their fitness and propriety.
4. The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register or to re-register any person as a Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate student.
5. The registration of a Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate student may be withdrawn:
   1. with effect from the date of any bankruptcy order made against the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate student or any other declaration as in regulation 3;or
   2. on such other date and in such other circumstances as the Committee, in its absolute discretion, may decide and the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate student shall thereafter cease to be a Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate student as defined in these regulations.
6. An individual cannot register to study the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate if they are attempt-barred against the Certificate Level assessments under regulation 3 of the ICAEW CFAB Regulations unless they are undertaking the experience route as defined under the Apprenticeship Assessment Plan.

7. The On-programme Assessment comprises the following:
   1. the ACA Certificate Level assessments (details are found in the ACA Assessment Regulations) or the work place assessments of the experience route as defined under the Apprenticeship Assessment Plan;
   2. a programme of Professional Development.

Details are found in the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship End-point Assessment Regulations.

8. The End-point Assessment comprises the following:
   1. a Portfolio of knowledge, skills and behaviours and a Reflective Statement;
   2. a Role Simulation assessment.

9. The relevant government body will issue a certificate to a student who has completed the requirements of the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate.
10. Designatory letters do not attach to the award of the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate.
11. An individual may not refer to their practise of accountancy being certified or regulated by ICAEW on the basis of holding the Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate.

12. A Level 4 Professional Accounting Apprenticeship Certificate student may be awarded credit for prior work experience for relevant practical experience undertaken prior to the date that he or she becomes eligible to register their approved training for the ACA as a provisional member provided:
    1. they had achieved university entrance level education as required by the Companies Act 2006 before the period of work experience being claimed;
    2. the period of work experience was gained within the 24 months immediately preceding the registration of the provisional member;
    3. the application is made in the format prescribed by the Committee;
    4. the experience was gained within an Authorised Training Employer or under the supervision of an Authorised Training Principal or such other environment as may from time to time be accepted by the Committee and/or the Financial Reporting Council.
13. The credit for prior work experience approved by the Committee must:
    1. be a minimum of three months;
    2. include at least 65 days of practical work experience;
    3. not exceed
       1. 24 months for provisional members entering into a training agreement for 36 or more months of approved training; or
       2. 12 months for provisional member entering into a training agreement for 24 to 36 months of approved training. 

14. Subject where relevant to compliance with the Companies Act 2006 and appropriate consultation with the Financial Reporting Council, the Committee shall have the power to vary or waive the above regulations.