The ACA at a glance
Completing the ACA allows you to call yourself a chartered accountant. It shows you have undertaken three years of training, passed your exams and committed yourself to continued professional development.
Entry requirements
You can start your training to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant at any stage of your career if you meet the entry requirements of your chosen authorised training employer*.
Cost
There are fees associated with training and becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. This includes: tuition fees, exam entry, learning materials and membership fees. Students who have secured an ACA training agreement are generally supported with these costs by their employer. However, independent students are responsible for paying the fees associated with their studies.
| Current | From 1 Jan 2025 | |
| Annual student fee | £197.00 + VAT | £206.00 + VAT |
| Exam entry | £85.00 - £275.00 | £90.00 - £290.00 |
| Tuition | Varies by provider | |
- Read more about ACA fees
Duration
It typically takes between 3-5 years to complete your training.
*An authorised training employer is a company that are authorised by ICAEW to train ACA students.
The four elements of the ACA
The ACA is made up of four elements, each designed to build the technical knowledge, professional skills, and practical experience you need to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. By combining technical knowledge, professional skills, and practical experience, the ACA ensures that students are well-prepared for the complexities of the accounting profession. This well-rounded training makes ICAEW Chartered Accountants highly respected and sought after, as they are equipped not only with theoretical understanding but also with the practical abilities needed to excel in real-world scenarios.
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Ethics and professional scepticism
Ethics is integrated throughout the ACA qualification to develop students’ capabilities. It’s about identifying ethical dilemmas, understanding the implications and behaving appropriately.
Read more about what this looks like for you studying the ACA here.
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Exam modules
The ACA is made up of 15 exams spread over three levels: the Certificate Level, the Professional Level, and the Advanced Level. Each exam has been designed to fit students practical experience as they progress through the qualification and gain an in-depth knowledge of accountancy, finance, and business.
Find out more information and what content the modules cover.
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Practical work experience
To complete the ACA you must be in a training agreement with an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer to complete your 450 day's work experience. It needs to be in a role with relevant experience to accounting, audit and assurance, tax, financial management, insolvency or information technology.
See more guidance on the ACA practical work experience here.
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Professional development
Chartered accountancy is much more than crunching numbers and because of this it is vital that you have the skills needed to be a successful business professional, such as communication, team work and problem solving.
Find out the professional development characteristics here.
Imagine more with the Next Generation ACA
The role of the accountant is changing. To ensure ICAEW Chartered Accountants are prepared for the future, we will be introducing changes to our qualifications from September 2025. Learn more about the upcoming changes: Next Generation ACA
Start your training
Search through the variety of training roles on ICAEW Training Vacancies to find the role that will kick start your career.
Why choose ICAEW?
ICAEW is an international professional body for chartered accountants. We provide ongoing support to our students and members throughout their careers. Find out more about ICAEW and why training with them is right for you.
Still want to discover more?
If you want to discover more about ICAEW and the world of chartered accountancy we have, events, resources and a dedicated team to support you.
To read more about ICAEW, the ACA and your career potential, download the brochure.
We have a number of online events that you can attend to help get you ready for your career.
Hear about the latest news, events, resources and opportunities available to you.