Students must register with ICAEW, apply for any credit for prior learning, enter for and pass the ACA exams, complete the structured training in ethics (STE) programme, complete the initial professional development (IPD) programme and complete at least 450 days of technical work experience (TWE) or 300 days where eligible.
The ACA training agreement requires the student to take much of the responsibility for their development during training. This helps reduce the administrative time for employers.
Student registration
It is a students’ responsibility to register with ICAEW. They should only do this once your organisation has carried out any required checks and then instructed the student to register. When a student registers they are effectively registering their ACA training agreement with ICAEW and that their training has begun. Students must register well in advance of any exam entry deadlines.
We prefer students to register online. For this they will need your training office number. This allows only your students to register against your organisation. The QPRT of your organisation will be sent written confirmation of the students who have registered with your organisation.
Students can also register by hard copy form. There are different versions available according to which entry route students have come from.
Students can register at icaew.com/acastudents.
Apply for credit/exemption
Where students have previous relevant professional qualifications or experience they may be eligible to apply for credit for prior learning (CPL). You may also know this as exemptions. As an employer, you can decide whether you are happy for your student to apply for any available credit. You may decide that your students, irrespective of any previous qualifications of experience, should complete all exam modules. Students should therefore only apply for CPL with your permission.
Pass the examinations
Students are responsible for studying for and passing exams. Employers should provide encouragement and support as defined within the training agreement. There are exam resources available that your students will find useful when studying for their exams.
Technical work experience (TWE)
Students must complete a minimum of 450 days of technical work experience (TWE) during their training agreement (or 300 if eligible). Students must record and accumulate evidence of TWE throughout their ACA training. Students working in audit registered firms who wish to record audit experience must maintain a record of their audit days and document this on both the evidence of technical work experience form and the Audit Qualification application form.
For more on gaining audit experience and the Audit Qualification go to icaew.com/aq.
Initial professional development (IPD)
Initial professional development (IPD) focuses on five key skill areas: ethics and professionalism, technical and functional expertise, personal effectiveness, business awareness and personal judgement. All students must demonstrate their development of these skills during training against a set of competencies. Students cannot qualify as an ACA without meeting the full learning outcomes of IPD.
Structured training in ethics (STE)
There are three stages to the structured training in ethics (STE) programme that all students must complete throughout their training. Employers should discuss ethics and ethical dilemmas regularly throughout training including at each six-monthly review. Students cannot progress through to membership of ICAEW without completing STE.
Six-monthly reviews
All students must have a review meeting with their employer at least every six months throughout their training. These reviews are to discuss the student’s progress and development and identify any further support they may require. Six-monthly reviews are not optional - they are a requirement of the ACA training agreement.
Ultimately it is a student’s responsibility to arrange these reviews. However, as an employer you should do everything to facilitate these meetings. Failure to do so could affect the authorisation status of your organisation.
For more information, please contact the main employer helpline on +44 (0)1908 248 040 or email us at studentsupport@icaew.com