ACA training in Pakistan

The ACA from ICAEW is internationally recognised as a premier financial business qualification in more than 160 countries around the world.

The qualification is valued in practice, business and government for the depth and breadth of finance and business skills it teaches.

Qualified individuals can further enhance their skills and knowledge by progressing from their existing qualification on to the ACA from ICAEW. This can help to open up a wide range of international career opportunities.

• Read more on ICAEW 
• Benefits of joining ICAEW 

Who can study for the ACA?

You will need to meet one of the criteria to be able to study for the ACA from ICAEW.

• Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) living in Pakistan who have obtained ICAP membership by complying with its training and examinations requirements can study for the ACA and apply to join ICAEW.
• Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) living in other countries who have obtained ICAP membership by complying with its training and examinations requirements can study for the ACA and apply to join ICAEW.
• Students, affiliates or members of another internationally recognised professional accountancy body (such as ACCA) living in Pakistan may be able to study for the ACA in Pakistan.

What does the ACA look like for you?

ACCA students and affiliate members

ACCA students and affiliates members could be eligible for credits for prior learning (exam exemptions) for up to 12 out of the 15 ACA exam modules. This would mean that to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, you would need to complete the rest of the ACA exams, complete our technical work experience, initial professional development requirements and the online ethics training programme.

ACCA members

ACCA members are eligible to apply for credit for all 12 Professional Stage ACA exam modules. This would mean that to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, you would need to sit the three ICAEW Advanced Stage exams, complete our technical work experience, initial professional development requirements and the online ethics training programme.

Please note:

• Students and affiliates of other professional bodies (such as ACCA) who are not eligible for credit from all 12 ACA Professional Stage exams, cannot complete the ACA from ICAEW in Pakistan. Please see exam centre for further information on where it is possible to sit the Professional Stage exams
• Eligible students and affiliates from other professional bodies (such as ACCA) can apply for exam credits free of charge for a limited period (this offer is due to expire on 30 September 2012).
• You can only apply for exam credits once you are registered with ICAEW (See Step 1: Register with ICAEW).

• Check your credit eligibility and to apply for credit

You are encouraged to apply as early as possible for any credits for which you feel you may be eligible. Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

ICAP members

For ICAP members, the ACA from ICAEW is a combination of exams and ethics training. (Please continue with Steps 1-4 below).

Steps to completing your ACA training

Step 1: Register with ICAEW

You must register with ICAEW to study for the ACA qualification and become eligible to join ICAEW.

• If you are an ICAP member, you will automatically be awarded credit for prior learning (exam exemptions) from 12 of the 15 ACA exam modules as part of your ICAEW registration process. For ICAP members, there is currently no fee to pay for credit for prior learning (CPL). This fee waiver will be reviewed in 30 September 2012, so you are encouraged to apply before this time.

What do I need to register?

When you register with ICAEW, you will need to complete an application form and include some supporting documents. These must include:

• a copy of your ICAP membership certificate;
• a letter of good standing from ICAP;  and
• payment of fees.

• ICAP members register with ICAEW (PDF 183KB/3 pages) 

Registration costs

There is a one-off ICAEW registration fee to pay. This is £165 sterling (+VAT where applicable).

Where do I send my completed application form?

Please return your fully completed application form and all required supporting documentation to: ICAEW Finance, PO Box 6173, Milton Keynes, MK10 1TW, United Kingdom.

Step 2: Exams

ICAP members will need to pass ICAEW's final three examinations. The three ICAEW exams which you must sit and pass are:

• Technical Integration - Business Reporting
• Technical Integration - Business Change
• Case Study

The two Technical Integration papers cover all aspects of the syllabus, and require you to demonstrate your knowledge, ability to plan, analyse, interpret and give advice. Each paper is three hours and 30 minutes long.

The Case Study covers all areas of the syllabus and tests your professional skills in the context of a specific business issue. It is four hours long.

You must also complete ICAEW’s structured training in ethics (STE) online training and assessment programme to qualify for ICAEW membership. This must be done alongside your exams.

Exam applications

As an ACA student, you must apply online for each of the exams you will sit. There are no restrictions on the number of attempts you are allowed at each of these Advanced Stage exams. However, we would always recommend that you are fully prepared for each exam. You can also find past papers, examiners comments and support for these exams at icaew.com/examresources.

The ACA exams you need to sit and pass are held in July and November each year.

Please make sure you understand the relevant exam dates and deadlines (PDF 107KB/2 pages) and the ACA exam regulations before your exams.

ICAP members in Pakistan: Exams are held in Lahore and Karachi. Details of the exam venue will be sent to you approximately two weeks before the examination date.

ICAP members located outside of Pakistan: A full list of UK and international exam centres can be found on the examination entry form (PDF 208KB/5 pages) or once you have registered will be available on the exam applications online section.

• Apply for your exams

Exams costs

Each Technical Integration exam costs £165 sterling per sitting.

The Case Study exam costs £255 sterling per sitting.

Prices are accurate as at December 2011.

ACA learning materials

You will need to buy the learning materials for the ACA exams: Technical Integration - Business Reporting, Technical Integration - Business Change and the Case Study.

For the Technical Integration papers, the learning materials are a study pack which includes a study manual and a question bank. The 2012 study pack covers both Technical Integration modules and costs £150 sterling (plus postage and packing).
 
The Case Study 2012 learning materials cost £75 sterling (plus postage and packing) and consist of a study manual and practise case studies, a marks key and answer book.

Buy now from www.gillards.com/icaew.

• Read more on learning materials

Tuition

Tuition is available for the Technical Integration - Business Reporting, Technical Integration - Business Change and the Case Study exams.

A number of tuition providers offer ACA tuition in a variety of delivery methods around the world. To find out what tuition is available in your region, please go to ACA tuition providers page.

Exams support

ICAEW provides ACA students with a range of exam resources to help you study for each exam module. You can access:

• syllabus for each exam
• past papers
• recordings including How to pass the Technical Integration paper;
• examiners feedback
• useful articles
• webinars
• links to to ICAEW’s award-winning library.

Exam results

Exam results for paper-based exam sessions are usually released five weeks after the exam week.

• Access your exam results

For all questions relating to exams, see Exam FAQs.

Step 3: Structured training in ethics (STE)

As professionals, ICAEW members have a duty to act ethically and in the public interest at all times and not just in isolation whilst they are working. Therefore, all students studying for the ACA qualification have to complete ICAEW’s structured training in ethics (STE) programme. Ethics is also embedded in all relevant ACA exam modules.

STE is an online training and assessment programme which involves interactive case studies, scenarios and self-test questions. There are three stages to complete during your studies.

• You must complete this online programme as you study for your exams.
• We would strongly recommend that you complete all three stages before attempting the Case Study.
• When you have completed all three stages, you will need to submit the ICAEW structured training in ethics (STE) declaration. This declaration confirms that you have successfully completed all three stages and is part of your admission to ICAEW membership application.

• More on STE and access the online programme

For all questions relating to structured training in ethics, see STE FAQs.

Step 4: Apply for ICAEW membership

You will be invited to apply for membership once you have passed all of your three ACA examinations and successfully completed all three stages of the structured training in ethics programme (STE). You will be advised of ICAEW membership costs when you are invited to join ICAEW. You will need to apply within 12 months of finishing your exams.

Once your ICAEW application has been successful, you will be able to use the prestigious designation 'ACA'.

While you are an ICAEW member, you must make sure you comply with ICAEW CPD regulations and Code of Ethics.

Practising certificates and regulated areas

Membership of ICAEW does not by itself grant practising rights. ICAP members who join ICAEW will be eligible for a practising certificate on the same terms as other ICAEW members.

UK audit rights are controlled by the Professional Oversight Board (POB) and are not awarded to ICAP members joining ICAEW.

• More on practising certificate and gaining audit rights