You will be invited to apply for ICAEW membership once you have completed all the required elements of ACA training. You will need to apply for ICAEW membership within 12 months of your qualification date. This is the latter of the dates on which you were notified that you passed the last of your ACA exams or the date your training agreement was completed (including any extension).
Once you have gained your ICAEW membership, you are then entitled to use the prestigious ACA designation after your name. You will have access to a wide range of events, technical information, career support, networking opportunities and more.
- How to apply for ICAEW membership
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You will be invited to join ICAEW as a member when you have:
- successfully completed all the ACA exams;
- completed an ACA training agreement with an approved training employer (ATE);
- completed and signed off your initial professional development (IPD);
- completed and submitted your Evidence of Technical Work Experience (ETWE) form;
- completed and signed off the structured training in ethics (STE) programme; and
- achieved a minimum of 450 days technical work experience (unless you were eligible for 300 days of TWE).
You must make sure you send ICAEW your:
- STE online declaration (or hard copy declaration form if you have used that instead). STE forms are available at icaew.com/ste.
- IPD online declaration (or hard copy declaration form if you have used that instead). IPD forms are available at icaew.com/ipd.
- ETWE (Evidence of Technical Work Experience) form. This is an important document as it tells us three things:
- you have completed enough technical work experience days;
- it acknowledges that your ACA training agreement has been completed; and
- it shows that your QPRT* (qualified person responsible for training) has confirmed that you are fit and proper to be admitted to ICAEW membership.
*The final sign off on your form (front section) may only be completed by the QPRT, person responsible for training (PRT) or the deputy QPRT.
Please make sure you keep a copy of all your forms and records, as you may need these in the future. Any forms you send in to ICAEW cannot be returned to you.
Send your completed forms to:
Learning and Professional Development
ICAEW
Metropolitan House
321 Avebury Boulevard
Milton Keynes, MK9 2FZ
UK
You can also scan your forms and email us at applications@icaew.com
Please note: If your form is received by ICAEW incorrectly completed it will either be sent back to you or you will be requested to provide further information, which could delay your application.
You will be invited to apply for ICAEW once your forms have been received and approved, and you have met all the criteria.
Please note: As long as you are an ICAEW member, you must make sure you comply with ICAEW CPD regulations and Code of Ethics.
- Benefits of membership
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ICAEW membership allows you to call yourself an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and use the globally respected designatory 'ACA' letters after your name, highlighting the quality of your achievements to colleagues, clients and employers.
It represents one of the world's most highly-respected finance and business qualifications and symbolises your technical excellence and professionalism.
Your membership also allows you access to a wide range of events, technical information, career support, networking opportunities and much more.
- Delayed applications for ICAEW membership
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If you do not apply for ICAEW membership within 12 months of eligibility* you are required to complete the following application process in addition to the regular process which is explained under the heading ‘How to apply for ICAEW membership’.
So if you apply for membership after 12 months of being eligible* you will now be charged a £100 administration fee and you are required to provide further information to support your application. The further information and administration fee are explained below.
Administration fee
You need to complete the Delayed Membership Administration Fee document (PDF 125KB/1 page) and enclose the £100 fee with your application.
Further information
Please arrange and submit the following information along with your payment:
If you have any queries about the late membership application process, email us at applications@icaew.com
* Eligibility - the regulations (43) of ICAEW state that a student must be admitted to membership within 12 months from the date of eligibility. Eligible in this case refers to the later of:
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the end of the month you were advised of your exams results (August or December)
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the end of your training agreement.
** Referees - one of your referees must be a current ICAEW member who must have known you for at least the last two years in a professional capacity. Your current employer should count as one of your referees. Please ensure that the referees comment on your fitness for ICAEW membership, including whether, to their knowledge, there are any criminal, disciplinary, ethical or any other matters that might affect your application.
- Post-qualification and CPD opportunities
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When you qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant you are required to maintain and develop your expertise and professional skills for the duration of your career. This is known as continuing professional development (CPD). You will need to keep a record of your skills development activities each year.
All ICAEW members are required to make an annual CPD declaration that confirms their CPD status. You should keep evidence of your CPD activities as ICAEW may ask to see this evidence at any point during your career.
You will also need to comply with ICAEW Code of Ethics.
To help you develop your technical and professional skills, ICAEW offers a range of specialist qualifications and learning programmes to support you throughout your career.
Signing audit reports
Individuals who wish to sign audit reports are required under the Companies Act 2006 to hold an appropriate qualification for audit.
Applying for fellowship (FCA)
Once you have been a member for 10 years, you may apply for fellowship of the ICAEW. This means you will then be able to use the letters FCA instead of ACA.
If you have any enquiries in relation to post qualification please contact us on +44(0)1908 248 250.
- New members' ceremony
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New members' ceremonies are held throughout the year providing newly admitted ICAEW members with the opportunity to meet the President at Chartered Accountants' Hall in London, a grade II listed building that was original built in 1890 by architect John Belcher.
This is an ideal occasion for individuals to meet fellow new members and representatives from their local network of district societies.
ICAEW President will personally congratulate and welcome each new member. The formal ceremony will be followed by a drinks reception. You will also have the opportunity to find out more about ICAEW services. A photographer will be on hand to take pictures of you and your guests.
Tours of Chartered Accountants’ Hall takes place during the course of the evening giving you the opportunity to see this magnificent building – which has been voted among the Top 50 most beautiful buildings in London.
ICAEW will send you an invite to the new members’ ceremony once you are admitted into ICAEW membership.