Level 4 Accounting Technician Apprenticeship: student guide

You will develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours, required by the apprenticeship standard, through a combination of off-the-job training and practical experience in the workplace. Your apprenticeship will involve completing the first stage of the ACA qualification with additional apprenticeship-specific requirements over 18-24 months. Here is all the information you need.

The information below relates to both the Level 4 ICAEW CFAB and Level 4 ACA routes. Please read the information carefully and follow the correct detail depending on which apprenticeship standard you are on.

• Have you registered correctly? View this guide to ensure you have registered correctly as a Level 4 apprenticeship student

The Level 4 Accounting Technician Apprenticeship involves progressing through and completing six stages.

You will be given the following documents:

• employment contract; and
• commitment statement and apprenticeship agreement.

Once you, your employer and training provider have signed the commitment statement and apprenticeship agreement, your training provider will register you as an apprentice with the education and skills funding agency (ESFA).

If you're studying as an ACA Level 4 apprentice, your employer will also give you a training agreement, this relates to the ACA element of the apprenticeship. It will confirm the start and end date and length of time of your training agreement, as well as outlining the support your employer will provide.

It’s really important that you register with us as a student and correctly select the type of student you’re registering as. This means we can provide you with the relevant information that you’ll need during your apprenticeship and ensures that you are awarded your apprenticeship certificate.

• View the 'how to register for the Level 4 apprenticeship' guide

Please note that, in order to study for the ACA you will need to meet our minimum entry requirements. It is also a government requirement that before you attempt your end-point assessment, you will be asked to demonstrate that you have achieved Level 2 or above GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent). You may need to take an additional Functional Skills assessment, if you have not met this requirement. Your training provider will arrange this for you.

Apprenticeship-specific information

Remember to have your 10-digit unique learner number (ULN) to hand before you register. Your training provider will give you this number. This is apprenticeship-specific and you will be asked to provide these details during the registration process. You may also locate your ULN on certificates issued by other exam or qualification-awarding bodies. If your employer has an employer reference number (ERN) you can also enter it here but this is optional, this is different to your employer’s ICAEW authorised training employer number.  If you don’t provide these numbers when you register, that’s okay, just remember to tell us before applying for your end-point/apprenticeship assessment. You will be able to do this via the apprenticeship portal within your ICAEW online training file. 

During the on-programme assessment, you will need to study for the six ACA Certificate Level exams/ICAEW CFAB. You will develop knowledge, skills and behaviours, important for any finance or business role and undertake off-the-job training.

Quarterly progress review meetings will also be held with your employer or training provider to discuss your skills development progress. They will confirm when these meetings are to take place. The duration of the on-programme assessment stage of the apprenticeship is flexible and depends on your progress.

Your employer will confirm when you are ready to move onto the apprenticeship assessment; this is known as the gateway review.

For students studying the Level 4 ACA route, you will also meet your employer for your six-monthly reviews. Throughout this time, you will also maintain and update your ICAEW online training file, gain practical work experience, and develop your ethical and professional development skills as part of the ACA. These elements are explained in detail within the ACA student guide. 

The duration of the on-programme assessment stage of the apprenticeship is flexible and depends on your progress.

Your employer will confirm when you’re ready to move on to the end-point/apprenticeship assessment; this is known as the gateway review.

• Guide for your employer: How to action the gateway sign-off

If you started between 9 June 2025 and 26 July 2026, you will be on V1.2 end-point assessment. The end-point assessment consists of two parts. The Role Scenario exam and Professional Discussion.

• Find out more about the Role Scenario exam
• Find out more about the Professional Discussion

If you start from 27 July 2026, you will be on the V2.0 apprenticeship assessment. The apprenticeship assessment consists of two parts. The assessment requirements will differ depending on when you start your apprenticeship.

More detail for students can be found here.

Once you have successfully completed both elements of the end-point/ apprenticeship assessment, we will notify ESFA. You will then receive your apprenticeship certificate from the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA).

Your apprenticeship will provide a variety of options open to you to progress your career.

Continue your journey onto becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant

Once you have completed your Level 4 apprenticeship, you will automatically be categorised as a standard ACA student. You can continue your journey as either a standard ACA student or as a Level 7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship student. If you go on to begin the Level 7 Accountancy Professional apprenticeship, you can update your registration online. You should first select ‘ACA – student in training agreement or an ACA apprenticeship’. Click on ‘View qualifications’ and then select ‘Level 7 apprenticeship’.

• View more about the Level 7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship