What is specialised learning?

When ICAEW launched the Next Generation ACA in September one of the biggest changes in the updated qualification was the introduction of a ‘specialised learning’ element alongside the long-standing exam and training requirements. 

The aim of specialised learning is that it allows training employers and students to tailor learning and complement the core ACA modules with courses that give them a head start in specific areas of expertise or sectors.

The specialised learning courses are grouped into four categories: 

• Sector specific – including charities, manufacturing, technology, financial services, real estate and public sector.
• Professional skills – covering communication, project management, resilience and developing a curious mindset, for example.
• Technical – covering areas, such as excel,  business operations, corporate finance and treasury 
• Emerging issues and updates – giving students real-time updates on topics ranging from regulatory updates to new technologies.

ACA students must complete a minimum of 30 units of specialised learning during their training agreement. Each bite-sized course is between one and four units, with each unit equal to around one hour of learning. ICAEW has launched more than 25 specialised learning courses and will be launching another 25 in early 2026.

Case study: charities sector

Among the first tranche of specialised learning courses is an introduction to the charities sector. Launched in October, the course gives students a high-level view of the practical realities and nuances of being a chartered accountant in the charity sector or advising charity sector clients.

It covers:

• the foundations of charity-specific accounting and governance issues,
• the pros and cons of the different legal structures a charity can have,
• the role of the Charity Commission, and
• an overview of the main regulations and legislation, including tax considerations with which charities must comply.

Course content also includes the financial controls a charity should have in place, the role of external review of charity accounts and how the ICAEW code of ethics applies to a member volunteering with a charity. Full details of the course’s learning outcomes are available on ICAEW’s Specialised Learning hub.

Andrea Cook, ICAEW’s Director, Specialised and Lifelong Learning, says sector specific courses allow students to tailor their studies based on where they work, the organisations that they're working for, or even future aspirations. 

For example, the Introduction to the Charities Sector course familiarises students with the language and terminology within the charity sector. “It's making them feel more confident and prepared, so that if they are working for or advising a charity, they are already familiar with terminology and how things tend to operate,” Cook says.

Shaped by industry experts

The charity-specific content in the course has been devised with extensive input from charity experts including members of ICAEW’s Charity Committee. Nick Sladden, a Partner at RSM and Vice Chair of the Charity Community’s Advisory Group was closely involved in creation of the course and describes the module as a “turbo boost” for students working in the sector.

“As a business we are organised into industry and sector groups and not-for-profit and charities is one of those. If you’re working with charities this learning module is directly relevant to your role,” he says. “There’s a growing expectation from clients for sector-specific knowledge and this aligns the ACA to the needs of members, training firms and training organisations. It is most welcome and I’m proud to have been a part of it.

“Until now, many firms have been developing their own charity-specific training programmes, so this ICAEW module will replace what many of the firms were doing independently. It is the go-to place for anyone who wants that understanding of the sector,” Sladden adds. 

Sarah Curshen, who is responsible for development of ICAEW’s specialised learning content, says the charity-specific information is brought to life using a range of formats including videos, podcast audios, scenarios and real-life sector examples. “We thought carefully about how people learn, and the best way of getting a lot of information over to people in an engaging and sustainable manner,” she explains. 

“The structure of courses enables the learners to pick up a lot of information and also reflect on how they would react in certain situations. There are also knowledge checks at regular intervals throughout the courses to check if students are remembering what they're learning.” 

Reacting to employers’ needs

The new specialised learning element of the ACA also allows employers to support student development in a way that is aligned with their business priorities by enabling them to mandate specific courses.

ICAEW has created a specialised learning platform offering employers the full catalogue of courses to browse and the option to run reports to track students’ progress.

Specialised Learning is a game changer for students and ACA Authorised Training Employers, Cook says: “It retains the unitary nature of the qualification, while allowing students to personalise their studies to reflect their roles and needs”. 

“In addition to sector-specific content, there are key themes around technology, digital literacy, and human skills, such as empathy, emotional intelligence and communication. We hear loud and clear that those are the skills that really matter in today’s world and will set ICAEW students apart.”

Supporting the charity sector

Kristina Kopic, ICAEW’s Head of Charity and Voluntary Sector, says by offering charity-focused training at the very start of an ACA student’s career, ICAEW is building a stronger foundation for future impact in the not-for-profit sector. 

Although the course is not available to members post qualification, ICAEW already produces a host of charity sector-specific training. “Our members and the wider public already benefit from this foundational content through our free, annually updated Trustee Training Modules, while our Charity Community’s events and resources provide ongoing CPD options for charity finance professionals and charity trustees,” Kopic says.