What is an accountancy apprenticeship?
An accountancy apprenticeship is a structured training programme that allows you to hire or upskill staff while they gain a recognised accountancy qualification alongside practical, on-the-job experience.
Across England, apprenticeships have become an established route to training the next generation of accountants. The appeal of debt-free training opportunities for apprentices and the availability of government funding for employers makes apprenticeships an attractive route for organisations and prospective employees alike.
This investment in future generations helps to strengthen finance functions and generates a pipeline of competent, qualified future professionals.
Why choose an accountancy apprenticeship?
Hiring apprentices is a structured way to effectively grow talent and nurture the next generation of accountants.
Develop the skills your organisation needs
A huge 86% of employers say that apprenticeships have helped them develop relevant skills in their organisation.
An accountancy apprenticeship can help you train employees with the technical and professional skills that your business needs now and in the future. Apprentices complete formal training alongside employment with your organisation, so your business starts benefitting from the very start of their training period to when they qualify and beyond.
Cost-effective government funding options
Apprenticeships can be a highly cost-effective option for training accountancy talent in your organisation. The government provides funding to employers who train eligible apprentices to support the cost of apprenticeship training and assessment. This funding can be used to cover some of the costs associated with our accounting and finance apprenticeships for those who are eligible.
Attract top talent
One of the most appealing elements of an apprenticeship for trainees is the opportunity to earn while they learn, as an apprenticeship combines employment with your organisation while they train.
With the option to recruit new staff or upskill existing employees, an apprenticeship can help you help attract or develop talent in your organisation. As a leading chartered accountancy organisations in England and Wales, offering the prestige of an ICAEW apprenticeship increases the appeal to attract some of the industry’s best up and coming talent.
Create a loyal workforce tailored to business needs
Retention is also a key benefit of investing in apprenticeships, with 80% of employers seeing a significant increase in employee retention.
Offering training in-house facilitates the creation of a loyal workforce, one that has honed its skills working on relevant tasks and in a familiar environment. Apprenticeships also lead to employees stepping right into a role knowing already the day-to-day processes and workings of your business.
Industry-leading training with high pass rates
Training with ICAEW is of the highest quality. As the leading organisation for chartered accountants in England and Wales, the standard of our training programs is high. Over 8,000 employers already train the ACA, with 88% of trainees qualifying within four years or less.
How do accountancy apprenticeships work?
ICAEW offer two accountancy apprenticeships – the Level 4 Accounting Technician Apprenticeship and the Level 7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship. Both involve on-programme assessment followed by an end-point assessment.
ICAEW Level 4 Accounting Technician Apprenticeship
The Level 4 apprenticeship is an entry-level programme for graduates and school-leavers of any age to begin ACA training with the benefit of government funding. It is suitable for developing finance professionals who do not need full chartered status, or as a first stepping stone to the full ACA qualification.
During the on-programme assessment, Level 4 apprentices will:
- complete the six ACA Certificate Level exams;
- record their progress in an online training file; and
- spend at least six hours per week on off-the-job training.
Following the on-programme assessment, apprentices complete an end-point assessment made up of two elements to show competence in the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of the Level 4 standard.
At the end of the Level 4 apprenticeship, you have the option to progress students to the Level 7 apprenticeship, for which they will have completed the equivalent of 50% of the ACA exams already.
ICAEW Level 7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship
The Level 7 apprenticeship incorporates the ACA qualification which leads to ICAEW Chartered Accountant status.
During the on-programme assessment, Level 7 apprentices will:
- complete the elements of the ACA – including the 14 ACA exams, Specialised Learning and professional skills and experience requirements;
- record their progress in the online training file; and
- spend at least six hours per week on off-the-job training.
During the end-point assessment, apprentices will:
- pass the Strategic Case Study exam; and
- complete a Project Report.
Once all elements of the apprenticeship have been successfully completed, the apprentice will qualify as an Accountancy Professional and, once all elements of the ACA have been completed, will also become a qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
What support do ICAEW provide?
We are here to guide you through every step of the apprenticeship journey. We provide dedicated business development managers in each region, send out regular updates via our newsletter and provide access to helplines.
For trainees, we provide access to comprehensive learning resources, extensive study guides as well as providing student support when needed.
How do I set up an accountancy apprenticeship?
To get started, you simply need to contact our team via the register your interest form. You will then be able to discuss your needs with our dedicated business development team. This team is here to guide you through the process from start to finish.
When it comes to finding the right trainees to take on, you will also gain access to our exclusive ICAEW Training Vacancies platform. Here, you can advertise your apprenticeship vacancies at zero cost to a pool of high-quality prospective trainees.
Build talent with an apprenticeship
Last updated: June 2026