Requirements of Pathways

Check your eligibility

To apply for ICAEW membership via Pathways, you must fully meet all eligibility criteria.

• Use our checker tool to check your eligibility.

Requirements of Pathways

• Member of an eligible professional body
• Held full membership for a minimum of 5 years
• Gained membership via full education and training route
• CPD compliant and a member in good standing
• Supported by an eligible sponsor
• Complete examination of experience

Please note:

ICAEW, like other organisations, is assessing the potential future role of generative AI tools in its examinations. However, for the time being these tools MUST NOT be used in compiling your Pathways application. For details, please refer to our latest guidance.

In addition, please be aware that there has been a change to the Sponsor form to further clarify the issues of plagiarism and generative AI tools.

You will need to declare within your Pathways submission if you require an ICAEW Practising Certificate or the Audit Qualification (AQ) upon being successful. You will be prompted to confirm this within the pathways application process via the exams online portal.

The Pathways application consists of the following elements which need to be completed and submitted:

Examination of Experience

The Examination of Experience (EoE) consists of a series of questions where applicants show their experience and achievements, over the last five years to evidence they are qualified by experience and are, therefore, eligible for ICAEW membership.

The EoE assesses the same professional skills as those are examined in the ACA Case Study. This includes planning and analytical skills, professional judgement, quality of thought and awareness of current and technical issues.

You are required to download, complete and upload the Examination of Experience form, as part of your submission.

• Take me to the Examination of Experience page

Examination of Experience - guidance documents

• Examination of Experience – a guide from our examiners

Signed Sponsor Form

Your application will also need to be supported by a sponsor who will complete a form to be submitted along with your EoE.

• Find out more about the sponsor requirements and their eligibility

You are required to download, complete and submit the sponsor form, as part of your application.

Please note: A sponsor form requires a physical signature or date stamped e-signature.

Your sponsor will also need a Letter of Good Standing that is sent to us by their home body using the correct template, unless they are an ICAEW member. Please see details below.

Letters of Good Standing

Every Pathways applicant's home body must submit a Letter of Good Standing for both the applicant and their sponsor. If your sponsor is an ICAEW member their Letter of Good Standing is not required.

Letters must be issued and dated within the three months immediately before the Pathways deadline date you wish to apply.

You must use our Letter of Good standing template or equivalent wording on the headed paper of your home body. The template needs to be signed by you for consent and then completed letters sent to us directly by your home body. If this process is not followed your application will not be accepted.

Please note: Each letter of good standing requires a physical signature or date stamped e-signature.

The Letter of Good Standing confirms the following:

Verification

As part of our ongoing assurance checks, you will be invited to a virtual discussion as part of the application process. This is recorded and you will be asked to complete a room scan and an ID check as part of this process. Please note we also hold a discussion with Pathways Sponsors. Completion of this verification check is required to validate and complete your application. If you do not present a valid ID and consent, we cannot proceed with your application.