ACA entry routes
The minimum educational requirements if you want to train for the ACA. Effective from 11 February 2014 to 31 December 2016.
ICAEW will accept the following qualifications as meeting its educational requirements for entry into a minimum period of approved training agreed within the limits set out in regulations 3 to 5 of the ACA Student Regulations.
Entry routes
Academic Qualifications
UK or Irish graduate awards
Any recognised degree awarded by a UK or Irish university or college
NVQ/SVQ Level 4 awards
NVQ level 4 qualifications including BTEC Higher National Certificates or Diplomas
NVQ/SVQ Level 3 awards
NVQ Level 3 qualifications including BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas
GCSEs and A Levels
2 A level passes (grades A*-E) plus 3 GCSE passes at grades A-C
2 Vocational A levels or 1 double award plus 3 GCSE passes at grades A-C or one GNVQ intermediate award or BTEC first diploma (merit)
Scottish Qualification Certificate
3 higher grades and 2 standard grades or equivalent
Irish School Leaving Certificate
6 passes with at least 3 at higher grade
European/ International Baccalaureate
Overseas Academic Qualifications
Any award which is comparable to our expectations for GCSE and A Level entry requirements.
Graduate Awards
Any degree from a recognised university which is comparable to a UK Bachelors degree
School leaving qualifications
Any award which is comparable to our expectations for GCSE and A level entry requirements.
See www.ucas.ac.uk for a list of overseas school leaving qualifications and their equivalence
Professional Accountancy Qualifications
Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (ICAEW)
Member of AAT
Student of AAT who has achieved NVQ Level 3 Intermediate Stage
Member of ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA
Student of ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, CAI* or ICAS* who has sat and passed all papers of every examination stage of the body concerned, up to and including the following examinations;
- ACCA Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business
- CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting
- CIPFA Professional Certificate
- CAI Proficiency II
- ICAS Test of Competence
Overseas accountancy bodies
Member or student who has passed all the examinations required for membership of ICAEWs of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Certified Public Accountants (USA), Australia, China and Malaysia
Student who has passed all the examinations, required for membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants or the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe.
Student who has passed all the examinations required for membership of professional accountancy bodies recognised under the European Union's Directive 2005/36/EC or Directive 2006/43/EC.
Note: Members of the:
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA),
- Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand (NZICA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ)
- South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
are eligible to apply for reciprocal membership under clause 12 of the Supplemental Royal Charter. Similar arrangements apply to Members of professional accountancy bodies recognised under the European Union's Directive 2005/36/EC or Directive 2006/43/EC.
Mature Entrants
Persons over 25 years of age without qualifications as listed above but with at least 7 years acceptable professional accountancy experience may be considered on individual application to ICAEW.
Qualifications not listed above (Regulation 1)
Other qualifications that match A level standard may be considered on individual application to ICAEW.
An individual who has attained UK university entrance level will be seen to satisfy the entry requirements for the ACA.