These regulations deal primarily with approved training, registration, applications for membership and credit for prior learning/experience. They applied to all ACA students before July 2013.
ACA student regulations. Effective until July 2013.
Entry requirement
1.
To be eligible to enter a training agreement, a candidate shall meet one of the minimum educational standards set out in the ACA entry routes.
2.
Exceptionally the Committee may, at its discretion, and where necessary with the approval of the Financial Reporting Council, accept qualifications or a combination of qualifications or experience other than those given in the ACA entry routes as satisfying the requirement for registering their approved training.
of not less than three years and not more than five years; or
of not less than two years and not more than four years if the candidate is a member of an accountancy body which is a member of CCAB or other body as approved by the Committee.
4.
The period of approved training referred to in regulation 3 may be more than five years if the student is training under a strategic degree or other appropriate programme offered in partnership with an ICAEW Partner in Learning.
in reducing the length of approved training required for membership where applicants fail to meet the requirement in regulation 3. Cases will only be considered where:
such other organisation as the Committee in its absolute discretion, shall approve;
subject to sub-paragraph (b) of this regulation, secondment to such other organisation as the Qualified Person Responsible for Training shall approve in accordance with such conditions as the Committee shall from time-to-time decide.
11.
The provisions of regulations 9 and 10 may be waived in such circumstances as the Committee in its absolute discretion considers to be acceptable.
12.
The required approved training and Technical Work Experience may be gained on secondment up to a maximum of:
33% within an environment not approved by ICAEW to train provisional members where the Technical Work Experience achieved will not be relied upon to support an application for the audit qualification purposes.
any period of absence for the purpose of sitting an examination prescribed by ICAEW;
standard statutory and non-statutory holidays of up to 35 days per annum;
absence due to illness not exceeding four consecutive weeks in a year;
up to 10 days of 'Keeping in Touch' days during a period of maternity leave, with the consent of the Authorised Training Employer;
any other period of absence not exceeding four consecutive weeks in a year.
14.
Should the minimum period of approved training required under regulation 9 not be attained, the period of approved training shall be correspondingly extended, save that the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, waive this regulation in such circumstances as it considers acceptable.
Members shall keep all records of approved training including copies of IPD logs and evidence of Technical Work Experience for at least three years following admission to membership. These records must be made available to representatives of ICAEW when required within 15 business days of notification or as prescribed by the Committee.
is a member of an accountancy body which is a member of the CCAB or is a member of an approved international accountancy body or the Chartered Institute of Taxation or the Association of Accounting Technicians; and
is authorised to engage in public practice by the said accountancy body; and
Provisional members must declare to ICAEW at registration if they have a criminal conviction, bankruptcy order or IVA, have been disqualified as a company director, have failed to satisfy a judgement debt, hold an adverse finding by any professional body or regulator or have been involved in any other activity that brings into question their fitness and propriety.
22.
Independent students shall similarly apply to ICAEW to be registered and shall in addition pay annually such fees (if any) as the Committee may from time-to-time prescribe and shall provide such evidence of the educational qualifications and other information as the Committee may require.
23.
The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register or to re-register any person as a provisional member or as an independent student.
24.
The registration of a provisional member shall be withdrawn, or shall be deemed to have been withdrawn:
The Committee in exceptional circumstances may, in its absolute discretion, vary or waive the requirements in 24 and 25.
Credit for prior learning
28.
The Committee shall in response to an acceptable application award credits to provisional members and other individuals for modules within the Professional Stage at its discretion and exceptionally for modules within the Advanced Stage with the agreement of the Financial Reporting Council. Such credits shall normally be obtained through one or other or a combination of:
Credit for Prior Learning will normally only be awarded within five years of the award of the academic or professional qualification against which credit is sought.
32.
The Committee may vary or waive the requirements prescribed under regulation 31 where the qualification cited as the basis for credit is membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians or membership of a professional body that is a full member of the International Federation of Accountants with a CPD policy that is compliant with its International Education Standard 7.
such other requirements as the Committee may from time to time prescribe.
34.
To be eligible to apply to sit the aptitude test referred to in regulation 49(a), a candidate must:
be:
a member of an accountancy body approved by the Council pursuant to clause 12(a) of the Supplemental Charter; or
authorised as an accountant by an appropriate authority pursuant to clause 12(a) of the Supplemental Charter; or
an auditor or accountant to whom the European Union's Directive 2005/36/EC or Directive 2006/43/EC applies pursuant to clause 12(b) of the Supplemental Charter; and
declare if they have a criminal conviction, bankruptcy order or IVA, have been disqualified as a company director, failed to satisfy a judgement debt, hold an adverse finding by any professional body or regulator or have been involved in any other activity that brings into question their fitness and propriety.
satisfy such other requirements, as the Committee shall from time to time prescribe.
35.
The Committee may in exceptional circumstances vary or waive the requirements prescribed under regulation 34.
36.
The Committee may reject a candidate's application to sit an examination or test, or may refuse the candidate's admission to an examination centre as the result of:
the candidate's ineligibility for such examination or test, including ineligibility by reason of an order by the Disciplinary Committee under Disciplinary Bye-laws 22.7 (b)(c)(d) or (e); or
the Committee upholding, after investigation, a complaint of the candidate's misconduct or involvement in an irregularity at a previous examination or test; or
any other circumstances which the Committee in its absolute discretion may decide would justify such rejection or refusal.
37.
Candidates with a disability as defined under the Equality Act 2010 will be provided with reasonable adjustment to enable access to the assessments.
38.
The Committee shall instruct ICAEW staff to send all candidates notice of their results in the examination or test but:
the Committee may withhold such notice for any of the reasons set out in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of regulation 36, save that notice may also be withheld pending the result of the investigation referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of that regulation; and
they can provide evidence they have gained an additional relevant qualification or professional development since the cancellation of their prior ICAEW registration;
they continue to meet the student registration requirements within these regulations.
42.
An applicant wishing to re-enter under regulation 41 must:
register as a new student (see regulations 20 - 24);
re-take any examination(s) previously passed which is not eligible for Credit for Prior Learning under regulation 43;
undertake a further period of approved training which meets the requirements for newly registered students (see regulations 3 - 19);
pay such fee(s) as required under regulation 42(a).
43.
Students registering under regulation 41 will not be eligible for any Credit for Prior Learning or Credit for Prior Work Experience based on qualifications or experience gained before they registered for the qualification or professional development cited in regulation 41(a).
44.
Students registering under regulation 42(a) will be eligible for a further four attempts at each Professional Stage assessment. There is no restriction on the number of attempts at the Advanced Stage assessment.
is fit for membership. Provisional members are required to declare if they have a criminal conviction, bankruptcy order or IVA, have failed to satisfy a judgement debt, hold an adverse finding by any professional body or regulator or have been involved in any other activity that brings into question their fitness and propriety;
has paid the requisite admission fee(s) and subscription;
has submitted to ICAEW all of the required documentation set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (h) of this regulation, signed and authorised by the QPRT or Deputy QPRT.
46.
An application under regulation 45 shall be made not more than 12 months after the date upon which the provisional member became eligible for membership.
47.
The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, extend the said period of 12 months within the provisions of regulation 46 in respect of any applicant:
if the Committee considers that the circumstances justify such an extension; and
on payment by the applicant of such delayed admission surcharge (if any) as the Committee may in its absolute discretion decide in such case.
48.
An applicant for membership pursuant to clause 12 of the Supplemental Charter shall be entitled to be admitted an Associate of ICAEW only if the Council is satisfied that the applicant:
is a qualified member of one of the following accountancy bodies:
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;
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe;
the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants; or
holds a diploma in accountancy or audit to which Directive 2005/36/EC or Directive 2006/43/EC applies;
49.
An applicant for membership under regulation 48 must:
successfully complete an aptitude test if relevant;
provide evidence which satisfies the Committee that the applicant is fit for membership;
maintain home body membership;
pay the requisite admission fee and subscription.
50.
An application for admission to membership shall be made in such form as the Committee may from time to time prescribe.
in respect of the practical training and the range and depth of work experience provided by the Authorised Training Employer, that the applicant is qualified for admission; and
An application made under regulation 45 shall be accompanied by such evidence from or on behalf of the Qualified Person Responsible for Training as the Committee may require in support of the certificate given in regulation
51(a).
53.
A Qualified Person Responsible for Training or ICAEW approved Deputy QPRT who feels unable to provide either or both of the certificates required under regulation 51 of these regulations shall inform the Committee of the reasons for withholding such certificate or certificates.
54.
Admission to membership may take effect on any day of the month, following acceptance of an application by the Committee.
Powers of variation
55.
Subject where relevant to compliance with the Companies Act 2006 and appropriate consultation with the Financial Reporting Council, the Committee shall have the power to vary or waive the above regulations.