What is the ACA?
Completing the ACA allows you to call yourself a chartered accountant. It shows you have undertaken three years of training, passed your exams and committed yourself to continued professional development.
Entry requirements
You can start your training to become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant at any stage of your career if you meet the entry requirements of your chosen authorised training employer*.
Costs
There are fees associated with training and becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. This includes: tuition fees, exam entry, learning materials and membership fees. Students who have secured an ACA training agreement are generally supported with these costs by their employer. However, independent students are responsible for paying the fees associated with their studies.
| 2025 | |
| Annual student fee | £206.00 + VAT |
| Exam entry | £90.00 - £290.00 |
| Tuition | Varies by provider |
Duration
It typically takes between 3-5 years to complete your training.
*An authorised training employer is a company that are authorised by ICAEW to train ACA students.
The elements of the ACA
Combining technical knowledge, professional skills and practical experience, the ACA ensures that students are well-prepared for the complexities of the accounting profession. This well-rounded training makes ICAEW Chartered Accountants highly respected and sought after, as they are equipped not only with theoretical understanding but also with the practical abilities needed to excel in real-world scenarios.
The ACA is made up of three elements, integrating the key themes of sustainability, technology and ethics throughout.
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Business, finance and accountancy exams
A future-fit syllabus will build the professional skills you’ll need to excel in the modern workplace. With a ‘step-by-step’ learning journey, you’ll be supported to succeed at every stage as you complete 14 exams split across three levels: Certificate, Professional and Advanced.
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Professional skills and experience
To complete the ACA you must be in a training agreement with an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer. You’ll gain invaluable business and commercial insight by putting what you learn into practice, completing a minimum of 450 days of professional experience.
Chartered accountancy is about much more than crunching numbers, so you’’ll also build transferable professional skills and a lifelong learning mindset.
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Specialised Learning
To achieve your career goals faster and stay at the cutting edge of new developments, you’ll tailor your learning to your individual development needs, completing a minimum of 30 units of Specialised Learning from a wide range of regularly updated interactive e-learning content.
Start your training
Search through the variety of training roles on ICAEW Training Vacancies to find the role that will kick start your career.
International students: find your route
ICAEW support students aspiring to become a chartered accountant in 146 countries. Find your country from the list below and discover how you can become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
Why choose ICAEW?
ICAEW is an international professional body for chartered accountants. We provide ongoing support to our students and members throughout their careers. Find out more about ICAEW and why training with them is right for you.
Still want to discover more?
If you want to discover more about ICAEW and the world of chartered accountancy we have, events, resources and a dedicated team to support you.
To read more about ICAEW, the ACA and your career potential, download the brochure.
We have a number of online events that you can attend to help get you ready for your career.
Hear about the latest news, events, resources and opportunities available to you.