ACA syllabus FAQs

The syllabus is updated every year. This ensures that the ACA contains the latest technical content, laws and regulations.

You can find the syllabus for each exam within the exam resources hub.

Yes, some of our Professional and Advanced Level exams allow you to take specific permitted texts into the exam. Some exams are also open book.

• Read more on permitted texts

We recommend using the most up to date learning materials to study for your respective exams – for example, use the 2025 edition to study for exams in 2025 – as they will reflect any changes made within the syllabus. You risk answering an exam question incorrectly if you use out-of-date learning materials.

We are currently in the process of updating our qualifications (2025-2027). As part of this, we are phasing out and introducing new exams, so please also ensure you have purchased the correct learning materials for the exam you are sitting.

All ICAEW Learning Materials are digital and can be bought from the ICAEW Bookstore.

The ACA is comparable to a UK Master’s degree or a postgraduate diploma.

UK NARIC (the UK government's agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills) recently completed an independent review of the academic level of ICAEW CFAB and the ACA. The review was to determine how the qualifications compare to the national education system using benchmarks such as the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). UK NARIC concluded that ICAEW CFAB was comparable to RQF Level 4 (first year university) and the ACA was comparable to RQF Level 7 (UK Master's degree/ postgraduate diploma standard).