Associate Chartered Accountant

As a world leading professional accountancy body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) provides leadership and practical support to over 130,000 members in more than 160 countries, working with government, regulators and industry in order to maintain the highest standards.

The new ACA allow students to train and acquire qualifications to be recognised as chartered accountants. The qualification comprises two stages:

The Professional Stage modules
The Advanced Stage modules

The Professional Stage Modules -

Knowledge modules introduce to the trainees core concepts underpinning accountancy. Each knowledge module assessment is one and a half hours long and will be examined using computers, which will enable trainees and employers to schedule them at convenient times and dates.

Application modules build upon the knowledge modules and require trainees to demonstrate their knowledge in a practical context. These modules will be assessed by paper-based examinations, each of which will be two and a half hours long.

The Advanced Stage Modules -

The Advanced Stage will retain the existing structure of two integrated technical exams and a case study. The business reporting module asks trainees to apply technical knowledge and professional judgement to business scenarios taking a compliance approach. The business change module focuses on strategy, requiring trainees to demonstrate their planning skills and ability to give advice in a business context. Both of these technical integration modules require trainees to apply their financial reporting, taxation, audit and assurance and ethics knowledge in an integrated manner.

Case study

The format of the case study remains unchanged as it is widely recognised to be a highly successful final examination. The case study is a four hour paper and can be taken once both the technical integration modules have been attempted and the trainee is in the final year of their training contract.

Entry requirements

Students must be at least 18 years old to enrol for an ACA course at Tottenham Court Business School.
Students will require 2 A-levels and 3 GCSE passes (including maths & English).

Alternatively, students may study for the AAT-ACA Fast Track after leaving school.

Exemptions

Relevant graduates or ACCA / CIMA qualified students may be awarded some exemptions.

ACA exam dates

The ACA qualification comprises two stages:

Professional Stage – 12 exams
Advanced Stage – 2 exams & 1 case study

At the Professional Stage, the exams for the six Knowledge modules are 1.5 hrs long and are computer based. For the six Application modules, the exams are paper based are 2.5 hrs long.

For the Advanced Stage, the assessments consists of two integrated technical exams and a 4 hour case study.

Knowledge Modules: Any time during the year
Application Modules: March, June, September and December
Advanced Stage: July and November

ACA Syllabus