ACCA Course Details
Explore the complete structure of the ACCA Qualification, from exams to practical experience.
About the ACCA Qualification
The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a globally recognized professional accountancy body. When you study with ACCA, you open doors to the best and most interesting roles all over the world. Organizations know and trust the ACCA designation as a mark of professional excellence.
The qualification is based on international accounting standards and is independently benchmarked for quality, ensuring you have the skills needed to be a forward-thinking finance professional our fast-changing world needs.
Core Components of the Qualification
1. Examinations
Complete a maximum of 13 exams across three levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. Exemptions are available based on your prior qualifications.
2. Ethics Module
Complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) to develop the full range of ethical and professional skills that employers require.
3. Work Experience
Gain 36 months of relevant practical work experience in an accounting or finance role to qualify as an ACCA member, demonstrating your skills in a real-world environment.
Detailed Course Structure
3 PAPERS
Applied Knowledge
Provides a broad introduction to the world of finance and develops your essential understanding and techniques in accounting.
- Business and Technology (BT)
- Management Accounting (MA)
- Financial Accounting (FA)
6 PAPERS
Applied Skills
Builds on your existing knowledge, developing strong, broad, and practical finance skills required for future strategic professional roles.
- Corporate and Business Law (LW)
- Performance Management (PM)
- Taxation (TX)
- Financial Reporting (FR)
- Audit and Assurance (AA)
- Financial Management (FM)
4 PAPERS
Strategic Professional
Prepares you for future leadership positions by developing your strategic vision using a unique blend of technical, ethical, and professional skills.
Essentials (Both Compulsory)
- Strategic Business Leader (SBL)
- Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
Optionals (Choose Any 2)
- Advanced Financial Management (AFM)
- Advanced Performance Management (APM)
- Advanced Taxation (ATX)
- Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)
Exam Windows
The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualification offers significant flexibility in its exam structure. Here are the key facts about the exam windows:
- Four Exam Sessions Per Year: ACCA holds "session CBEs" (Computer-Based Exams) four times a year in the following months:
- March
- June
- September
- December
- Session-Based Exams: Most papers in the Applied Skills level (like PM, TX, FR, AA, FM) and all papers in the Strategic Professional level (SBL, SBR, AFM, APM, ATX, AAA) are available during these four sessions.
- On-Demand Exams: Exams at the Applied Knowledge level (BT, MA, FA) and the Corporate and Business Law (LW) paper (Global and UK variants) are available as on-demand CBEs.
- Exam Duration: The session-based exams typically run for five days.
- Maximum Attempts: Students can attempt a maximum of four exams per session and a maximum of eight different exams in a calendar year.
- Entry Deadlines: Each session has 2 main entry deadlines.
- Results: Results for the session-based exams are typically released about six weeks after the exam session ends.
Exemptions
Depending on your prior qualifications, you may be eligible for exemptions from some ACCA exams. Select your qualification below to see potential exemptions.
Papers Exempted
Applied Knowledge
- Business and Technology (BT)
- Management Accounting (MA)
- Financial Accounting (FA)
Papers to Clear
Applied Skills
- Corporate and Business Law (LW)
- Performance Management (PM)
- Taxation (TX)
- Financial Reporting (FR)
- Audit and Assurance (AA)
- Financial Management (FM)
Strategic Professional
- Strategic Business Leader (SBL)
- Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
- Any 2 Optionals