ACCA, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, offers a chartered accountancy qualification that can be taken almost anywhere and at your own pace. It suits people heading into audit, tax, financial reporting or finance management roles, especially outside the United States.
The current ACCA exam structure
The qualification has three levels. You also complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) and 36 months of relevant work experience, known as the Practical Experience Requirement (PER).
| Level | Exams | How they are taken |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Knowledge | Business and Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), Financial Accounting (FA) | On demand, computer-based |
| Applied Skills | Corporate and Business Law (LW), Performance Management (PM), Taxation (TX), Financial Reporting (FR), Audit and Assurance (AA), Financial Management (FM) | Four sessions a year; LW is on demand in most markets |
| Strategic Professional | Strategic Business Leader (SBL), Strategic Business Reporting (SBR), plus two options from AFM, APM, ATX and AAA | Four sessions a year |
The 2027 redesign and what it means for timing
ACCA is moving to a redesigned qualification. The current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams have their last sitting in June 2027, and new exams start from September 2027. The new structure has 11 exams instead of 13, and Strategic Professional moves from two option papers to one.
ACCA states that exams you have already passed or been exempted from carry over. In practice, this gives you two choices:
- Push to finish a level before June 2027 if you are close, so you are not studying material that is about to change.
- Start fresh in the new structure if you are only beginning now and cannot realistically complete Applied Skills in time.
Fee schedules for the new exams had not been fully published when this guide was checked. Any cost estimate that runs past June 2027 is based on current prices.
What ACCA costs
ACCA charges in British pounds, and costs come in several layers rather than one payment:
- Initial registration: £89, paid once.
- Annual subscription: charged every year you are a student.
- Exam entry fees: per paper, rising by level. Booking at the standard deadline is much cheaper than late entry.
- Exemption fees: payable for each exam you are exempt from.
- Applied Knowledge exams: priced by the exam centre or remote provider rather than a single ACCA fee.
Across the full qualification, fees paid to ACCA are commonly estimated at £2,500 to £5,000. The biggest swing factors are exemptions and retakes. See every 2026 fee in our ACCA cost guide and calculator.
Exemptions: the fastest way to cut cost and time
A relevant degree or professional qualification can exempt you from up to nine exams, depending on the institution and course. Exemptions are assessed against your specific qualification, not just your degree title, so check ACCA's exemptions tool with your exact programme before registering. Each exemption carries a fee, but it is far cheaper than sitting and studying for the paper.
Is ACCA a good choice if you might move countries?
This is where ACCA stands out. It is widely recognised by employers across the UK, Ireland, the Gulf, South and Southeast Asia and Africa, and it has mutual recognition arrangements with several national bodies. The weak spot is the United States, where public accounting work requires a state CPA licence. If the US is your long-term target, compare the two routes before committing.
A realistic ACCA timeline
- Months 1 to 6: register, confirm exemptions and pass the Applied Knowledge exams on demand.
- Years 1 to 2: sit two Applied Skills papers per session.
- Years 2 to 3: complete SBL, SBR and your options, plus the EPSM.
- Alongside all of this: log your 36 months of PER with a qualified supervisor.
Frequently asked questions
How many exams does ACCA have?
The current qualification has 13 exams: 3 Applied Knowledge, 6 Applied Skills and 4 Strategic Professional. Exemptions from a relevant degree or qualification can reduce this. ACCA's redesigned qualification from September 2027 reduces the number of exams to 11.
What happens to my passed ACCA exams when the structure changes in 2027?
ACCA says students keep credit for exams already passed or exempted when they move to the new structure. The last sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams is June 2027.
How much does ACCA cost in total?
Fees paid to ACCA for the full qualification are commonly estimated at £2,500 to £5,000, depending on exemptions, retakes and how many years you pay the annual subscription. Tuition is extra.
How long does ACCA take?
Most students take three to four years to pass all exams if they sit two papers per session, plus the 36-month practical experience requirement, which can run alongside the exams.
Is ACCA recognised in the United States?
ACCA is not a US licence. To sign audit reports in the US you need a state CPA licence. ACCA is strongest in the UK, Ireland, the Gulf, South and Southeast Asia and much of Africa.
Official sources