The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a globally recognised professional accounting qualification based in the UK and accepted in over 180 countries. It is often considered the global equivalent of the Chartered Accountancy (CA) credential. [1, 2]

An overview of the core structure, eligibility, fees, and career scope of the ACCA course is outlined below.

Course Structure & Syllabus

To become an ACCA member, you must clear up to 13 exam papers across three progressive levels, complete an Ethics module, and fulfill a practical experience requirement. [1]

1. Applied Knowledge Level (3 Papers) [1]

Focuses on the core fundamentals of financial and management accounting. The exams are 100% objective (MCQs) and can be taken on-demand at any time of the year. [1, 2, 3]

• BT: Business and Technology
• MA: Management Accounting
• FA: Financial Accounting [1]

2. Applied Skills Level (6 Papers) [1]

Dives deeper into practical, industry-ready accounting and finance skills. Exams are session-based (held quarterly in March, June, September, and December) and are a mix of objective and subjective questions. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• LW: Corporate and Business Law
• PM: Performance Management
• TX: Taxation
• FR: Financial Reporting
• AA: Audit and Assurance
• FM: Financial Management [1]

3. Strategic Professional Level (4 Papers) [1]

Focuses on leadership, technical expertise, and high-level strategic business reporting. Exams are 100% subjective and case-study based. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Essentials (Compulsory): Strategic Business Leader (SBL) & Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
• Options (Choose 2 out of 4): Advanced Financial Management (AFM), Advanced Performance Management (APM), Advanced Taxation (ATX), or Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Additional Mandatory Requirements

• Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM): An online interactive module assessing ethical frameworks, typically completed before starting the Strategic Professional papers. [1, 2]
• Practical Experience Requirement (PER): Completing 36 months (3 years) of relevant work experience in accounting or finance. This can be acquired before, during, or after your exams. [1, 2]

Course Entry Requirements & Exemptions

ACCA offers flexible entry points based on your academic background: [1, 2]

Prior Academic Qualification [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]Entry Route / Eligibility CriteriaMaximum Exemptions OfferedClass 10th PassFoundations in Accountancy (FIA) RouteNoneClass 12th PassDirect Entry (Min. 65% aggregate in Math/Accounts & English; 50% in others)NoneB.Com / BBA GraduateDirect EntryUp to 4 to 5 papers (exempt from Knowledge Level)CA Inter / Fully Qualified CADirect EntryUp to 9 papers (exempt from Knowledge & Skills levels)

Course Fees & Duration

• Duration: On average, it takes 2 to 3 years to clear all papers, depending on exemptions and your study pace.
• Total Estimated Cost: The complete cost ranges between ₹3.5 Lakhs to ₹5 Lakhs. This includes the official ACCA Global Portal charges (one-time registration fee, annual subscriptions, and per-exam fees) alongside local coaching institute fees and study materials. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]