ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

ACCA Professional Qualification Overview
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the largest and fastest-growing global professional accountancy body in the world and has over 296,000 students registered and 115,000 members in over 170 countries worldwide. The ACCA is the first choice qualification for people from all over the world who want to become to become a Chartered Certified Accountant, use the designator letters of ACCA, and work in any aspect of finance or management in any business. It is for those who wish to learn accounting, learn ACCA and are looking for a highly rewarding career in the business world, including management, finance or accountancy. Many of our partner universities and colleges offer ACCA registration, ACCA classes, ACCA courses, ACCA training, ACCA preparation courses, ACCA exam preparation, on full time and part time basis and offer university degree level courses which lead to partial and full recognition by the ACCA body.

The ACCA qualification is a well know, highly respected and highly valued professional accounting qualification. Graduating with the as Chartered Certified Accountant makes you a key decision maker in any of the business fields including accounting and finance and provide you with strong evidence that you have the skills and knowledge that are sought after by the different types of employers in all sectors including Finance, Healthcare, Utilities, Industry, Technology, Consumer, Conglomerates, Services and Materials.

The ACCA course and qualification is suitable for people who wish to gain a solid professional accounting qualification that is recognised across the business world and is an essential requirement for many jobs such as accounting jobs and finance jobs. Some of the university degree programmes have modules which are recognised by the ACCA and may credit them towards the ACCA qualification. The ACCA qualification enables the candidates to gain extensive knowledge and experience in the field of accounting and finance and attain valuable skills in business strategy and management. ACCA Qualification opens up new window of opportunities for better career choice and earnings. There is no need for knowledge of accounting or accounting experience to start studying the ACCA.

ACCA modules
There are fourteen exam papers on the ACCA professional qualification, two papers of which are selected from four options. The qualification consists of two levels, each containing two modules as follows:

FUNDAMENTALS LEVEL
The fundamentals level has 9 papers under 2 key modules, the knowledge modules (3 papers) and the skills model (6 papers)

Knowledge Module (3 papers)
Skills Module (6 papers)

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
The professional level has 2 modules, the Essentials modules has 3 papers and the Options Modules which requires the completion of 2 papers:

Essentials Module (3 papers)

Options Module (2 papers to be completed)

ACCA course duration
Most of the ACCA courses offered tend to be offered at part time bases but there are full time ACCA courses. Candidates must study 14 papers in total in which 14 papers are compulsory and two papers are optional. The ACCA body allows you to take up to four papers at each sitting (in strict numerical order). Most students study at the rate of two papers per semester, however you can choose to take just one paper. The papers are at four levels: Knowledge Level, Skills Level, Essentials Level and Options Level. The levels must be taken in order and the ACCA body also recommends you take the papers within each level in order. With this system in mind the total duration of the ACCA programme is 3 years if taken on part time attendance basis. The ACA programme will take 2 years on full time attendance basis

ACCA Membership
However to fully qualify for the ACCA membership you will need to complete 14 exams, in which 9 are eligible for exemption if you hold a relevant and recognised qualification. You need to complete the online ethical modules. In addition you need to have 3 years related work experience. To apply for the ACCA membership you need to complete the ACCA Application form.

ACCA Costs and ACCA fees
Tuition fees for the ACCA course is normally payable per paper to the college or university teaching the ACCA per paper taken. A tuition fee for each paper of the ACCA course is about US$ 850. The tuition fees may vary from one ACCA centre to another. (This is estimate fees as of Jan-2008 fees). You will also be expected to pay additional costs which including registration fee, annual subscription, examination fees and exemption fees (where appropriate) are payable directly to the ACCA.