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ACA

Associate Chartered Accountant (ICAEW)

The ACA qualification will give you the skills to become a chartered accountant, opening the doors to a rewarding and successful career path.

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Choose your level

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ACA Certificate

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Next Generation ACA Certificate

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ACA Professionals

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Next Generation ACA Professional

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ACA Advanced

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Why choose Kaplan?

By choosing Kaplan, you can be confident that you will receive all the expert teaching, support and materials to unlock the door to a long and successful career.

Proven track record

8/10 UK’s top accountancy firms use Kaplan.

UK’s largest ACA training provider

We’ve trained over 10,000 ACA learners in the past 5 years

Apprenticeship pathways

We offer flexible, tailored and highly rated apprenticeship programmes

The ACA qualification at a glance

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Average duration

3 years

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Average salary*

£57,000

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ACA members worldwide

208,000

What you’ll learn

During the ACA qualification, you'll gain comprehensive knowledge in accounting, finance, and business, learning key areas such as audit, law, taxation, financial reporting, and strategic management. The practical experience will complement in-depth theoretical and professional ethics modules, preparing you for a dynamic career in accountancy.

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What you'll do

Securing your ACA qualification paves the way to senior positions, predominantly within UK public practice and with major accounting firms. You'll be equipped for a range of positions, including chartered accountant, financial analyst, auditor, and various leadership opportunities, capitalising on your specialised knowledge and professional competencies.

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*Statistics are taken from https://careers.icaew.com and https://www.icaew.com/about-icaew. Valid as of January 2025.

ACA levels

However you choose to study towards your ACA designation, the qualification is split into Certificate, Professional and Advanced. You'll also need to have 450 practical work experience days. If you have an accountancy or finance degree, or are AAT qualified you may be able to apply for subject credits. You can check your recommended entry point with the ICAEW’s CPL guidance.

You can choose from three different study methods, and mix-and-match throughout your learning, plus take your course and sit your exams as quickly or as slowly as you would like.

  1. Certificate

    You'll be introduced to the essentials of accountancy and finance. You'll learn about double-entry accounting, assurance, business performance and technology, law, and taxation. This level takes around one year to complete.

    Go to ACA Certificate

    Go to Next Generation ACA Certificate

  2. Professional

    This level teaches you how to apply technical knowledge to real-life scenarios. You'll deepen your knowledge on financial reporting, audit and assurance, tax compliance, finance management, business strategy, and business planning. This level takes around one year to complete.

    Go to ACA Professional

    Go to Next Generation ACA Professional

  3. Advanced

    The ACA Advanced Level will give you the skills to understand how accountancy and finance works within businesses. You'll learn about corporate reporting and strategic business management, and take a case study, which tests your overall knowledge. This level takes around one year to complete.

    Go to ACA Advanced

Other routes to becoming ACA qualified

Earn while you learn

Apprenticeships

This route ensures you gain relevant work experience alongside your studies. You will apply your learning within your role, developing core skills and behaviours alongside the knowledge of the ACA qualification. You may be eligible for an apprenticeship through your employer, depending on your circumstances.

Find out more

Two in one

ACA/CTA Joint Programme

The ACA CTA joint programme lets you achieve two prestigious qualifications in a shorter amount of time - ACA and CTA. You can become a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with the joint programme.

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Additional courses

ACA Advanced Case Study Resit

Our resit course balances exam practice, case study skills development, and analysis of the Advanced Information in order to provide you with a path to success in your resit exam.

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ACA Classroom Live Streamed in Norwich

Join a live classroom session remotely and interact with your tutors and peers via Zoom. CLS provides you with unmatched flexibility - you’ll have the option to attend the classroom, in person, as and when you want. ACA CLS courses will be available at the Kaplan Norwich centre. Please contact us to make a course booking.

Find out more

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Kaplan is recognised as an ICAEW Partner in Learning, working with ICAEW in the professional development of learners.