ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
£2,000-£4,000 total
Provider
ACCA
Validity
Lifetime (CPD required)
Available
Global (UK-based)
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
3-5+ years of professional experience typically required
Specific Requirements
- Minimum entry requirement of two A Levels and three GCSEs in five separate subjects including English and mathematics, or equivalent qualifications.
- Applicants who do not meet that requirement can start with Foundations in Accountancy, which has no minimum entry requirements, and transfer onto the ACCA Qualification afterwards.
- Initial registration fee of £89, plus an annual student subscription of £140 for 2026, due by 1 January each year to keep student status active. Students who fail to pay are removed from the register and pay an £89 re-registration fee plus arrears to be reinstated.
- Exams must be taken in modular order: Applied Knowledge, then Applied Skills, then Strategic Professional. Within a module you can take papers in any order, but to enter the next module you must also enter for all outstanding exams in the current one.
- The Ethics and Professional Skills Module, at £83, should be started after the Applied Knowledge exams and completed before Strategic Professional.
- A minimum of 36 months of relevant work experience and 9 performance objectives signed off by a practical experience supervisor, which can be gained before, during or after the exams.
- Exemptions may be claimed for relevant prior qualifications, charged at £86 per Applied Knowledge exemption and £114 per Applied Skills exemption. No exemptions are available at Strategic Professional level.
Number of Questions
Applied Knowledge exams contain 50 questions each. Corporate and Business Law contains 45 questions worth 1 or 2 marks in Section A plus 5 questions worth 6 marks in Section B. The three-hour Applied Skills exams are marked out of 100, with Financial Reporting for example running 15 objective test questions in Section A, three case questions with five objective test questions each in Section B, and two constructed response questions in Section C. Strategic Business Leader has three compulsory tasks.
Duration
Applied Knowledge exams are 2 hours. Corporate and Business Law is 2 hours. Performance Management, Taxation, Financial Reporting, Audit and Assurance and Financial Management are 3 hours. Strategic Business Leader, Strategic Business Reporting and all four Options exams are 3 hours 15 minutes.
Question Format
Objective test questions, Multi-task questions in Corporate and Business Law, Case-based objective test questions built on a single scenario, Constructed response questions using word processing and spreadsheet software inside the exam system, Integrated case study tasks with pre-seen material, used in Strategic Business Leader
Passing Requirement
50 percent on every ACCA exam. There is no requirement to reach 50 percent in each individual section, only 50 percent overall, and all sections and questions are compulsory with no choice of questions.
How It Is Delivered
All exams are computer-based. Applied Knowledge exams and the LW-ENG and LW-GLO variants of Corporate and Business Law are available on demand, with results displayed immediately and uploaded to your account within 72 hours. Everything else is taken during the four sessions in March, June, September and December, at a centre or by remote invigilation, with results approximately six weeks after the exam.
Languages Offered
English (ACCA offers jurisdiction variants of Corporate and Business Law and Taxation rather than alternative exam languages)
Visit the official ACCA certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)?
Minimum entry requirement of two A Levels and three GCSEs in five separate subjects including English and mathematics, or equivalent qualifications.. Applicants who do not meet that requirement can start with Foundations in Accountancy, which has no minimum entry requirements, and transfer onto the ACCA Qualification afterwards.. Initial registration fee of £89, plus an annual student subscription of £140 for 2026, due by 1 January each year to keep student status active. Students who fail to pay are removed from the register and pay an £89 re-registration fee plus arrears to be reinstated.. Exams must be taken in modular order: Applied Knowledge, then Applied Skills, then Strategic Professional. Within a module you can take papers in any order, but to enter the next module you must also enter for all outstanding exams in the current one.. The Ethics and Professional Skills Module, at £83, should be started after the Applied Knowledge exams and completed before Strategic Professional.. A minimum of 36 months of relevant work experience and 9 performance objectives signed off by a practical experience supervisor, which can be gained before, during or after the exams.. Exemptions may be claimed for relevant prior qualifications, charged at £86 per Applied Knowledge exemption and £114 per Applied Skills exemption. No exemptions are available at Strategic Professional level..
How much does the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) cost?
The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) exam costs £2,000-£4,000 total. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)?
Visit the official ACCA certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)?
Get the complete exam guide with study plan, tips, and practice questions.
View ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Guide