ACCA eligibility. Qualification | DIPIFR | Certification

by Vanessa Bowers

ACCA eligibility

To be eligible for the ACCA qualification, you must meet specific requirements. This article will outline the ACCA eligibility criteria for various ACCA courses and certifications.

In this article, we will break the list down into qualifications, diplomas and Certifications.

ACCA eligibility for main qualification. 

The full ACCA course comprises three levels. Applied Knowledge level, Applied Skills level and Strategic professional level. We look at the minimum entry requirements for ACCA courses in India.

Eligibility after 12th standard. Level 1 Applied Knowledge

The minimum eligibility requirement is 

  • You must be at least 18 years of age, and;
  •  you must have completed high school or 12th standard or an equivalent qualification. (CBSE, State boards, ICSE, IGCSE etc.)

What marks should I get in 12th for ACCA?

  • You must have scored the following.
  • 65% in two subjects including English and Mathematics or Accountancy and
  • over 50% in three other subjects

If you don't fulfil this criteria, you will be required to start the ACCA foundation level.

Which course must a student pursue for ACCA after 10th?

After the 10th, a student should pursue the commerce stream in order to be eligible to pursue ACCA. The commerce stream includes subjects such as economics, business studies, accountancy, and finance. 

Level 2- Applied Skill or after graduation in commerce

You must have completed either of the following to be eligible.

  • Completed Applied Knowledge of ACCA, or
  • Completed CA IPCC after 2003, also known as CA Inter from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, or
  • Completed CMA from the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI), or
  • Completed CMA from the Institute of Certified management accountants (ICMA), or
  • Completed either an undergraduate or post graduation degree from an ACCA accredited institution. B.Com and M.com from almost all the Indian universities are eligible. or
  • Completed CPA from American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) US

Level 3 - Strategic professional or after completing CA/CMA

You must have completed either of the following to be eligible.

  • Completed Applied Skill level of ACCA, or
  • Completed CA Qualification after 2003 from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, or
  • Completed ACMA/FCMA with five years of work experience.

Do also read our blogs on understanding the  ACCA course fees and ACCA important dates.

ACCA Oxford Brookes University Bsc Degree

ACCA Oxford Brookes University degree is an undergraduate accounting degree offered in partnership with the ACCA. It prepares students for a career as a chartered certified accountant by providing a solid foundation in accountancy and business.

To be eligible to gain the BSc degree in applied accounting from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom, you must have

  • Successful completion of the ACCA Applied Skill exams and
  • Completed the ethics and professional skill module.

ACCA Diploma in IFR (DIPIFR) eligibility 

The ACCA Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DIPIFR) provides an in-depth understanding of the principles and application of IFRS. The course is designed to help accountants apply or report financial information using IFRS. 

You must have completed either of the following to be eligible.

  • Completed CA Qualification after 2003 from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
  • Completed main ACCA qualification.
  • Completed CMA from the Institute of Certified management accountants (ICMA), 
  • Three years of relevant accounting work experience
  • Two years of relevant accounting work experience and a degree in B.com/M.com
  • Two years of relevant accounting work experience and passed the ACCA Certificate in International Financial Reporting (CERTIFR)
  • Students pursuing CA from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India completed their three-year articleship.

ACCA Certifications eligibility 

ACCA issues certification for skill sets in various finance domains. There are no eligibility criteria for these certifications. The list of some of the popular certifications are

Certificate in International Financial Reporting (CERTIFR)

The ACCA Certificate in International Financial Reporting (CERTIFR) is an entry-level qualification. CERTIFR provides students with the latest developments in financial reporting standards and an understanding of their application to business practices.

Recommended: For entry-level finance professionals or graduates.

Certificate in Business Valuations

The ACCA Certificate in Business Valuations is the perfect way to become a qualified business valuer. 

The course is designed for those who wish to gain a detailed understanding of the principles and practices of business. 

Recommended: For finance professionals who are seeking to get into business valuations

CertDIF - Certificate in Digital Innovation for Finance

The CertDIF is designed for finance professionals who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of how digital technologies can be used to improve business processes and performance. It gives an overview of topics such as big data, cloud computing, social media, mobile devices, and cyber security.

Recommended: Ideally suited for working finance professionals.

Cert IR - Certificate in Integrated Reporting

Integrated reporting is a process whereby organisations report on their overall financial performance and sustainability in a concise, clear and consistent manner. The aim of integrated reporting is to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of an organisation's prospects, performance and stewardship.

The Cert IR - Certificate in Integrated Reporting is aimed at professionals who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of integrated reporting or who are already involved in the production of integrated reports. It covers topics such as governance, strategy, financial performance, risk management, sustainability and disclosure.

Summary:

If you are interested in pursuing any of the ACCA courses or certifications mentioned in this article, be sure to speak to an eduyush representative. We would be more than happy to help you navigate the process and answer any questions you may have about eligibility requirements.

With that, we hope you have found this article helpful and wish you all the best as you pursue your accounting career aspirations. 


Questions? Answers.

You have an unlimited number of attempts to pass the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) exams.

ACCA does not impose a limit on the number of times you can retake an exam.

You can keep attempting until you successfully pass each exam, which provides flexibility for candidates to learn and improve their performance over time.

Yes, ACCA offers exemptions for certain exams for candidates who have completed certain academic programs or have relevant professional qualifications.

To request exemptions, you will need to provide documentation and submit an exemption application to the ACCA. Review our comprehensive exemptions calculator to know more.

The pass rate for the ACCA exams varies from exam to exam and from year to year. In general, the pass rate for the ACCA exams is between 35% to 50%. Read our blog on subject wise pass rates to know more.

The answer to this lies on your context and individual career objectives.

Read our detailed analysis on this topic here.

The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) membership provides numerous benefits, including:

- Professional development opportunities, such as access to the latest technical resources, CPD modules and e-learning tools
- A global community of like-minded professionals to collaborate and share knowledge with
- The ability to connect with employers through the ACCA Jobs service
- Eligibility for reduced rates on a range of products and services, such as insurance, stationery and more

The consequences of non-payment of the annual subscription fees are

As a member:

1) you can't call yourself an ACCA member, and you won't be able to use the ACCA name or logo. 

2) You also won't be able to use any resources, including the online resources. 

3) if you're working as an accountant, you may be unable to use the term "ACCA-qualified" or "ACCA-registered". 

4) If your membership expires and isn't renewed within three years. In that case, your name will be removed from the Register of Members.

5) If you need to apply for CPA accreditation with another accounting body like CPA Australia or Canada, you will be required to furnish a good standing certificate from ACCA for five years. If you haven't paid your membership fees, you won't be able to get your good standing letter

As a student

1) You will not be able to use the members' website or log into MyACCA. You will lose access to many resources, including past exam papers and helpful articles. 

2) You will no longer be eligible to sit the examinations or progress through the qualification.

3) You won't be able to pursue any other qualifications like the DIPIFR

If this is something that happens accidentally, then it is usually quickly resolved by simply paying the outstanding amount of 89 GBP.

If you're looking to become a chartered accountant in the United States, the value of the ACCA qualification cannot be understated.

To be accepted into one of the regional accountancy bodies that confer chartered status (such as the AICPA), you must have completed an accredited course of study from a college or university and have spent at least two years working in the accounting field.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is globally recognized as one of the leading institutions for providing such accredited courses, and their stamp of approval on your degree will go a long way in getting your foot in the door with some of the top accounting firms in America.

It is a difficult question because it depends on your specific situation and goals.

However, in general, we would say that the CA (Chartered Accountant) certification is better for those interested in pursuing a career in accounting and finance.

In comparison, the CFA (Certified Financial Analyst) certification is better for those interested in investment banking or portfolio management.

The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certification is more internationally recognized than the CA or CFA, so it may be worth considering if you're interested in working abroad.

Ultimately, though, the best way to decide which certification is proper for you is to speak with experts in each field and get their advice.

The decision of whether ACCA or a degree is better for you depends on your individual goals and circumstances.

ACCA is a professional accounting qualification that is recognized and respected globally and it is focused on accounting and finance. It is a good option for those who want to pursue a career in accounting or finance and do not want to spend the time and money required to earn a degree.

On the other hand, a degree program offers a more well-rounded education and provides a broader range of career options. It also provides more in-depth knowledge in specific field of study and it is good for those who want to pursue a career in a field outside of accounting and finance.

Both ACCA and a degree can be valuable qualifications, it depends on the person's career goals and what they want to achieve in the long term. It's also worth noting that in some countries, it is mandatory to have a degree in order to practice as an accountant.

The 15 subjects in ACCA are

  • Business & Technology (BT)
  • Management Accounting (MA)
  • Financial Accounting (FA)
  • Corporate and Business Law (LW)
  • Taxation (TX)
  • Performance Management (PM)
  • Financial Reporting (FR)
  • Audit and Assurance (AA)
  • Financial Management (FM)
  • Strategic Business Leader (SBL)
  • Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
  • Advanced Financial Management (AFM)
  • Advanced Performance Management (APM)
  • Advanced Taxation (ATX)
  • Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)