ACCA Course Duration in the UK – How Long Does it Take Complete ACCA After 12th, Graduation, and CA?

Are you looking to pursue the ACCA qualification in the UK? Great decision!

The best thing about ACCA is that it allows you to avoid some exams that reduce your learning overall duration if your previous degree or qualification meets ACCA requirements. Based on your prior knowledge, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has guidelines regarding who passes particular exams. Sounds exciting, right? 

However, it’s crucial to understand the duration of the ACCA course and its contents before you begin your ACCA learning journey. In this article, we have tried to cover everything you need to know about the exact ACCA course duration including its basic structure, and how it fluctuates as per different qualifications and degrees.

ACCA Qualification: Essential Knowledge and Synopsis

Before we move and discuss ACCA course duration in the UK, first understand what ACCA is. The credential of Chartered Certified Accountants is awarded by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a global association of accounting professionals. ACCA provides its members and students with a comprehensive and globally recognized degree, and it is accredited in more than 180 countries. Professionals from across the world pursue ACCA to ensure a flourishing and thriving career. Now, that we basic idea about the ACCA, let’s move on and understand how much time it takes to complete the ACCA course in the UK. 

Duration of the ACCA Qualification in the UK

The exact ACCA course duration in the UK or any other nation is determined by several variables.

Average Duration of ACCA Course

The ACCA course lasts three to four years for most of the students. 

  • Applied Knowledge Level: It takes six to twelve months to finish this level.
  • Applied Skills Level: It typically takes 12 to 18 months to finish this level.
  • Strategic Professional Level: Depending on how many papers you decide to take in each session, the last phase may take 18 to 24 months.

ACCA Course Duration After 12th

After you finish your high school, you can start your ACCA course. However, you will have to take all the 13 papers of ACCA. Students who pursue the certification after high school are not eligible for any exemptions.

After 12th grade, the ACCA course lasts 2.5 to 3 years and calls for extensive study and assessment. To obtain this certification, you must, however, finish your upper secondary school coursework with a score of 65%, particularly in matches or accounts and English, while maintaining a minimum of 50% in other subjects. 

ACCA Course Duration After CA

In every phase of the CA study, one can think of pursuing the ACCA certification. The duration of the ACCA course following CA is as follows:

  • ACCA after CA Foundation: You will not get any exemptions from the ACCA papers if you pass the Foundation CA (CPT) test but have not completed your undergraduate studies. However, the previously mentioned exclusions are applicable when you have earned your undergraduate degree and passed the Foundation CA exam. Using the exemptions to speed up the process, corresponds to a reduced ACCA course length of roughly two to three and a half years.
  • ACCA Course Duration in the UK after CA Intermediate: You get a few benefits in your ACCA career after passing the Intermediate CA exam (IPCC). 

You can skip up to five ACCA papers after qualifying for the Intermediate CA exam. These papers include:

  • Financial Accounting
  • Management Accounting
  • Business and Technology
  • Audit and Assurance
  • Taxation.

If you stay focused on your ACCA learning journey,  this puts you in a strategic position to finish your ACCA learning in about 1.5 to 2 years. This reduced ACCA course duration provides a targeted and effective method of developing strong accounting and finance skills, opening the door for quicker career growth.

  • ACCA after CA Final: There are major benefits to obtaining the ACCA certification after completing the CA journey or passing the Final CA exam. Exemptions from nine of the thirteen ACCA papers, which cover the Knowledge and Skill level, are available to those who reach this milestone.

These papers include:

  • Management Accounting
  • Audit and Assurance
  • Performance Management 
  • Business and Technology
  • Financial Accounting
  • Taxation Financial Reporting
  • Financial Management. 
  • Corporate and Business Law

With dedication and hard work, you can qualify for the next four ACCA exams in one to one and a half years with these exemptions.

ACCA Course Duration in the UK After Graduation

You can also think of pursuing ACCA in another way with a bachelor’s degree. You get significant exemptions, Up to four papers from the 13-paper ACCA curriculum are waived for graduates. You obtain exemptions from the four papers when you finish your bachelor’s degree in commerce.

 These papers include:

  • Business and Technology
  • Management Accounting
  • Corporate and Business Law. 
  • Financial Accounting

The ACCA course duration after graduation is greatly streamlined by this strategic advantage, coming down to roughly two to three and a half years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the ACCA course duration in the UK?

Ans: Usually, it takes three to four years to complete an ACCA course in the UK. 

Q: How many exams are there in the ACCA qualification?

Ans: The ACCA qualification incorporates a total of 13 exams divided into three levels: Strategic Professional, Applied Knowledge, and Applied Skills. These exams cover everything from advanced financial management to corporate technology.

Q: Can I finish the ACCA course faster?

Ans: Yes, if you spend enough study time and quality the ACCA exam on the first attempt, you can finish the ACCA in as little as two or three years. However, because of the difficulty of the exam and the need to obtain relevant real-world experience, the average completion time is still between three and four years.

Recent Blogs: