What is ACCA? A Complete Guide to the Course, Salary, and Fees for 2026
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is a global professional qualification offered by the ACCA accountancy body established in 1904. As of July 2026, ACCA has more than 257,900 members and 530,100 future members across 180 countries. Having an ACCA qualification means you have qualified for exams in accounting, audit, tax, finance, and business strategy, and you have earned hands-on experience.
Key takeaways
- ACCA is a reputed qualification offered by the UK accountancy body, ACCA.
- To become an ACCA member, you pass up to 13 exams, complete an ethics module, and record at least 36 months of work experience.
- It takes three to four years on average, and you can sit up to four exams in each session.
- ACCA’s UK fee for the December 2026 session includes an £89 registration fee, a £140 annual subscription, and £160 to £282 per exam at standard entry.
- June 2027 is the final sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams, and ACCA says prior learning and exemptions will be recognized in the new qualification.
ACCA at a glance
Who can start the ACCA course?
You’ll need two A Levels and three GCSEs, or their equivalent, across five separate subjects, including English and maths.
If you do not meet this criterion, you can begin at Foundation level, which has no minimum entry requirements at all.
If you have studied accounting or business, ACCA can exempt you from up to nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams. You need to apply, upload official proof such as certificates and transcripts, and pay a fee for each ACCA award. For a quick first look, try the ACCA exemptions calculator. If you’re a university graduate, our guide to degree-based exemptions walks through how it works.
What will you study in the ACCA qualification?
ACCA qualification includes three levels and 13 exams.
Applied Knowledge (3 exams)
This is the foundational level; here you learn how businesses work and how accounts get prepared.
- Business and Technology
- Management Accounting
- Financial Accounting
Applied Skills (6 exams)
- Corporate and Business Law
- Performance Management
- Taxation
- Financial Reporting
- Audit and Assurance
- Financial Management
Strategic Professional (4 exams)
Everyone takes the two Essentials, Strategic Business Leader and Strategic Business Reporting. Then you choose two Options from these four.
- Advanced Financial Management
- Advanced Audit and Assurance
- Advanced Taxation
- Advanced Performance Management
What does it take to become an ACCA member?
You need to pass the ACCA exams, complete the Ethics and Professional Skills Module and meet the Practical Experience Requirement. That’s at least 36 months in a relevant accounting or finance role, with nine performance objectives signed off by a practical experience supervisor.
Once all three are done, you apply through your MyACCA account and pay a one-time admission fee. Our guide to the benefits of becoming an ACCA member covers that.
How long does ACCA Take and how Tough are the Exams?
On average, it takes three to four years to qualify in ACCA papers on average. The exact timeline depends on your exemptions and how many exams you take at once.
The Applied Knowledge exams and Corporate and Business Law are on demand, so you can book them at an exam centre whenever you’re ready. Each one lasts two hours and uses objective and multi-task questions. Everything else runs in March, June, September, and December.
The June 2026 pass rates tell the difficulty level. Business and Technology came in at 89% and Corporate and Business Law at 82%. Performance Management at 41%. At Strategic Professional level, Strategic Business Leader had 51% and Advanced Audit and Assurance at 39%. If you want to know how students get through the harder papers, read our article on the key challenges of ACCA.
How much does ACCA cost in 2026?
ACCA course fees in 2026 start with an £89 registration fee and a £140 annual subscription. These are ACCA’s UK prices for the December 2026 session. Fees differ by country, so check the ACCA fees and charges page for your country.
Here’s what the main charges look like at standard entry.
- Each Applied Skills exam costs £160.
- Strategic Business Reporting and each Option exam cost £208.
- Strategic Business Leader costs £282.
- The Ethics and Professional Skills Module costs £83.
- Exemptions cost £86 for each Applied Knowledge exam and £114 for each Applied Skills exam.
Late entry rises to £409 for an Applied Skills exam and £467 for a Strategic Professional exam. Applied Knowledge exam fees are different again because local exam centers set them. Our page on ACCA fees in the UAE breaks down the total costs.
What jobs and salary can ACCA lead to?
ACCA members work as assistant accountants, tax accountants, audit managers, financial directors, and chief financial officers.
The Hays UK Salary and Recruiting Trends 2026 guide, as cited by ACCA, puts the average London salary at £60,000 for an ACCA finalist and £48,000 for a part-qualified ACCA student. ACCA Careers data from June 2026 gives typical UK ranges by role. An assistant accountant earns £24,000 to £36,000. A tax accountant earns £40,000 to £60,500. Audit managers sit between £55,550 and £76,000, and financial directors between £75,000 and £104,000. At the top, a chief financial officer earns £91,500 to £146,000.
What are the ACCA 2027 Changes?
ACCA is replacing the current exams, the June 2027 is the final sitting of the current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams, and after that session, students move across. The new Knowledge exams go on demand from July 2027. The first sitting of the new Expertise and Strategic Professional exams is in September 2027.
Here’s how the two structures compare.
| Stage | Current qualification (final sitting June 2027) | Future qualification (from 2027) |
| First level | Applied Knowledge, 3 exams | Knowledge, 3 exams |
| Second level | Applied Skills, 6 exams | Expertise, 5 exams |
| Final level | Strategic Professional, 2 Essentials and 2 Options | Strategic Professional, 2 core exams and 1 option |
| Total exams | Up to 13 | Up to 11 |
| Extra modules | Ethics and Professional Skills Module | An Essential Employability Module at each level |
Some exams are brand new, including Business and Sustainability Reporting and an option called Data Science Professional. Every level also gets an Essential Employability Module.
So, should you wait? ACCA says prior learning and exemptions will still be recognised, and it’s offering a transition tool for current students. For the full picture, read our article on the major ACCA changes coming in 2027.
How to register for ACCA?
- Check the Foundation route.
- Upload your documents and proof of identity.
- Pay the registration fee by card. ACCA looks at any exemptions as part of the same application.
- Wait for five to seven working days.
Who is ACCA for, and who is it not for?
ACCA is worth it if you want a qualification with members in 180 countries and you can commit three to four years to it. It suits people who meet the entry rule, or who don’t mind starting at the foundation level, and who can find relevant work for the 36-month experience rule.
It’s not the right fit if you are going for a short course. Even with the maximum nine exemptions, you’d still need to pass four Strategic Professional exams and complete the experience requirement. Mirchawala’s ACCA classes cover every paper from Business and Technology to the Strategic Professional Options, taught by the tutors on our faculty page.
Frequently asked questions
How many exams are in the ACCA qualification?
Up to 13. ACCA can exempt you from as many as nine of them based on earlier study, and you can sit up to four in each exam session.
Will the 2027 changes affect me if I start ACCA now?
The current Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams have their final sitting in June 2027. After that you move to the new qualification, and ACCA says your prior learning and exemptions will be recognised.
Can I work while studying ACCA?
Yes. ACCA says you can complete the 36 months of work experience alongside your studies. It also says working professionals typically sit one exam per session.
Is ACCA hard to pass?
It depends on the exam. In the June 2026 sitting, pass rates ranged from 89 percent for Business and Technology down to 39 percent for Advanced Audit and Assurance. Most Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams landed between 41 and 55 percent.
Can I start ACCA without A Levels?
Yes. You can begin at Foundation level, which has no minimum entry requirements, and move on to the ACCA qualification later.
Do ACCA exam passes expire?
Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills passes do not expire. Strategic Professional is different. You have to finish that level within seven years of your first pass there.
Mirchawala can help you prepare for each exam with tutor-led classes for every paper. Apply through Mirchawala’s online admissions to choose your papers and book your classes for your next exam session.
