INTRODUCTION:
Are you an ACCA student planning your academic pathway with limited knowledge about the ACCA duration in Malaysia? When planning an academic path and setting your career goals, the time frame matters a lot; usually, students don’t know much about the expected timeframe, which makes their whole plan less effective.
Therefore, to help students out in this matter, we have done our research and brought forward this insightful guidebook discussing all academic requirements of the qualification and the estimated time duration each one of them takes; from ACCA registration to the completion of the qualification, every academic factor is well-discussed in the blog ahead. Students who really want to seek knowledge in this matter should read the complete blog with focus and then plan their academic journey efficiently.
Before beginning with the blog, students should understand that ACCA is a uniquely structured qualification that comes with unique academic requirements, mainly focusing on developing the skills to perform well in the practical world. Therefore, familiarize and understand the format of the qualification very attentively to avoid any mistakes while structuring an academic plan.
ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS AND THE DURATION:
The first step of beginning the qualification is ACCA registration; once you enroll as an ACCA student, the academic clock starts ticking. Hence, after checking the eligibility criteria, if an aspirant meets all the entry requirements, they should not waste any time and be quick to register themselves with ACCA Global. After ACCA registration, all the academic requirements are lined up; below is the breakdown of all the academic obligations and the expected time required to complete them.
1: ACCA EXAMS:
ACCA consists of three academic levels (Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and the Strategic Professional); these levels combined consist of thirteen exams. The basic academic requirement of ACCA is to complete all these exams; the timeframe to complete all thirteen exams depends on several factors, such as academic success, learning speed, and the number of exemptions availed by a student.
However, the estimated exam completion ACCA duration in Malaysia can be between 3 and 4 years (without any exemptions). Students who have availed exam exemptions might complete the ACCA exams a bit quicker, depending on the number of exempted modules; however, approximately, it can take such students around 2-3 years to complete the examination requirement of ACCA in Malaysia.
Mind that, students can take ACCA exams in four sittings throughout the year; ACCA conducts exams quarterly in a year in March, June, September, and December. Students can book their exam slot by registering for each session and exam; students are advised to plan their exams beforehand.
2: ACCA EPSM REQUIREMENT:
As discussed before, the qualification expects beyond theoretical knowledge, it examines your technical, ethical, analytical, and professional expertise. Hence, to prepare students for the practical financial world, the ACCA qualification requires students to complete the EPSM (Ethical & Professional Skills modules) as well. The EPSM ACCA duration in Malaysia highly depends on how quickly you are to complete these modules; however, it doesn’t take long to complete the EPSM.
Nonetheless, the approximate EPSM ACCA duration can fall within 3-6 months; students should not count this duration separately, as these modules are completed alongside the ACCA exams. One thing that students should keep in mind while making their academic roadmap is that EPSM should be completed before getting into the Strategic Professional modules.
3: ACCA PER REQUIREMENT:
One of the most value-adding ACCA requirements for the career prospects of ACCA students is PER (Practical Experience Requirement); ACCA makes it obligatory for every student to complete at least 36 months of relevant work experience to become an ACCA-qualified accountant. However, the PER ACCA duration in Malaysia is 36 months (3 years), but students are advised to complete this requirement alongside other academic requirements (ACCA exams) so that it will fast-track their qualification’s completion process. Students should plan their PER very efficiently and ensure their experience is well-aligned with their career goals.
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SUMMARY OF TOTAL ACCA DURATION IN MALAYSIA:
The ACCA duration in Malaysia stated ahead is an estimated amount of time it could take, as it is not practically possible to quote an exact timeframe because it is influenced by several factors, such as academic competencies, exam successes, etc. The students who do not avail any exam exemptions can complete the qualification between 3-4 years; however, students who have availed exam exemptions can complete their academic journey within 2-3 years.
FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT ACCA DURATION IN MALAYSIA:
The duration of completion of the ACCA qualification is influenced by numerous factors; some of them are discussed below:
- It can vary depending on the study and time commitment, whether an individual is a full-time student or a part-time student.
- Exam pass and fail rates can lead to early or delayed completion of the qualification; students who have all exam successes tend to complete the qualification earlier.
- Students with ACCA exam exemption have a fast academic track; they can skip some of the exams and hence complete the qualification earlier than usual.
CONCLUSION:
Indeed, the ACCA duration in Malaysia can vary from person to person; therefore, each aspirant should plan their academic journey and estimate the time frame according to their academic competencies and eligibility for exam exemptions (if any).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q1: How many exams should I take from each academic level to complete the ACCA exams?
Answer: ACCA academic levels include a certain number of exams in each level that students are obliged to complete; however, in the Strategic Professional level, they get a chance to choose two modules from the optionals. Students need to complete 3 papers from the Applied knowledge level, 6 papers from the Applied Skills level, and 4 papers (2 mandatory and 2 optionals) from the Strategic Professional level.
Q2: What are the requirements to become an ACCA member in Malaysia?
Answer: To become an ACCA member in Malaysia, students need to complete all the academic obligations of ACCA, including the exams, EPSM, and ACCA PER. After completing all the requirements, students are supposed to apply for the ACCA membership through the MyACCA portal.


