OVERVIEW:

The ACCA qualification is a highly regarded, well-acknowledged qualification of accounting not only in Zimbabwe but all over the world. This accounting qualification opens the doorway to numerous global career opportunities in the accounting and financial sectors. ACCA professionals can work under various roles such as auditor, tax consultant, management accountant, financial analyst, etc. The ACCA qualification has a very structured syllabus, which consists of a series of 13 exams divided into three levels (applied knowledge level, applied skills level, and strategic professional level). Various ACCA qualification requirements usually confuse the students; read the blog to know more about these requirements. 

UNDERSTANDING THE ACCA QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE:

To achieve success in ACCA qualification, it is crucial to understand the complexity of the structure of ACCA qualification requirements. As mentioned above, the ACCA qualification has a series of 13 exams that are divided into three levels below: 

• Applied Knowledge level:

This level is the fundamental level of ACCA qualification; it includes three exams. These exams are Business Technology (BT), Management Accounting (MA), and Financial Accounting (FA). 

• Applied Skills level:

This level is based on the knowledge gained from the Applied Knowledge level; it includes six exams. The exams included in this level are Corporate and Business Law (LW), Performance Management (PM), Taxation (TX), Financial Reporting (FR), Audit and Assurance (AA), and Financial Management (FM).  

• Strategic Professional level:

This is the most advanced level of ACCA qualification. At this level, you can specialize in the area of your interest; it consists of four exams in total, out of which two are optional. Strategic business leadership (SBL) and strategic business reporting (SBR) are the two essential exams. Whereas Advanced Performance Management (APM), Advanced Financial Management (AFM), Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA), etc., are some examples of optional exams.  

MINIMUM ENTRY, ACCA QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  

Another ACCA qualification requirement is to meet the eligibility criteria to enroll in this qualification. To start this journey, you should fall into one of the categories mentioned below:

• Candidates having prior education of O-level or equivalent can start their ACCA journey from the applied knowledge level. 
• Candidates having degrees in relevant fields (accounting, finance, business) might be eligible to avail themselves of exemptions. The number of exemptions may vary depending on the prior qualification and university.  
• Candidates who don’t have any relative educational background will have to start their journey from FIA (Foundation in Accountancy) to learn the basics of accounting.  To know about the number of exemptions candidates can avail themselves of depending on their prior educational history, they can check through the official website of ACCA.

ACCA STUDY PATH:   

The ACCA study path is very structured; by following the structure properly, candidates can easily understand the ACCA qualification requirements. Following is the path the students can walk on to thrive forward in this journey. 

• The first and most important step to begin this journey is getting yourself enrolled. You can get yourself registered with ACCA through its online website as well as any ACCA-approved learning provider. 
• There are numerous online and on-site institutes providing ACCA courses in Zimbabwe. The next step is to enroll yourself in any of the best, reliable, ACCA-approved institutes depending on your preferences. Online institutes are, however, more reliable and flexible and provide part-time study options as well. An example of the best online ACCA course provider in Zimbabwe is: https://mirchawala.com/admissions/.
• ACCA is a very flexible qualification giving candidates liberty to choose from various study options. It also allows students to study at their own pace and choose when to attempt exams, as ACCA exams are held in four sittings every year, in the months of March, June, September, and December. 
• Students can appear in exams whenever they are fully prepared. 
• Along with exams, students are also required to complete the ethical and professional module; this is quite important and valued in the professional world, as it enables you to practice how to work ethically.   

EXAMINATION PROCESS:   

Another major part of ACCA qualification requirements is the examination process. ACCA exams are held in four sittings in a year; these sessions are in the months of March, June, September, and December. To appear in exams, candidates must register themselves for each exam session separately, before the announced deadline. Generally, the papers on applied knowledge and applied skills levels are computer-based, whereas strategic professional exams are written on paper.   

WORK EXPERIENCE:   

ACCA qualification requirements also include work experience. To become a fully certified ACCA professional, a candidate must complete the duration of work experience required in ACCA. Candidates are required to complete 36 months of work experience in the relevant field of accounting or finance. Candidates can start their work experience during or after the exams. It is essential to keep track of your work experience through documentation and getting it approved by a senior ACCA member. Then the documents of your work experience are submitted as your final application to avail yourself of ACCA membership.   

ACCA MEMBERSHIP AND BENEFITS:  

After completing your required work experience and other ACCA qualification requirements properly, you will be eligible to become an ACCA member. ACCA membership offers a lot of benefits to the candidate, such as enabling them to network amongst employers and fellow members globally. This practice opens the door to various career opportunities around the world; it also offers continuous professional development and career advancement opportunities by keeping members updated with changes in trends, regulations, or industry changes.  

CONCLUSION:  

ACCA qualification requirements might seem confusing to many candidates. But it is easy to understand once you start getting in-depth knowledge about the structure of ACCA qualification. By following the structure, you can easily complete all the requirements and achieve success in this prestigious qualification. Students are advised to meet the deadlines while registering themselves for the qualification and exams, keep an eye on any changes made in exam regulations, etc. Students are also required to complete the ethical and professional module and required work experience along with theoretical exams to become fully certified ACCA professionals. By following these micro steps, you can easily understand and follow the ACCA qualification requirements.