ACCA
How many years does it take to complete the ACCA qualification?
16 Oct 2024
If you’re looking to develop your professional career as a chartered certified accountant and become ACCA-qualified, it’s important to also look into how many years it takes to complete your ACCA qualification.
As a leading provider of ACCA online courses, Kaplan is an expert in knowing how long it takes learners to earn their ACCA designation. In this blog, we’ll explain how long this process takes and provide a brief overview of the time frame for each ACCA level. We’ll also explore why part-time has become a preferred option for completing your ACCA qualification alongside any existing responsibilities.
How long does it take to get ACCA qualified?
It takes learners on average between three to five years to complete the ACCA qualification. However, your individual ACCA course duration can vary, particularly if you’ve chosen to complete your qualification alongside a full-time job or other responsibilities. This rough time frame also includes three years of work experience, which is a compulsory part of your journey to becoming a full ACCA member.
Affiliate status
You need to pass 13 subjects to complete the examination aspect of your ACCA qualification. Afterwards, you will achieve ACCA Affiliate status. If you sit your ACCA exams in the recommended pattern - two exams every other sitting or one exam at each of the four annual sittings - you can achieve Affiliate status in approximately two and a half years.
However, to get the full ACCA qualification, you must also have three years of relevant practical work experience and complete a separate Ethics module. This module is crucial for developing several professional skills like leadership, communication and commercial awareness. You must also attain certain objectives - called Performance Objectives - throughout your practical experience requirements to become a full ACCA member. These criteria can be achieved alongside your ACCA exams.
ACCA syllabus breakdown
The complete ACCA qualification is split into three different levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. Those who are new to a finance-related role, or aren’t yet eligible to complete their ACCA Applied Knowledge, may choose to complete the ACCA Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) before going on to the full ACCA qualification.
Below is a rough time frame of how long it takes to complete each ACCA level - provided you start with no previous qualifications. Note that this includes the completion of the Professional Ethics Module and 36 months of work experience.
| Level | Average time to complete |
|---|---|
| Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) | 12 - 18 months |
| Applied Knowledge | 12 months |
| Applied Skills | 12 - 18 months |
| Strategic Professional | 18 months |
ACCA exemptions
If you have previous qualifications, you might be exempt from sitting some ACCA exams. You can use the ACCA exemptions calculator to see if this applies to you.
As expected, exemptions will greatly affect your ACCA course duration. However, the minimum time it takes to complete the full ACCA qualification is still 12 - 15 months, based on the number of exams you are capable of completing in one year.
Time limits for the ACCA qualification
Previously, learners had to complete all of their ACCA exams within 10 years of registering. While ACCA has since relaxed these time limit rules, there is still a seven-year time limit remaining on Strategic professional exams. This means you must pass all of the exams at this level after you pass your first Strategic Professional assessment. Completing your ACCA qualification within these time frames is extremely beneficial since it shows employers that your knowledge is relevant and up-to-date.
Factors that ffect your ACCA course duration
While it takes learners on average between three to five years to complete their full ACCA qualification, this time frame can vary depending on several factors:
Prior commitments
For many learners, studying for their ACCA qualification alongside other work and personal commitments allows them to continue life as planned. However, a large number of prior responsibilities can naturally affect the amount of time you can spend studying for your certification. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider your study plans.
Support from your learning provider
The support offered by your chosen ACCA provider can significantly affect your study efficiency. Look for a learning provider that supports your studies with quality tutor guidance, continuous testing, and comprehensive study resources. Better still, an ACCA Platinum Learning Partner - like Kaplan - ensures your provider has met all of ACCA’s best practice benchmarks.
Exemptions
Exemptions can reduce your ACCA course duration. This is particularly true if you are eligible for exemptions from a certain ACCA exam, meaning that your overall study time is also reduced. We recommend seeing if you are exempt from any part of the ACCA syllabus before starting your studies.
Learning style
How quickly you absorb information and your preferred learning style will influence your progress through the ACCA qualification. Similarly, how closely together you want to sit your exams can affect how long it takes to finish your course.
Studying ACCA part-time
Many learners choose to study for their ACCA qualification part-time alongside other commitments. Not only does this give you the flexibility to balance existing work and personal responsibilities, but it also helps learners absorb complex topics at a more manageable pace.
At Kaplan, we offer two flexible part-time study options for learners: OnDemand and Live Online. Both these methods allow you to complete your ACCA qualification at a time and place that is most convenient for you, so you can become ACCA qualified on your own terms.
Can I finish ACCA in one year?
No, it is unrealistic to complete your ACCA qualification in just one year. While some ACCA providers promote rapid progression through the qualification, it’s important to note that this is not viable. Not only do you need three years of relevant practical work experience, but you also cannot sit all your ACCA exams in this short time frame.
Start your ACCA journey with Kaplan now
Completing your ACCA qualification can put you on the right path to chartered accountant status. See why Kaplan is one of the eading ACCA providers by exploring our ACCA online course today.
ACCA
How many years does it take to complete the ACCA qualification?
16 Oct 2024
If you’re looking to develop your professional career as a chartered certified accountant and become ACCA-qualified, it’s important to also look into how many years it takes to complete your ACCA qualification.
As a leading provider of ACCA online courses, Kaplan is an expert in knowing how long it takes learners to earn their ACCA designation. In this blog, we’ll explain how long this process takes and provide a brief overview of the time frame for each ACCA level. We’ll also explore why part-time has become a preferred option for completing your ACCA qualification alongside any existing responsibilities.
How long does it take to get ACCA qualified?
It takes learners on average between three to five years to complete the ACCA qualification. However, your individual ACCA course duration can vary, particularly if you’ve chosen to complete your qualification alongside a full-time job or other responsibilities. This rough time frame also includes three years of work experience, which is a compulsory part of your journey to becoming a full ACCA member.
Affiliate status
You need to pass 13 subjects to complete the examination aspect of your ACCA qualification. Afterwards, you will achieve ACCA Affiliate status. If you sit your ACCA exams in the recommended pattern - two exams every other sitting or one exam at each of the four annual sittings - you can achieve Affiliate status in approximately two and a half years.
However, to get the full ACCA qualification, you must also have three years of relevant practical work experience and complete a separate Ethics module. This module is crucial for developing several professional skills like leadership, communication and commercial awareness. You must also attain certain objectives - called Performance Objectives - throughout your practical experience requirements to become a full ACCA member. These criteria can be achieved alongside your ACCA exams.
ACCA syllabus breakdown
The complete ACCA qualification is split into three different levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. Those who are new to a finance-related role, or aren’t yet eligible to complete their ACCA Applied Knowledge, may choose to complete the ACCA Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) before going on to the full ACCA qualification.
Below is a rough time frame of how long it takes to complete each ACCA level - provided you start with no previous qualifications. Note that this includes the completion of the Professional Ethics Module and 36 months of work experience.
| Level | Average time to complete |
|---|---|
| Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) | 12 - 18 months |
| Applied Knowledge | 12 months |
| Applied Skills | 12 - 18 months |
| Strategic Professional | 18 months |
ACCA exemptions
If you have previous qualifications, you might be exempt from sitting some ACCA exams. You can use the ACCA exemptions calculator to see if this applies to you.
As expected, exemptions will greatly affect your ACCA course duration. However, the minimum time it takes to complete the full ACCA qualification is still 12 - 15 months, based on the number of exams you are capable of completing in one year.
Time limits for the ACCA qualification
Previously, learners had to complete all of their ACCA exams within 10 years of registering. While ACCA has since relaxed these time limit rules, there is still a seven-year time limit remaining on Strategic professional exams. This means you must pass all of the exams at this level after you pass your first Strategic Professional assessment. Completing your ACCA qualification within these time frames is extremely beneficial since it shows employers that your knowledge is relevant and up-to-date.
Factors that ffect your ACCA course duration
While it takes learners on average between three to five years to complete their full ACCA qualification, this time frame can vary depending on several factors:
Prior commitments
For many learners, studying for their ACCA qualification alongside other work and personal commitments allows them to continue life as planned. However, a large number of prior responsibilities can naturally affect the amount of time you can spend studying for your certification. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider your study plans.
Support from your learning provider
The support offered by your chosen ACCA provider can significantly affect your study efficiency. Look for a learning provider that supports your studies with quality tutor guidance, continuous testing, and comprehensive study resources. Better still, an ACCA Platinum Learning Partner - like Kaplan - ensures your provider has met all of ACCA’s best practice benchmarks.
Exemptions
Exemptions can reduce your ACCA course duration. This is particularly true if you are eligible for exemptions from a certain ACCA exam, meaning that your overall study time is also reduced. We recommend seeing if you are exempt from any part of the ACCA syllabus before starting your studies.
Learning style
How quickly you absorb information and your preferred learning style will influence your progress through the ACCA qualification. Similarly, how closely together you want to sit your exams can affect how long it takes to finish your course.
Studying ACCA part-time
Many learners choose to study for their ACCA qualification part-time alongside other commitments. Not only does this give you the flexibility to balance existing work and personal responsibilities, but it also helps learners absorb complex topics at a more manageable pace.
At Kaplan, we offer two flexible part-time study options for learners: OnDemand and Live Online. Both these methods allow you to complete your ACCA qualification at a time and place that is most convenient for you, so you can become ACCA qualified on your own terms.
Can I finish ACCA in one year?
No, it is unrealistic to complete your ACCA qualification in just one year. While some ACCA providers promote rapid progression through the qualification, it’s important to note that this is not viable. Not only do you need three years of relevant practical work experience, but you also cannot sit all your ACCA exams in this short time frame.
Start your ACCA journey with Kaplan now
Completing your ACCA qualification can put you on the right path to chartered accountant status. See why Kaplan is one of the eading ACCA providers by exploring our ACCA online course today.
