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Experience
At ACCA we recognise that everyone is an individual. So after taking the CAT exams you may decide to take a break from studying for a while. If so, the CAT Qualification will more than adequately prepare you with the knowledge and skills you need to perform at an accounting-support role. Simply gain one-year’s practical experience and you’ll be able to use the letters CAT after your name.
Practical training can be completed in any size or type of business, and in any combination of sectors, before, during or after completing the exams. It’s your responsibility to find relevant training, but there are lots of resources available to assist you in your search for employment.
To become a Certified Accounting Technician, you must pass or be exempt from the CAT exams and either:
- achieve a Level 4 NVQ in Accounting (NVQ Route)
or - meet ACCA’s practical experience requirements (Practical Experience route).
The NVQ route
If you achieve a Level 4 NVQ in Accounting you are not required to complete the Practical Experience route. However, you will be required to provide evidence of your NVQ achievement e.g. NVQ certificate.
The practical experience route
If you follow the practical experience route you must obtain at least one year's supervised work experience and meet 10 competence unit requirements for Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) status.
Mixed practical experience and NVQ route
If you achieve an NVQ in Accounting at Level 2 or 3, but do not achieve Level 4 then you are required to obtain at least one year's supervised work experience. However, as you have already demonstrated competence in some of the units of competence required for the CAT qualification, you will not need to obtain work experience in those units.