Qualifications at a glance

Foundation-level qualification

The foundation-level qualification is the perfect place to start if you are a school leaver who does not have the minimum entry requirements to start studying for the ACCA Qualification. This qualification can therefore be considered a 'stepping stone' on the way to becoming a fully certified chartered accountant.

If you have no prior qualifications, we recommend you start with the Introductory Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting. Although it may be tempting to skip the Introductory and Intermediate Certificates and start directly at the Diploma level, students who start at the Introductory Certificate and work their way through the foundation level qualifications tend to perform better in the higher-level exams.

Wondering how you can still earn while you learn? The best part about our foundation-level certificates are that you can work in a range of different accounting and finance roles from the very start of your ACCA journey. For example, once you have completed your Introductory Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting you are able to work in a number of junior accounting or book-keeping roles.

To find out more about our foundation-level qualifications and decide which certificate you should with, visit Foundations in Accountancy.

The ACCA qualification

If you are a school leaver with a minimum of three GCSEs and two A Levels, in five separate subjects including maths and English, or if you have equivalent qualifications, you can start your studies at the ACCA Qualification.

The ACCA Qualification is broadly equivalent to degree standard when you take the first nine papers (the Fundamentals level). When you take the Professionals level, it is equivalent to a masters degree.

Once you have successfully completed your exams, ethics module, and work experience and applied for ACCA membership, you will be able to use the ‘ACCA’ letters after your name and commence your career as a professional accountant.

To find out more and decide if this is the right place for you to start your studies, visit the ACCA Qualification page.

Alternative routes to ACCA Qualification