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We're simplifying access to the ACCA Qualification

As part of our redesign, we are providing a more streamlined pathway for all students onto the ACCA Qualification. We are removing our current suite of Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) qualifications, along with the existing duplication between FIA and the ACCA Qualification. Instead, all students who do not meet the minimum entry criteria for the ACCA Qualification will be required to complete the new Foundations level (benchmarked at level 3). This will consist of:

  • 3 mandatory exams
  • an Essential Employability Module

On successful completion of the Foundations level, students will be awarded the Diploma in Accounting and Business and will then progress onto the Knowledge level of the ACCA Qualification.

Access specific support for you

Select the Foundations in Accountancy award you are currently working towards for more specific support guidance:

ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2)

Elements required

  • MA1 Management Information
  • FA1 Recording Financial Transactions
  • Foundations in Professionalism module (FiP)

Due to the streamlining of the entry route into the future ACCA Qualification to form a single Foundations level, there will not be a direct equivalent of this award in the redesign. The first award available in the redesigned qualification will be the Diploma in Accounting and Business (level 3) which will be awarded on completion of our Foundations level.

Although we are withdrawing the availability of our ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) this will have no impact on the status, recognition or validity of the Diplomas awarded prior to transition. 

To gain the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2), you will need to:

  • complete the Management Information (MA1) and Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) exams by mid-July 2027
  • complete FiP by mid-July 2027 (exact dates to be confirmed)

If you do not complete all elements by these dates, you should work towards the Diploma in Accounting and Business following the transition by completing our Foundations level. You will receive credit for any equivalent elements you have already completed, as shown within the Transition credit information.

For any element where you have not received transition credit, please note that the corresponding exam or module in the redesigned qualification will be based on a revised syllabus. We recommend reviewing the new syllabus carefully before you begin preparing for these assessments.

Foundations level (required to achieve Diploma in Accounting and Business (level 3)) Completed FIA elements required for credit to be given

F1 Accounts Preparation
  • FA1 Recording Financial Transactions AND
  • FA2 Managing Financial Transactions

F2 Management Information and Costing

MA1 Management information

F3 Decision Making with Data

MA2 Managing Costs and Finance

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module

Foundations in Professionalism module

You may wish to prioritise your studies and exam choices based on the transition impacts. For example:

  • If you have already passed the FA1 exam, you may wish to prioritise completing the FA2 exam ahead of the completion deadline. Both FA1 and FA2 must be passed to receive credit for the F1 Accounts Preparation exam.
  • The Foundations in Professionalism module takes approximately 3 hours to complete and is free. The Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module is expected to take approximately 40 hours to complete and will be chargeable (price to be confirmed in January 2027).
  • Even if you have completed the Foundations in Professionalism module, you will still have the opportunity to complete the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module if you wish to. Prior learning gained by completing either module means you will not need to complete the first 12 units of the Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module, which is a required element of the Knowledge level of the ACCA Qualification. 

ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3)

Elements required

  • MA2 Managing Costs and Finance
  • FA2 Managing Financial Transactions
  • Foundations in Professionalism module (FiP)

All FIA students who are working towards the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) at transition, will move onto the Diploma in Accounting and Business.

If you wish to gain the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3), you will need to:

  • complete MA2 and FA2 by mid-July 2027
  • complete FiP by mid-July 2027 (exact dates to be confirmed)

If you do not complete all elements by these dates, you will work towards the Diploma in Accounting and Business following the transition by completing our redesigned Foundations level. You will receive credit for any equivalent elements you have already completed, as shown in the Transition credit information. 

Foundations level (required to achieve Diploma in Accounting and Business (level 3) Completed FIA elements required for credit to be given

F1 Accounts Preparation
  • FA1 Recording Financial Transactions AND
  • FA2 Managing Financial Transactions

F2 Management Information and Costing

MA1 Management information

F3 Decision Making with Data

MA2 Managing Costs and Finance

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module

Foundations in Professionalism module

You may wish to prioritise your studies and exam choices based on the transition impacts. For example:

  • If you have already passed the FA2 exam, you may wish to prioritise completing the FA1 exam. Both FA1 and FA2 exams must be passed to receive credit for the F1 exam.
  • The Foundations in Professionalism module takes approximately 3 hours to complete and is free. The Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module is expected to take approximately 40 hours to complete and will be chargeable (price to be confirmed in January 2027).
  • Even if you have completed the Foundations in Professionalism module, you will still have the opportunity to complete the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module if you wish to. Prior learning gained by completing either module means you will not need to complete the first 12 units of the Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module, which is a required element of the Knowledge level of the ACCA Qualification.

ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4)

Elements required

  • FFA Foundations in Financial Accounting
  • FMA Foundations in Management Accounting
  • FBT Foundations in Business and Technology
  • Foundations in Professionalism module

In the current structure, the exams making up the ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Business (RQF Level 4) can be taken as part of the FiA suite (where they appear as FFA/FMA/FBT) or as part of the ACCA Qualification (where they appear as FA/MA/BT). As part of the simplification of the entry route into the future ACCA Qualification into a single Foundations level, we are removing this duplication. The Foundations level will be benchmarked at level 3 whilst Knowledge will be benchmarked at level 4, each consisting of different exams and a different Essential Employability Module.

The equivalent to the ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Business (RQF Level 4) award will be the Higher Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) which will be awarded on completion of the Knowledge level of the redesigned ACCA Qualification. The transitional impacts for students currently studying for the ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Business (RQF Level 4) will be dependent on whether they have started their studies at this level or completed earlier FIA Diplomas and exams. 

If you wish to gain the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 4) you will need to:

  • complete all the exam requirements (FFA/FMA/FBT) by July 2027, and
  • complete FiP by July 2027. 

If you do not complete all the elements by these dates you will work towards either the Diploma in Accounting & Business or Higher Diploma in Accounting in Business, depending on the combination of elements you have completed so far.

If you already meet the requirements for the redesigned Knowledge level

If you have completed elements which give you transition credit from everything within the redesigned Foundation level, (or can demonstrate that you meet the ACCA Qualification’s minimum entry requirements), you will transition onto the Knowledge level of the ACCA Qualification and work towards the Higher Diploma in Accounting & Business.

Redesigned Knowledge level (Higher Diploma in Accounting and Business) Completed FIA elements required for credit to be given

K1 Financial Accounting

FFA Foundations in Financial Accounting

K2 Management Accounting

FMA Foundations in Management Accounting

K3 Business Law

N/A*
Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module

FBT Foundations in Business and Technology

(students who have not passed FBT but who have completed the Foundations in Professionalism module will receive credit for the first 12 units of the Responsibility Business Management Essential Employability Module) 

*There is no equivalent exam within FIA. FIA students who complete all other equivalent elements of the Knowledge level prior to transition will move onto the Expertise level and will be required to take this exam as part of the redesigned qualification. Students who have already passed LW as part of the current ACCA Qualification will receive credit for this exam.

If you need to complete the redesigned Foundations level

Otherwise, you will transition onto the Foundations level and must first work towards the Diploma in Accounting & Business before progressing to the Knowledge level of the redesigned ACCA Qualification to work towards the Higher Diploma in Accounting and Business. 

Redesigned foundations level (Diploma in Accounting and Business) Completed FIA elements required for credit to be given

F1 Accounts Preparation
  • FA1 Recording Financial Transactions AND
  • FA2 Managing Financial Transactions.

or higher level element:

  • FFA Foundations in Financial Accounting

F2 Management Information and Costing
  • MA1 Management Information

or higher level element:

  • FMA Foundations in Management Accounting

F3 Decision Making with Data
  • MA2 Managing Financial Transactions

or higher level element:

  • FMA Foundations in Management Accounting

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship  Essential Employability Module

Foundations in Professionalism module

If you are currently studying towards the ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) without completing level 2/3 exams

Some students choose to take level 4 exams without having done the lower level FIA exams. Students who do this pre-transition will receive transition credit for the equivalent exams and their predecessors as shown in the table below. 

ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF level 4) completed Redesigned Foundations and Knowledge elements credit awarded

FFA Foundations in Financial Accounting
  • F1 Accounts Preparations
  • K1 Financial Accounting

FMA Foundations in Management Accounting
  • F2 Management Information and Costing
  • F3 Decision Making with Data
  • K2 Management Accounting

FBT Foundations in Business and Technology
  • Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module

Foundations in Professionalism module
  • Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module

You may wish to prioritise your studies and exam choices based on the transition impacts. For example:

  • FiP is a free module which takes approximately 3 hours to complete. The Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module is expected to take approximately 40 hours to complete and will need to be purchased (price to be confirmed in January 2027).
  • If you have completed the FFA and FMA exams, plus FiP at transition, you will not be required to complete any Foundations level elements in the redesigned qualification and will be awarded the Diploma in Accounting and Business.
  • FFA and FMA have exam equivalents, whereas learning contained within FBT will be incorporated within the Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module in the redesigned qualification. If you do not complete FBT, you will be required to complete this module. The module will need to be purchased and will take approximately 60 hours to complete.
  • Students who have completed all elements at transition will be awarded the ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) and will start at the Expertise level of the redesigned ACCA Qualification. They will still be required to take the K3 Business Law exam as part of progression requirements. K3 Business Law does not currently have an equivalent within FIA and can be completed alongside exams at the Expertise level of the redesigned qualification.
  • Students who have not completed one or more of the required elements for the ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) at transition will need to complete the K3 Business Law exam before they can achieve the Higher Diploma in Accounting and Business and progress to the Expertise level of the redesigned qualification.

ACCA Certificate in Audit (RQF Level 4)

Elements required

  • FAU Foundations in Audit
  • Foundations in Professionalism (FiP) module 

The specialist exam FAU Foundations in Audit will not be part of the redesigned qualification and is being withdrawn. As a result, the ACCA Certificate in Audit (RQF Level 4) will subsequently be no longer available.

Any student looking to achieve this certificate will need to complete:

  • The FAU Foundations in Audit exam in or before the June 2027 exam session
  • The Foundations in Professionalism module by July 2027.

  •  Although we are withdrawing the ACCA Certificate in Audit (RQF Level 4), this will have no impact on the status, recognition or validity of certificates awarded prior to transition.
  • The FAU Foundations in Audit exam can also currently be taken as part of the CAT qualification. If you are considering taking this exam as part of the CAT qualification, please refer to our CAT transitional guidance for further information.

The FAU exam will not have an equivalent under the redesign. As a result, no credit will be awarded for the completion of this exam on transition. 

ACCA Certificate in Taxation (RQF Level 4)

Elements required

  • FTX Foundations in Taxations
  • Foundations in Professionalism (FiP) module

All variants of the specialist exam FTX Foundations in Taxation will not form part of the redesigned qualification and are being withdrawn. As a result, the ACCA Certificate in Taxation (RQF Level 4) will no longer be available. Any student wishing to achieve this certificate will need to complete:

  • the FTX Foundations in Taxation exam in or before the June 2027 exam session
  • the Foundations in Professionalism module by July 2027 

  • Although we are withdrawing the ACCA Certificate in Taxation (RQF Level 4), this will have no impact on the status, recognition or validity of certificates awarded prior to transition.
  • The FTX Foundations in Taxation exam can currently also be taken as part of the CAT qualification. If you are considering taking this exam as part of the CAT qualification, please refer to our CAT transitional guidance for further information.

The FTX exam will not have an equivalent under the redesign. As a result, no credit will be awarded for the completion of this exam on transition.

ACCA Certificate in Financial Management (RQF Level 4)

Element required

  • FFM Foundations in Financial Management
  • Foundations in Professionalism (FiP) module 

The specialist exam FFM Foundations in Financial Management will not form part of the redesigned qualification and is being withdrawn. As a result, the ACCA Certificate in Financial Management (RQF Level 4) will no longer be available.

Any student wishing to achieve this certificate will need to complete:

  • the FFM Foundations in Financial Management exam in or before the June 2027 exam session
  • the Foundations in Professionalism module by July 2027.

  • Although we are withdrawing the ACCA Certificate in Financial Management (RQF Level 4) this will have no impact on the status, recognition or validity of these certificates awarded prior to transition.
  • The FFM Foundations in Taxation exam can also be currently taken as part of our CAT qualification. For those considering taking this exam as part of the CAT qualification, please refer to our CAT transitional guidance for further guidance.

  • The FFM exam will not have an equivalent under the redesign. As a result, no credit will be awarded for the completion of this exam on transition.

Certified Accounting Technician qualification

Elements required

  • FA1 Recording Financial Transactions
  • FA2 Managing Financial Transations
  • MA1 Management Information
  • MA2 Managing Costs and Finance
  • FFA Foundations in Financial Accounting
  • FMA Foundations in Management Accounting
  • FBT Foundations in Business and Technology
  • Foundations in Professionalism (FiP) module
  • FPER - 12 months of time + Performance Objectives

Plus any two from the following exams

  • FAU Foundations in Audit
  • FTX Foundations in Taxation
  • FFM Foundations in Financial Management

The Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Qualification will be available as part of the redesigned qualification but with changes to its structure. All students who have part-completed the CAT qualification at transition will move onto the redesigned CAT qualification and receive credit for any equivalent elements already completed.

  • If you wish to gain the CAT qualification under its current requirements, you will need to
    • complete all exam requirements by July 2027
    • complete the Foundations in Professionalism module (FiP) by July 2027
    • complete your Foundations Practical Experience Requirement (FPER) by July 2027, including 12 months’ experience and the required performance objectives
  • The specialist exams FAU, FTX  and  FFM are being removed. They will not form part of the redesigned CAT qualification and will not have equivalents under the redesign. As a result, no credit will be given for completion of these exams following transition.
  • If you do not complete all elements by the completion dates, you will transition onto the redesigned CAT qualification. This will consist of the following elements, with credit given for completion of equivalent elements within the current CAT qualification, as shown in the tables below. As is currently the case, if you meet the minimum entry requirements for the ACCA Qualification, you will not be required to complete the Foundations level exams (F1, F2 and F3).

For students who do not meet the ACCA Qualification minimum entry requirements

Redesigned CAT Qualification elements for those who do not meet the minimum ACCA Qualification entry requirements Completed elements where credit will be given

F1 Accounts Preparation
  • FA1 Recording Financial Transactions AND
  • FA2 Managing Financial Transactions

F2 Management Information and Costing

MA1 Management information

F3 Decision Making with Data

MA2 Managing Costs and Finance
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship  Essential Employability Module Foundations in Professionalism module
K1 Financial Accounting FFA Foundations in Financial Accounting
K2 Management Accounting FMA Foundations in Management Accounting
K3 Business Law LW Corporate and Business Law*
Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module** FBT Foundations in Business and Technology

FPER: 12 months of time + Performance Objectives

 FPER: 12 months of time + Performance Objectives

*There is no requirement to complete a law exam within the CAT qualification currently. Students who complete all other equivalent elements of the CAT Qualification prior to transition will not be required to take this exam.

**Students who have completed the Foundations in Professionalism module or subsequently the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module will be exempt from completing the first 12 units of this module  

For students who already meet the ACCA Qualification minimum entry requirements

Redesigned CAT Qualification elements for those who meet the minimum ACCA Qualification entry requirements Completed elements where credit will be given

K1 Financial Accounting

 FFA Foundations in Financial Accounting

K2 Management Accounting

 FMA Foundations in Management Accounting

K3 Business Law

LW Corporate and Business Law*

Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module

FBT Foundations in Business and Technology

FPER: 12 months of time and Performance Objectives

 FPER: 12 months of time and Performance Objectives

*There is no requirement to complete a law exam within the CAT qualification currently. Students who complete all other equivalent elements of the CAT Qualification prior to transition will not be required to take this exam.

**Students who have completed the Foundations in Professionalism module or subsequently the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module will be exempt from completing the first 12 units of this module  

You may wish to prioritise your studies and exam choices based on the transition impacts. For example:

  • Prior to transition, you will still be able to achieve specialist certificates if you complete any of the FAU, FTX or FFM exams alongside the Foundations in Professionalism module. However, no credit will be awarded for completion of these exams under the redesigned CAT qualification requirements.

  • If you are not interested in achieving the specialist certificates, and/or do not expect to complete the current CAT qualification prior to transition, you may wish to prioritise completing the other exams which do have equivalent elements in the redesigned CAT qualification.
  • If you have already passed the FA1 exam, you may wish to prioritise completing the FA2 exam ahead of the completion deadline. Both exams must be passed to receive credit for the F1 exam.
  • FFA and FMA have exam equivalents, whereas FBT does not. If you do not complete FBT prior to transition, you will be required to complete the Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module in the redesigned qualification. This module takes approximately 60 hours to complete and will be chargeable.
  • FiP is a free module which takes approximately 3 hours to complete. The Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module is expected to take approximately 40 hours to complete and will be chargeable (price to be confirmed in January 2027).
  • If you have not completed all elements of the current CAT qualification, including the Foundations in Professionalism module and FPER, you will be required to complete the K3 Business Law exam as part of the redesigned CAT qualification.
  • Even if you have completed equivalent elements, you will still have the opportunity to complete the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Essential Employability Module and the Responsible Business Management Essential Employability Module if you wish to.