ACCA accountancy qualifications

Professional

ACCA Qualification

The ACCA Qualification gives you the most up-to-date skills you need to become a finance professional.

You need three GCSEs and two A Levels in five separate subjects including maths and English (or their equivalent) to start the ACCA Qualification

Find out more about the minimum entry requirements for all of our qualifications.

Work experience Three years.
Number of exams Up to 13, depending on exemptions.
How long does it take? Three to four years on average.
What else is involved? Ethics and Professional Skills module.

Foundation level

Foundation level qualifications

If you are starting out in accounting and finance or already working in finance but have no formal qualifications, you can start your journey with ACCA at our foundation level.

Professional

DIPIFR - Diploma in International Financial Reporting

What's involved?

Work experience None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams One written exam.
How long does it take? Three to six months.

Who is it for?

Professional accountants and auditors working in practice and industry and qualified in national accounting standards are eligible to take the qualification.

Practitioners not yet qualified, but who can verify at least one of the following, are also eligible:

  • Membership of an Accountancy Professional Body
  • A relevant degree  (attracting exemptions from AB – LW..   4 exemptions ) plus two years' relevant work experience in an Accounting environment
  • Three years' relevant work experience
  • ACCA Affiliate
  • ACCA Diploma in Financial Management (or Certified Diploma in Accounting & Finance)
  • ACCA Certificate in International Financial Reporting plus two years relevant work experience.

Professional

Professional Diploma in Sustainability

This Professional Diploma in Sustainability is the definitive qualification in sustainability. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability and the impact it has on organisations, from strategy and management decisions, to reporting and assurance. Over approximately 60 hours of learning and practice, you’ll learn to embrace change and realise your true potential.

Entry requirements Although there are no specific entry requirements for admission, the syllabus content and assessments may be challenging for candidates without any accounting knowledge.
Number of exams Candidates can either study separately for all four individual Certificates and then take a final, overarching exam to receive the Diploma, or they can approach the Diploma as a single, integrated learning programme, comprising four courses and a revision and practice module.

Professional

Oxford Brookes BSc degree

This programme will close in May 2026. Visit our completion deadlines page for further information

You need to be a registered ACCA Student and have opted-in to the BSc Degree Scheme.

Number of exams Successfully complete all Applied Knowledge and Applies Skills exams, including passing Financial Reporting (FR), Audit and Assurance (AA) and Financial Management (FM) exams
How long does it take? You must pass your RAP within 10 years of the earliest of: the date of your first ACCA examination pass, or the date of your first ACCA exemption being granted, or within 5 years of passing 3 ACCA examinations (Applied Skills or Strategic Professional) or being a full member of ACCA of good standing (that is have an up to date CPD record)
What else is involved? Complete and pass the Oxford Brookes University Research and Analysis Project and the ACCA Ethics and Professional Skills Module
  The BSc programme is closing in 2026. Find out more.

Professional / Post Membership

University of London MSc in Professional Accountancy

Open to all ACCA members and affiliates.

Number of exams   You’ll need to complete two modules (from a choice of four) and one capstone project
What else is involved?   You can study online via distance learning or at a local study centre
How long does it take?   Each module runs over 10 weeks followed by an assessment. The capstone project runs over two 10 week sessions and has two assessment points. Depending on the modules you select, you can complete the MSc in around one year, taking up to a max of 5 years

Post membership

Oxford Brookes Global MBA

ACCA member or a minimum of three years’ professional/managerial work experience.

Work experience None involved in qualifying, but three years' professional/managerial work experience is required for entry.
Number of exams Assignment-based and two exams.
How long does it take? If an ACCA member, as little as 21 months.
What else is involved? Two face-to-face workshops.

Professional

Cert BA - Certificate in Business Analytics

With the increasing availability of broad and deep sources of information, business analytics is an even more critical capability for enterprises of all types and all sizes.

Entry requirements No prior knowledge required
Cost ACCA members: 799 GBP
Non-members: 1499 GBP
How long does it take? 36 hours

Foundation level

IBO students who are seeking an accelerated pathway to a career in accounting, finance and business can get a head-start through the IBCP with ACCA’s Diploma in Accounting and Business - International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme.

Number of exams Four Career Programme Core courses
Two International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Courses
Three ACCA exams
How long does it take?  Up to 24 months
Who is it for?  Designed for people who are just starting out on their business education journeys and students in the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme

Foundation level

IBO students who are seeking the universal language of business accounting can get a head-start through the IBCP with a Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting - International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme.

Number of exams Four Career Programme Core courses
Two International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Courses
Two ACCA exams
How long does it take? Up to 24 months
Who is it for? Designed for people who are just starting out on their business education journeys and students in the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme

Professional

Advanced Diploma in Finance and Business (in Russian)

Equivalent to the ACCA Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business, these Russian Language exams develop the strong, broad and practical finance skills required of future strategic professional accountant in any sector or industry.

Number of exams Up to 6, depending on exemptions.
How long does it take? 18 months on average.
What else is involved? Professional Ethics Module

Professional

Certificate in Business Valuations

There are no formal entry requirements, but we recommend that an educational or vocational background in business valuations is gained before starting this certificate. Primarily the course is aimed at people who already have a professional accountancy qualification.

Work experience involved None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams None.
How long does it take? Average of 20 hours.

Professional

CertDA - Certificate in Data Analytics

The CertDA will help you learn about big data, the various sources of data, types of analytics, and become familiar with the range of tools and techniques required to extract, manipulate and interpret and present data

No prior knowledge required.

Cost ACCA members: 75 GBP
Non-members: 100 GBP
How long does it take? 4 hours
Access period 12 months

Professional

CertDIF - Certificate in Digital Innovation for Finance

The ACCA Certificate in Digital Innovation for Finance is aimed at accountancy, finance, business and advisory professionals who wish to develop their knowledge, skills and awareness of innovations in digital technology and its impact on the finance profession.

No prior knowledge required.

Cost ACCA members: 200 GBP
Non-members: 255 GBP
How long does it take? 20 hours
Access period 12 months

Professional

Cert Fintech - Certificate in FinTech for Finance and Business Leaders

CertFinTech consists of three courses, which ensure finance professionals have the practical skills needed to develop an effective and productive understanding of key technologies.

No prior knowledge required.

Cost ACCA members: 320 GBP
Non-members: 430 GBP
How long does it take? 50 hours
Access period 12 months

Professional

CertGBS - Certificate in Global Business Services

CertGBS will give you the skills and expertise to process accounting reports, and to understand shared services, process and standards – ideal for new starters or junior roles.

No prior knowledge required.

Cost ACCA members: 210 GBP
Non-members:  285 GBP
How long does it take?   10 to 15 hours
Access period     12 months

Professional

Cert IR - Certificate in Integrated Reporting

The ACCA Certificate in Integrated Reporting focuses on how to implement Integrated Reporting in your organisation. It outlines what’s required to develop a successful Integrated Report and takes you through how to go about it.

No prior knowledge required.

Cost ACCA members: 300 GBP + VAT
Non-members: 350 GBP + VAT
How long does it take? 21 hours
Access period 12 months

Professional

CertIA - Certificate in International Auditing

Designed for professional accountants and auditors working in audit or seeking to make a move in to audit practice. An educational or vocational background in auditing is recommended before commencing the Cert IA.

This course would benefit ACCA members who qualified before the clarified ISAs were introduced or for members who wish to ensure that their audit knowledge is up to date with all relevant IAASB publications.

Work experience None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams One online multiple-choice assessment.
How long does it take? Average of 25 hours.

Professional

CertIFR - Certificate in International Financial Reporting

Designed for professional accountants and auditors qualified in their national accounting standards who need to update their skills to meet the challenges involved in adopting and implementing IFRS in their workplace. An educational or vocational background in financial reporting is recommended before starting the Cert IFR. This course also benefits ACCA members who gained their qualification prior to the introduction of IFRS. For ACCA members whose qualifications are already based on IFRS, the Cert IFR is an opportunity to update their IFRS knowledge for recent IASB publications.

Work experience None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams One online multiple-choice assessment.
How long does it take? Average of 20 hours.

Professional

Certificate in International Public Sector Accounting Standards

No formal qualifications are required. Designed for professional accountants and auditors qualified in national accounting standards or International Financial Reporting Standards, the certificate is an introduction to IPSAS, on the assumption that the learner knows a reasonable amount or has sufficient experience of accounting and financial reporting.

Work experience None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams One online multiple-choice assessment.
How long does it take? Average of 17 hours.

Professional

Certificate in Public Financial Management (Cert PFM)

There are no formal educational requirements to beginning the Cert PFM.

It has been prepared for:

  • New entrants to the public sector.
  • Staff with practical experience but without formal professional qualifications.
  • Professional accountants moving into the public sector from the corporate sector or professional practice.
Work experience None involved in qualifying, but the qualification is designed to accompany relevant work.
Number of exams One online multiple-choice assessment.
How long does it take? Average of 40 hours.

Professional

Cert SF - Certificate in Sustainability Finance

Sustainability is one of the burning issues of our times and is relevant to us all, regardless of where we live or how we earn our living.​

No prior knowledge required.

Cost ACCA members: 210 GBP
Non-members: 285 GBP
How long does it take? 20 hours
Access period 12 months

Professional

Certificate in Tax and Regulation (UAE)

Understand the business environment and regulations of the UAE.

Cost £395
How long does it take? 20 hours
Access period 12 months

Professional

UAE Tax Fellowship

A programme designed as a mandatory requirement for accredited auditors in the UAE.

Cost Various
Access period 12-24 months
Exam Invigilated assessments