The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) course is a 2 to 3-year globally recognized professional qualification course in accounting, finance, and business, which equips students with expertise in financial reporting, taxation, auditing, management accounting, and corporate law.
Students eligible to pursue an ACCA course must need to be at least 16 years old and must have completed their secondary education (10+2) from a recognized board, with a good score in English and Mathematics/Accounts. Other students with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance are also eligible for the ACCA course. As such, there is no entrance exam which is required to be eligible for an ACCA course.
An ACCA course in India is offered by various partner institutions, which include GCES Global Foundation, KL College of Commerce, IMS Proschool, EduPristine, The Wall Street School, Zell Education, Synthesis Learning, and FPA Edutech Private Limited, where the total course fee ranges from INR 70,000- 4,20,000.
An ACCA course is also associated with various top positions in reputed companies in both India and abroad. Various job profiles include Accountant, Financial Analyst, Tax Consultant, Audit Associate, Finance Manager, and Audit Manager. The annual salary packages range from INR 4-35 LPA.
Table of Contents
ACCA Key Highlights
Given below are some of the ACCA key highlights:
What is an ACCA?
An ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) course is a 2 to 3-year globally recognized professional qualification course that covers accounting, finance, and business, thereby equipping students with knowledge and skills to develop expertise in financial reporting, taxation, auditing, management accounting, and corporate law. The program consists of a total of 13 exams, practical experience requirements, and an ethics module, which makes an ACCA course a highly comprehensive and career-oriented course.
An ACCA helps create that much-needed strategic accounting infrastructure, which is critical for the growth of any business, irrespective of its scale and industry. Such a course not only helps students and professionals prepare them for the financial and management aspects of any business, but also prepares them for work in any corner of the world by becoming a well-qualified and skilled professional.
Why Study an ACCA?
An ACCA course has various benefits and is a gold standard in the field of accountancy; hence, it is offered in different colleges and institutes in India. The reasons to opt for an ACCA are given below:
- An ACCA course has great benefits. It is an excellent global alternative to CA. An ACCA course is a globally recognised degree and opens up work opportunities in more than 170 countries, while CA is more of a specialisation in Indian taxation and accounting systems, which may not hold well while applying for jobs outside India.
- A Chartered accountancy course is generally considered harder than an ACCA course. Since the global passing rate of passing an ACCA is around 55-60 per cent, and that of a CA is usually around 8-10 per cent, it is a good alternative and a much easier choice than a CA.
- One of the reasons why one should opt for an ACCA course is that the course is worth the time, as it helps equip students and professionals with both critical skills and knowledge.
- An ACCA course connects people with thousands of existing like-minded individuals who offer their expertise and expand their horizons tremendously. Thus, an ACCA course helps keep the students and professionals abreast of the latest happenings in this profession.
Who should study for the ACCA course?
Reasons, which include individuals who might be a good choice for pursuing an ACCA in different institutes in India, are mentioned below:
- Students interested in an accounting career- Students interested in pursuing an accounting career can opt for an ACCA course. The course equips the students for roles beyond accounting to build a long-term career.
- Students with a graduate degree- Students with a graduate degree in accounting or finance can opt for an ACCA course. The program is a faster and cheaper option for students, and helps them prepare for multiple roles, and opens doors to multinational companies.
- Experienced Professionals- Those with relevant experience in the commerce and finance fields can choose to pursue an ACCA course. An ACCA course helps refresh the concepts and prepare professionals for further strategic roles, increasing their career enhancement prospects.
- Those seeking international jobs- Students and professionals aiming to secure jobs globally can choose to pursue an ACCA course. Those aspiring to work internationally with multinational companies, Big 4 firms, or pursue overseas opportunities in finance-related roles are ideal for pursuing an ACCA course.
ACCA Eligibility Criteria
To secure a seat in the top colleges and institutes in India for an ACCA course, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria to be selected for further application and the admission process. The detailed eligibility criteria are mentioned below:
- The students generally need to be at least 16 years old and must have completed their secondary education, like 10+2, from a recognized board, with a minimum score in English and Mathematics/Accounts, along with an overall pass mark in other subjects.
- Students with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance are eligible for the ACCA course.
- There is no specific entrance exam requirement to be eligible to apply for an ACCA course.
- Those with relevant professional qualifications, such as a Chartered Accountant, may also be eligible for exemptions from ACCA exams.
- Many colleges and institutes may also conduct personal interview rounds as a part of the selection process.
ACCA Colleges in India
An ACCA is a 2-3-year globally recognized professional course opted for by students that covers accounting, finance, and business. An ACCA is a professional course, which is offered by a UK-based body. In India, the course is offered by various partner institutes. Hence, the colleges and institutions across India offering an ACCA course are listed in the table below:
ACCA Admission Process 2025
To secure a seat in the top colleges for the ACCA course in India, the student must follow a few steps first. Initially, the student must meet the eligibility criteria of the course and then fill out the application form. The detailed procedure for securing a seat in IMS Proschool is given below:
Step 1- Interested students have to apply online on the official website, and then proceed with the filling of their personal and academic details.
Step 2- The students then need to upload all the relevant documents and proceed with the payment of the application fee.
Step 3- Once the students have been shortlisted by the college or institution, they must appear for the technical interview or written test.
Step 4- Upon successfully passing the technical interview or written test, the selected students will be informed by the institute.
Step 5- The final selected students will be required to submit their original documents and get them verified by the college or institution.
Step 6- The selected students will be required to confirm their admission by paying the admission fee.
Documents Required:
- 10th and 12th grade marksheet
- Graduation marksheet
- Identity proof such as an Aadhar card, PAN Card
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Category certificate, if applicable
- Bank details
ACCA Syllabus
An ACCA is a 3-4 year full-time professional course offered across different colleges and institutes in India. An ACCA course covers relevant topics like management and financial accounting, taxation, financial reporting, and audit and assurance, which are distributed at three different levels. The subjects taught during the entire course at IMS Proschool are mentioned below:
ACCA Job Opportunities in India
Multiple job opportunities and careers are associated with an ACCA in India, which are mentioned below in the table:
ACCA Vs CFA Comparison
Below is a detailed comparison between an ACCA and a CFA course. Students who are unsure about which program to pursue can refer to the table to make an informed decision.
ACCA FAQs
Can someone pursue the ACCA course while working a full-time job?
Yes. Professionals who are working a full-time job can pursue an ACCA course. Since an ACCA course is designed with flexible exam schedules and study options, which allow both students and professionals to work full-time while at the same time preparing for their exams, it is a highly suitable course. Professionals and students usually opt for weekend or online classes to balance their jobs, schedules, and an ACCA course.
Is it possible to land international jobs after completing an ACCA course?
Yes. Since an ACCA qualification is globally recognized in various countries, this makes it easier to secure international roles. Different ACCA members work in top-reputed companies across countries like the UK, UAE, Singapore, and Australia. Global companies like PwC, EY, and KPMG actively recruit ACCA-qualified professionals for international roles in various companies globally.
What topics and areas are covered during the practical training and industrial exposure of an ACCA course?
During an ACCA course, topics and areas that are covered during the practical training and industrial exposure include financial reporting, taxation, audit and assurance, financial management, and ethics. During industrial exposure, students get to apply the theoretical knowledge in real-world finance, compliance, and business environments. Such training helps sharpen both technical and professional skills of the students.
What kind of skills and competencies do students develop, learn, and gain after pursuing an ACCA course?
After completing an ACCA course, the students learn and develop various skills and competencies. Students develop excellent analytical, accounting, and decision-making skills, with deep financial knowledge. The course also develops skills like leadership, communication, business ethics, and strategic thinking in the students, which are essential for working in the field. Such competencies prepare the students for diverse roles in finance, audit, consulting, and management across various industries.
How often are ACCA exams held, and what’s the process for reappearing for them?
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) conducts exams a total of four times a year. The exams usually span from March to December. If a candidate fails in an exam, then he/she has the opportunity to retake and reappear for such an exam in the next available session, without having to re-enroll for the entire course.
