What is ACCA?
ACCA stands for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. It is a professional accounting body founded in the UK in 1904, and its qualification is recognised in 180+ countries. It trains you in financial reporting, audit, taxation, financial management, and strategy, using global standards such as IFRS.
The qualification has three levels, up to 13 exams, an ethics module and a 36-month Practical Experience Requirement (PER). Exams are computer-based, and you choose when to sit them, which makes it workable alongside college or a job.
ACCA Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full form | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants |
| Governing body | ACCA Global (UK) |
| Entry | Class 12 (direct entry) or the FIA route; graduates may get exemptions |
| Levels / exams | 3 levels / up to 13 exams + Ethics and Professional Skills module |
| Exam sessions | March, June, September, December |
| Experience | 36 months (PER) |
| Approx. total cost in India | ₹3–4.5 lakh including coaching (varies by exemptions and institute) |
ACCA Levels and Syllabus
| Level | Papers | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Knowledge | BT, MA, FA | Business basics, management and financial accounting. See the Knowledge level guide. |
| Applied Skills | LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM | Law, performance management, tax, reporting, audit, finance. See the Skills level guide. |
| Strategic Professional | SBL, SBR + 2 of AFM, APM, ATX, AAA | Strategy, advanced reporting and leadership. See the Strategic Professional guide. |
Heads-up for 2027: some third-party sources report that ACCA will introduce a redesigned qualification from July 2027, with the current structure running to the June 2027 session. This is not yet confirmed by ACCA in the sources we checked, so verify on accaglobal.com before planning your exam timeline.
ACCA Qualification Pathway
ACCA Eligibility and Exemptions
- Direct entry: Class 12 with at least 65% in English and Maths/Accounts and 50% in other subjects. Check the latest rules on ACCA’s Getting Started page.
- FIA route: if you do not meet direct entry, build fundamentals first through the Foundations in Accountancy pathway.
- Graduates, post-graduates and CAs may receive paper-wise exemptions.
| Qualification | Exams to take | Typical exemptions |
|---|---|---|
| Class 12 | 13 | None |
| B.Com / M.Com | 9 | BT, MA, FA, LW |
| CA Inter (both groups) | 8 | BT, MA, FA, TX, AA |
| Qualified CA | 4 | Up to 9 papers |
ACCA Course Duration
ACCA March 2027 Exam Session
ACCA runs four sessions a year. The March session usually offers Applied Skills and Strategic Professional papers (selected variants), while Applied Knowledge exams are available on demand at centres.
| Session | Exam window | Results |
|---|---|---|
| December 2026 | 1–5 December 2026 | Early–mid January 2027 |
| March 2027 | Expected first week of March 2027* | Expected April 2027* |
| June 2027 | Expected early June 2027* | Expected July 2027* |
ACCA Fees 2027
| Fee | GBP | ≈ INR |
|---|---|---|
| Initial registration (one-time) | £89 | ₹11,000 |
| Annual student subscription | £140 | ₹17,500 |
| Applied Skills exam (per paper) | about £160 | ₹20,000 |
| SBR / SBL / options (per paper) | about £208–£282 | ₹26,000–₹35,000 |
| Ethics and Professional Skills module | about £83 | ₹10,400 |
| Re-registration (if removed) | £89 + arrears | ₹11,000+ |
INR at roughly ₹125 per £. Exam fees vary by session, variant and entry deadline, and exemption fees apply per exempted paper. Always confirm on ACCA’s official fees page.
ACCA Salary in India and Abroad
| Role | India (INR) | UK (GBP) | UAE (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Accountant | 6–12 lakh | 30,000–50,000 | 150,000–300,000 |
| Auditor | 5–11 lakh | 28,000–48,000 | 140,000–280,000 |
| Consultant | 7–15 lakh | 35,000–60,000 | 160,000–320,000 |
| Corporate Finance Expert | 8–18 lakh | 40,000–70,000 | 180,000–360,000 |
ACCA vs Other Qualifications
| ACCA | CA (India) | US CMA | CPA (US) | CFA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Global accounting | Indian audit/tax | Management accounting | US audit/tax | Investments |
| Duration | 2–4 yrs | 4–5 yrs | 6 mo–3 yrs | 1–2 yrs | 1.5–4 yrs |
| Entry | Class 12 | Class 12 | Bachelor’s | Bachelor’s + credits | Bachelor’s |
| Learn more | ACCA | – | CMA | CPA | CFA |
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FAQs on What is ACCA
What is the full form of ACCA?
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
What is the ACCA course duration?
Typically 2–4 years, depending on exemptions, study pace and resits.
What are the ACCA fees in India?
ACCA’s own fees are charged in GBP (registration £89, subscription £140 a year, plus per-exam fees). With coaching, total cost is commonly ₹3–4.5 lakh.
What is the average ACCA salary?
About ₹5–8 LPA at entry level in India, rising to ₹10–15 LPA with experience and higher at senior levels or abroad.
Is ACCA better than CA?
They serve different goals. CA is India-centric; ACCA is built for global mobility. Many students weigh both.
When is the ACCA March 2027 exam?
Expected in the first week of March 2027. Check ACCA’s important dates page for confirmed dates and entry deadlines.
What are the three ACCA levels?
Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills and Strategic Professional.